Today’s Reading: Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32
Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.
Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum? – Mark 2:13-16
Jesus endured many questions during his ministry. He was challenged on why he did one thing and why he failed to do another. He was questioned regarding the places he went and the people he spent time with. He was questioned by the religious leaders, by his disciples and even by his own family.
We continue to question Jesus today on things we do not fully understand, or things we understand but dislike or even disagree with. God is Almighty and we say we trust Him, yet we find ourselves challenging him. We like to think of ourselves as nothing like the teachers of the law and the Pharisees; yet, if we were honest, we would see that we have moments that are more similar than we wish to admit.
I invite you to join me as we spend the next few days looking at three questions asked of Jesus during his earthly ministry. Let’s start with this question:
QUESTION: “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?” – Luke 5:30b
This was the question asked of Jesus when he attended a banquet that Matthew (Levi) held in his home. The guest list included Matthew’s coworkers and colleagues — tax collectors and other guests. Jesus was the guest of honor, yet Matthew was the one honored to have Jesus spend time in his home.
Scripture says the Pharisees and teachers of the law complained BITTERLY that Jesus was spending time with people who were considered unrighteous. In the ancient world, meals were rituals of social status, and Jesus’ act of dining with Matthew and his friends was interpreted as Jesus socially accepting them, regardless of their lifestyle and lack of integrity.
ANSWER: Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do. I have come not to call those who THINK they are righteous, but those who KNOW they are sinners and need to repent.” – Luke 5:31-32
Investing in sinners by spending time with them and inviting them into our fellowship is not accepting their sin, as some would accuse. Jesus calls us to reach out to anyone who needs him and love them as they come to recognize their sin. They are on a journey of grace, and there will be a moment when they understand their need to repent and ask for forgiveness. What a beautiful privilege to be with them when they are willing to admit that they have sinned and come to a point of change.
Jesus did not say to Matthew and his friends that what they were doing was good and that they should keep doing whatever they desired to do. No, they were cheating their fellow Jews by unnecessarily putting financial burdens on others while padding their own pockets. In the same way, we are not called to condone sin nor have we been given permission to change what the Bible defines as sin.
Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love. – 2 John 1:3
To love them in spite of their sin is grace; to speak truth into their life is love. It was Jesus’ desire to free them of their sins, to release them from their current lifestyle. He did not love them enough to leave them in the mess they had made; he loved them enough to save them from it. He gave us a great example of how grace and truth work together in order to help others find freedom from sin.
GRACE WITHOUT TRUTH IS NOT LOVE, WHILE TRUTH SPOKEN IN LOVE IS A GREAT WAY TO TELL SOMEONE ABOUT THE GRACE OF OUR GOD.
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:32
Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” – John 8:10-11
Lord, we thank you for the example you set for us while here on the earth. We pray for you to fill us with your love so that we see those around us as you see them. May our heart reflect what you desire for those we come in contact with today. Forgive us for our judgmental attitudes and cleanse us of our arrogant responses towards others. May your truth stand clear in our minds and be represented with grace through our words. Amen.