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Physicians are essential. In our text, Jesus compares himself to a physician. Jesus shows himself as a physician accepting new patients. Jesus shows himself as a physician accepting new patients. He calls his patients to: DISCIPLESHIP. FELLOWSHIP. REPENTANCE.
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Jesus shows himself as a physician accepting new patients. • He calls his patients to: • DISCIPLESHIP. • FELLOWSHIP. • REPENTANCE.
“After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything, he rose and followed him” (vv 27-28, ESV).
From Mk’s account, we know this was near the Sea of Galilee.
From Mk’s account, we know this was near the Sea of Galilee. • Levi, therefore, likely collected import taxes on goods coming into Galilee.
From Mk’s account, we know this was near the Sea of Galilee. • Levi, therefore, likely collected import taxes on goods coming into Galilee. • Herod Antipas paid such officials very lucrative salaries.
From Mk’s account, we know this was near the Sea of Galilee. • Levi, therefore, likely collected import taxes on goods coming into Galilee. • Herod Antipas paid such officials very lucrative salaries. • Jesus says, “Follow me.”
“wait a minute, Jesus. I have a good career. Just leave me alone.”
“wait a minute, Jesus. I have a good career. Just leave me alone.” But, Jesus calls us to radical discipleship.
“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’” (Mt 16:24, ESV).
“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’” (Mt 16:24, ESV). “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14:26, ESV).
“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14:33, ESV).
Matthew got up, left everything, & followed Jesus. • It would have been hard to get another job from Herod!
Matthew got up, left everything, & followed Jesus. • It would have been hard to get another job from Herod! • But, Jesus calls Matthew to discipleship & Matthew follows.
Jesus calls patients to fellowship. vv 29-30
“And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’” (vv 29-30, ESV).
Jesus’ call for Levi to follow him was probably a great honor for Levi.
Jesus’ call for Levi to follow him was probably a great honor for Levi. Levi returns the honor by throwing a banquet for Jesus.
Jesus’ call for Levi to follow him was probably a great honor for Levi. Levi returns the honor by throwing a banquet for Jesus. The return of honor was important in Palestine.
The Pharisees & scribes complained: “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
The Pharisees & scribes complained: “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” • Eating together was a sign of great intimacy.
The Pharisees & scribes complained: “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” • Eating together was a sign of great intimacy. • “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one” (1 Cor 5:11, ESV).
The Pharisees & scribes complained: “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” • “Complained” is an imperfect in Gr—repeated action in the past.
The Pharisees & scribes complained: “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” • “Complained” is an imperfect in Gr—repeated action in the past. • The Pharisees thought they were better than these “undesirables” with whom Jesus was eating.
The Pharisees & scribes complained: “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” • “Complained” is an imperfect in Gr—repeated action in the past. • The Pharisees thought they were better than these “undesirables” with whom Jesus was eating. • Don’t we still have that problem?
The Pharisees & scribes complained: “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” • “Complained” is an imperfect in Gr—repeated action in the past. • The Pharisees thought they were better than these “undesirables” with whom Jesus was eating. • Don’t we still have that problem? • Jesus says: “It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. It doesn’t matter who you are. You can come to me.”
“Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (Jn 8:11, ESV).
“Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (Jn 8:11, ESV). What this means is that Jesus cares for us regardless of who we are.
Jesus calls patients to repentance vv 31-32
“And Jesus answered them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance’” (vv 31-32, ESV).
Jesus applies that short parable to the Pharisees: “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Jesus did not come to call the righteous to repentance. • Better translation: “I have not come to call the self-righteous to repentance.”
Jesus did not come to call the righteous to repentance. • Better translation: “I have not come to call the self-righteous to repentance.” • The Pharisees believed they needed no repentance, for they were righteous.
Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. • Here: “sinners”=“those willing to admit to sinfulness.”
Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. • Here: “sinners”=“those willing to admit to sinfulness.” • “Repentance” refers to changing one’s mind about sin & carrying out that change of mind in daily life.
