September 1 2019 Dinner and Taxes

September 1 2019 Dinner and Taxes Mark 2:13-22 OT Psalm 103:8-11 NT Ephesians 2:4-10 Jesus Calls Levi (Matthew) 13 Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him. 15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) 16 But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees[b] saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?[c]” 17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Let’s start with dining with Jesus In the ancient world, dining together was a primary expression of identity and belonging. Follow Me – there is something about this identity thing – this belonging thing Pharisees were skilled in knowing and interpreting the book of Moses YET their rules and traditions began to block their ability to obey the commandments of God. Jesus reveals what is truly worthy such as those who need God – and that has not changed today Sept 1 2019 page 2 A Discussion about Fasting 18 Once when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t your disciples fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees do?” 19 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can’t fast while the groom is with them. 20 But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 21 “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before. 22 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.” Fasting was a key element of Judaism in the first-century ad, even though only one day of fasting was required by the law (Lev 16:29–30).  Fasting would be inappropriate to do on such occasions as a wedding – Think about it So why would the groomsmen (disciples be fasting during this time with Jesus) New Wine – the difference between the new and the old - Jesus emphasizes the change brought about by the kingdom’s arrival.  As we close – Who are you eating dinner with – are you judging the tax man