What's up, doc

Intro??

Big question: Who does Jesus call? Sinners.

The story

Matthew’s party: God calls us to stay with sinners

We’ve seen Jesus call a group of fisherman. But, then Jesus goes a step further. He calls a tax collector. Now, nobody really likes taxes today. But now, we have a process and laws that make sure it’s all legit. They didn’t have that then, so most tax collectors basically stole from people.

The sick: We’re all sinners.

Halloween Dad tax: “if you get a Reese’s, I get it.” K is not ‘bout it.

So, tax collectors were seen as among the worst, greediest sinners in that culture. And yet, Jesus calls Matthew (Levi and Matthew are the same person), one of these men. But, not only that. Jesus goes to a party at Matthew’s house with all these dudes!

The Pharisees are not super happy about this. They don’t go near “those people.” They think they’re better.

God’s love has no boundaries

The pharisees wouldn’t cross the line into Matthew’s house, into that party. But Jesus went in because he was on a mission of God’s love

God’s love heals the sick AKA everyone

Jesus ends this exchange with a powerful statement: It’s not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. The Pharisees look on sinners with hatred, Jesus looks with love.

But here’s the thing. No one is righteous—not even the Pharisees (Jesus says that you need to be better than the Pharisees to get into the kingdom). That’s why Jesus goes everywhere, because everyone needs him.

Where will you go with God’s love?