But sinners to repentance

Luke 5:27-31

I do not know of anyone who has anything but distain for a politician who is a crook, no matter what party they are in.  And in the U.S. Congress and Senate both parties have had their share of men and women with no integrity, looking only for personal gain.  With that said, you have a wonderful picture of the tax collector of Jesus’ time.

They were not known for having integrity, many were Jews that worked for the Romans gathering taxes and their pay in large part was whatever they could get above what Rome required.  They were not that different than the ones we put in our state Congress that have come up with all kinds of fees, not taxes, so they can have more to spend on projects to get more votes and stay in power.  The difference in the two groups is difficult to distinguish.  Now the Jewish people saw the tax collectors in the time of Jesus as turncoats, and they were hated and despised.

So when this very popular, new teacher named Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth, He said to him, “Follow me.”  Dr. Luke tells us he did, this is the account; “And leaving everything he rose and followed him.” (Luke 5:28) 

I’m not sure what the crowd is thinking, maybe they are wondering why is he asking this guy and not one of the highly respected Pharisees from Jerusalem to follow Him, but the crowd is silent, and so are the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees until Levi throws a big dinner in Jesus honor.  And whom would a tax collector invite to his party, not any of the religious guys, they would not be seen within a block of a tax collector?  So who is on the invite list: tax collectors, sinners, of course lawyers, bankers, chariot salesmen, politicians, and the publicans?  Not much has changed over time.

Now I must say this for the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, there is no way you will find them at this party, but in that they are very religious, they expect all others to be like them, and if you are not, if you do not keep the laws of man, they or their system was designed for others to live under, you are now the enemy.  Dr. Luke gives this account; “And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” (Luke 5:30)

We are not told if Jesus overheard them or if one of the disciples came to Jesus asking how do we reply to these religious men?  Put yourself in the disciples place, they were not all that excited about having anything to do with a scumbag tax collector, so this was Jesus’ answer to each of us, for we all have a little Pharisee in us.  “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.”

I am so glad Jesus came to call sinners to repentance, for I was a sinner and I’m still learning that sin is now a choice, and I have made a lot of bad choices.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice