JESUS, LEVI AND THE PUBLICANS

July 16, 2006 PM

MK 2:13-17

INTRO: One of the places Jesus went to teach was the sea side. According to Lk 5:3, he once sat in a little ship which had been thrust out just a little distance from land and taught the people. This would make it possible for Him to be heard by a crowd of people. So, on this particular day in Capernaum, Jesus was at the sea side with crowds of people surrounding Him. Mark tells us, "He taught them." But on this particular occasion there was something special which occurred. It was His calling Levi (Matthew) to follow Him. The call of Levi led quickly to a confrontation with the scribes and Pharisees.

I. OF LEVI (MATTHEW)

A. In Mark and Luke he is Levi - in Matthew he is Matthew

1. not two different men as some claim - the narratives are the same

2. he was, as were many then, a man with two names - Hebrew & Greek

3. remember Simon Peter, John Mark, Saul Paul, etc.

B. He was a tax collector(or customs agent) - thus, he was a "publican"

1. publicans were in the employ of the Romans or their surrogates

2. and they were held in the greatest of contempt by scribes and Pharisees

3. so great was their contempt that they would have no social contact

C. When Jesus called Levi, he was busy as his work

1. this had been the case with Peter, Andrew, James and John

2. tax collectors in that day had no real guide lines - could assess amounts they chose to assess - on just about anything - often, exorbitant 

3. I suspect, though, that Levi was an honest man in a dishonest profession

D. "Follow me. And he arose and follow him."

1. my guess is that Levi's place of work was near the sea side

2. such a place would have given him an opportunity to know of and hear Jesus as He taught

3. therefore, this was not an impetuous, hasty decision by Levi

E. Levi sacrificed a great deal to become the disciple of Jesus!

1. once a tax collector gave up his position, he could apparently not return

2. Peter, Andrew, James and John may have been able to go back - and I do not want to minimize their decisions to follow Jesus

3. but Matthew had nothing (in terms of employment) to which to return!

II. A BANQUET WITH PUBLICANS, QUESTIONS AND AN ANSWER

A. Apparently, Levi invited his friends and Jesus to have a meal together

1. the expression "publicans and sinners" is one used by Pharisees

2. these were not people whom the scribes, Pharisees accepted

3. the "sinners" here may well have been those who were identified as such because the Pharisees had so labeled them - outside of orthodoxy

4. but they would have also been people aware of sin and their need

5. notice the comparison in Lk 18:10-14 - this was the world of Jesus!

B. The scribes and Pharisees questioned Jesus' disciples about this

1. no self respecting rabbi of that time would have engaged in such conduct

2. and, of course, this gave the Pharisees a point of attack, criticism

3. a lesson? it is not unusual for people seeking to do good, to reach out, to come under criticism from "the righteous"

4. this was part of the "gathering storm" which would finally engulf Jesus

5. everywhere Jesus would turn there would be the questioning Pharisees

C. The answer of the "Great Physician" - Mk 2:17

1. His answer identifies sin as a great spiritual sickness

2. His answer does not identify the Pharisees as "righteous" - but they assuredly believed they were ideal keepers of the law of Moses

3. His answer does identify those who recognize their spiritual need as "sinners" - He could not help those who did not believe they needed His help

4. but He could assist those who knew their sin and saw their great need

5. what good would it have done for Him to feast with scribes and Pharisees - He invariably went where the "need" was ... and this feast gave Him a great opportunity to minister to the "sick"

D. Note in Mk 2:17 the emphasis on repentance

1. Luke's account also notes this (Lk 5:32)

2. this was the message of John the Baptist ... and it was Jesus' message

3. people who recognize they are in sin must change!

4. Jesus did not come to approve of the status quo - but to change lives

5. how has your life changed because of Jesus?

CLOSE: Levi/Matthew had to make a choice. He could have chosen to remain the tax collector ... and be forgotten in anonymity. But he chose to follow Jesus, and that choice resulted in his being forever remembered as the apostle who wrote the gospel bearing his name. Choosing to follow Jesus may not make you famous ... but it will provide you with eternal security which is better than fame!

Cecil A. Hutson

16 July 2006