Behold the King: King of Seperatists or Sinners?
Notes
Transcript
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Sales were stagnant at the insurance company where Daniel P. Amos worked as the chief executive. So, he decided to take a huge risk with a novel ad campaign that poked fun at the company’s name. The TV commercials featured an obnoxious white duck often getting injured and then loudly quaking “Aflaaaac.” The little-known business soon became a household name. Aflac’s stagnant US sales doubled between 1999 and 2003.
Amos told The Wall Street Journal that leading a company always involves taking risks. He said, “I like to manage risks [since] everything we do is risk related. [If you avoid risks] you are really not taking a broad enough perspective for a company to succeed.”
Amos, now 70, learned to evaluate risks while studying risk management and insurance at the University of Georgia’s business school. Among his risk-taking advice he gave this nugget: Never risk a lot for a little. He added that he lives by that risk principle every day of his life.
Unexpected Follower
Unexpected Follower
Matthew, also called Levi by Mark and Luke, was a “publican.” This term is not one that is understood by the average person, like me, in our day. It is a tax collector for the government. Since Matthew was sitting at the “receipt of custom” in Capernaum it is suggested that he was collecting tax revenue from the Jews for either Herod or Caesar.
Now in recent days the tv show “The Chosen” has chosen to depict Matthew as an individual on the spectrum and more dedicated to numbers and unable to let minor discrepancies go, much like an Adrian Monk. The reality is that most who became tax collectors for an invading government usually did so out of a love for money. Like Zaccheus.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Jewish nationals that chose to be a tax collector or customs agent were often hatted and excluded from many events due to the disdain from the other Jews. They were often regarded as bad as a thief or murderer.
Jesus said “follow me”
The term is akoloutheo, and in this context it means to follow - to behave in accordance or in agreement with.
I find it fascinating that latter we find that this tax collector was not the one that kept the books for Jesus. Often God takes someone who has a natural talent for something and uses them to minister in a completely different area.
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
This outsider set up a feast for Jesus to commiserate his new found life. Mark and Luke tell us this was not just put on by Matthew but was in his house and he invited his friends and foes.
Upset Pharisees
Upset Pharisees
In verses 1-8 we see Jesus shaking up the scholarly scribes by claiming and proving His deity and authority to forgive sins.
Now in this part of the Kings story, He starts to steep on some other toes. Another highly regarded sect of the religious system for the Jews. These individuals are named Pharisees. They were actually a smaller group of people than the other group, the Sadducees. The Sadducees would be considered liberal theologians of our days. These did not believe that the Torah (the law) was given directly by God, but rather Moses’ thoughts about God and helpful governmental instructions.
The word Pharisee literally means separatist! Now unlike the Pilgrims or some of the individuals that separated from the Roman Catholic church or the Church of England due to their misuses of Scripture for power and control. These separated themselves from anyone or anything that they thought would cause them to be perceived as a sinner. This philosophy made them think they were holier and the only authorities on all things Scripture.
They would separate from other Pharisees if they did not hold the exact “doctrinal” or personal belief structure. They would shame others into submission or excommunication. If someone came up with a song but it wasn’t their style or the person didn’t measure up to their standards they would protest and boycott the song.
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
“It is true that Mather’s enthusiasm for Watts was greatly diminished at a later date, when the latter published his Disquisitions. Mather’s conservative soul was alarmed by Watts’ theological liberalism, and on January 28th, 1726/7, he wrote to Thomas Prince, the then youthful minister of the Old South, denouncing Watts as ‘a very Disqualified person,’ and ‘too shallow’ to deal with theology, and warning Prince to beware of him.”Henry Wilder Foote, Three Centuries of American Hymnody, Archon Books, 1968, p. 68.
Yet today we praise the songs Watts wrote and take no thought of the fact that he was a Unitarian and did not believe in the trinity of God.
1 When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.
Each and every song writer that we have in our Hymnal holds a different doctrinal position than ours if we desire to look hard enough.
A thousand generations falling down in worship
To sing the song of ages to the Lamb
And all who've gone before us and all who will believe
Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb
[Pre-Chorus]
Your name is the highest
Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions
All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all
[Chorus]
And the angels cry, ho-ho-holy
All creation cries, ho-ho-holy
You are lifted high, ho-holy
Holy forever
-Bethel Music
They misused scripture passages to justify their ultra conservative actions:
Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: But he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
What a shock to find someone who performed the works of God would sit with people that they would never look at unless it was to condemn them.
They desired to avoid being influence by others and forgot that God calls us to influence through relationship.
And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part.
But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
A former Pharisee, Paul states that he rejoices when Christ is preached, even if it is by those who try to slander or harm him.
And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
Unmerited Favor
Unmerited Favor
Jesus responds to the unmerciful murmurs of the separatists with profound mercy. “They that be whole” means those who are able or have the power to heal themselves often characterized by an outward show of strength or robustness.
“Bless God,” rarely is followed by something that would actually bless God.
“They that are sick” means those that are in a disadvantageous way. Diseased, evil, grievously disturbed.
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Jesus urges the separatists to learn what Jesus means by this. Jesus is most likely telling these so called spiritual know it alls and do it alls to go back to the Scripture and learn the Grace of God.
Jesus did not come to call the righteous, a person characterized by righteous actions and morals.
No, Jesus came to call the sinners! Those who know they have disobeyed any or all of the divine commands. Individuals who have neglected (intentionally or unintentionally) the requirements God has upon mankind.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
What has Jesus called sinners to? Repentance!!!! Reconsideration - a change of self (heart and mind) that abandons former dispositions and results in a new self, new behavior, and regret over former behavior and dispositions.
Good and upright is the Lord: Therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
The separatists had strived to show God how great they were without any help from God. God wants to show you how Great He is without any help from you!
Conclusion:
We want to influence like Cristiano Ronaldo or Selena Gomez, lead like Abraham Lincoln, teach like John Maxwell, counsel like James Dobson, have her administrative abilities and his staff. But Christ keeps saying to me and to you, "What is that to you, really? 'You' follow 'me.'"