Healthly - Spiritual Health
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And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.
Jesus proceeded to violate the cultural standards.
Eating together was the deepest form of social intimacy.
Normally no “sinner” was welcome at a righteous man’s table, and no “righteous” man would consider eating at a sinners table,
Jesus displayed his unconditional acceptance and impartiality by participating in this meal.
Jesus was having an intimate moment with imperfect people.
Imperfect people…
Tax collectors and sinners
Labeled
Labeled by their decisions
Labeled by their struggles
Labeled by their desires
Labeled by their past
But instead of running away from Jesus
They came and reclined with Jesus
There is something about Jesus….
People were comfortable enough to sit or recline with Him.
It’s an amazing feeling, to feel welcomed when your use to being rejected.’
Rejected because of my label…
Let’s be honest no one knows like you know about your “labels.” ‘
“Many tax collectors and sinners”
We have to remember that these tax collectors and sinners were Jews..
What caused them to drift away…
What was there story?
And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Pharisees
In the Gospels, the Pharisees are often presented as hypocritical and proud opponents of Jesus.
Jesus stated it bluntly:
so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.
As a general rule, the Pharisees were self-righteousness and in their delusion that they were pleasing to God because they kept the Law—or parts of it, at least.
The Pharisees asked his disciples… “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?
Why does your teacher entertain the labeled?
Why does your teacher eat with public repeat offenders?
Why does your teacher eat with the spiritually unhealthy?
Can we be honest… Often our labels are a reflection of our spiritual health.
Honestly these were unhealthy people!
There is a root to our unhealthiness.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Conformed: Shape one’s behavior
It’s my behavior that produces the label
Remember the outline of the list of stuggles (Jesus)
As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Cares of the world (Sinners) Deceitfulness of riches (Tax Collectors)
Choking: to inhibit ⇔ choke v. — to inhibit the action, function, or development of something (entirely); conceived of as choking someone to deprive them of life.
Choking leads to my conformity (My behavior)
I want to acknowledge that the Label is true!
But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
“But when he heard it”
Remember the Pharisees was talking to the disciples…
But Jesus stepped in… He spoke up for himself and for the labeled.
Those who are well have no need of a physican, but those who are sick!
Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Go and learn…
You don’t know what you think you know.
“I desire mercy, and not sacrifice”
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
I desire… My wish
Mercy: have compassion/mercy/pity
I desire compassion over a religious service…
“For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
This first Sunday of the year!
I want to remind someone that Jesus is here for the labeled.
He is here for those who are spiriutal sick.
He is here to make you feel comfortable not about the sickness
but He desires to diagnosis the problem and point you to the solution for spiritual health!