Mark 2:14-22

Calling of Matthew

As Jesus passed by the tax booth where Levi was collecting taxes from his own people on behalf of the Romans. Levi was seen as a traitor and a sinner for what he was doing.

In order to be a tax collector you had to buy the rights from Rome to collect taxes. Rome would tell you what you had to collect and any thing over that the tax collector could keep for himself. This is how tax collectors became so rich. Tax collector would always collect more than they were suppose to.

A tax collector would also be a reminder of Israel being enslaved to Rome. The taxes they paid served as a constant reminder that they were not an independent nation but were ruled by Rome. To add insult to injury the tax collectors would take advantage of their ability to collect as much tax as they wanted.

Levi was one of these tax collectors. What made it worse was that he was a Jew. He knew what he was doing was wrong, but he did it anyway.

He was seen as an outcast and a traitor by his own people. This had to weigh heavy on his heart knowing that he betrayed his own people and was getting rich doing it. He wanted forgiveness of his wrong doings and acceptance from his people.

When Jesus offered Levi what he desired, he left his sin and followed the Savior.

Modern Day Sinner

People that live lifestyles of sin can have a sense of shame and a desire to have that shame removed. However their fear is that if they share their sin they will be judged which further adds to their shame. They need a Savior that can forgive their sin and remove their shame by changing their hearts to pursue righteousness rather than sin.

This is why we have no right to shame anyone that we are not willing to help. The best way to help them is to share the gospel with them and disciple them.

It is the the sinner that desires change that can receive forgiveness. You cannot receive forgiveness and continue to sin. 1 John 3:4-10

1 John 3:4–10 (NASB95)

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

Why do you think it is important for a sinner to want to change in order to be saved?

Do you think that shame is a barrier for people coming to Christ?

How can we overcome this barrier?

Sitting With Sinners

After Matthew followed Jesus he got a lot of his other tax collectors and sinners to come and have dinner with Jesus. The Scribes and Pharisees and chastised Jesus disciple for Him eating with sinners. In their minds they believed that Jesus was condoning their sin and approving what they were doing. Jesus knew their thoughts and clarified what He was doing. He was not condoning their sin but as he Said Mark 2:17

Mark 2:17 NASB95

And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus came to help sinners turn from their sin and follow Him in righteousness. Jesus was willing to go to sinners and save them. He recognized their sickness (sin) and provided a way for healing (repentance and forgiveness).

Sitting with sinners today

As the church we are to go to sinners. We are to build relationships with them for the purpose of leading them to Christ. However we must be careful not to condone or participate in their sinful behavior. One must consider their ability to disciple. For example, if a christian struggles with alcohol it probably would not be a good idea for them to foster a relationship with an unbeliever in a bar.

Discuss the conflict of grandmother going to grandson’s gay wedding.

The Bridegroom and Wine Skins

John the Baptist disciples questioned Jesus about their lack of fasting practices. Jesus gave two illustrations to drive home a point that He is God and the old way of doing things is no more and He is the new way.

Bridegroom

John’s disciples were the ones that chose not to follow Jesus and stay with John. John was a stickler for the Jewish tradition, so they fasted as the Pharisees did twice a week. They had a bent toward legalism. Jesus came with grace.

Jesus was pointing out that life was not like a funeral but like a wedding. Fasting and all the other legal restrictions of the Pharisees was cause for mourning because they were overbearing, impossible, and frustrating to try to keep. Jesus said that life should be joyful as a wedding.

Weddings are a time of celebration. You do not fast during a wedding celebration. Instead you celebrate the marriage by eating and drinking wine.

Jesus is the bridegroom and his disciples and the church are the bride. We are to enjoy life with our bridegroom.

You get the blessings of the husband when you enter into the covenant with the bridegroom. You get provision, protection, the name, his home, and time with the bridegroom.

Jesus stated there would be a day when the bridegroom was gone and then they could fast on that day. This is the time that we fast. Their is coming a day where we fast no more.

Wine Skin

Jesus was also saying that his teaching was new and could not be combined with Judaism. Judaism was predicated on obedience to the law for salvation. Jesus salvation is based on mercy and grace. Eph. 2:8-10

Ephesians 2:8–10 (NASB95)

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Some approach religion with the concept that we take the good qualities of them all and combine them and it is a good religion. This is not what Jesus says here. His way is like new wine. If you put it in old wine sacks it ruins the sack and the wine. Jesus is the only way to the a Father. John14:6

John 14:6 NASB95

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.