Eating with Jesus and Sinners

Luke 5:27–32 NIV

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

13-Introduction: Testimonies from Nefarious.

14-Jesus Calls an Outcast.

Levi is an outcast

It’s easy to miss something vital in this story. Jesus’s invitation to Matthew would have been highly offensive to the Jewish religious leaders. As a tax collector for the Roman Empire, Matthew would have been viewed as a collaborator with Israel’s enemy and a traitor. Yet Jesus did not exclude Matthew from the call to discipleship.

Matthew like the rest of the Disciples leave everything. This one is a little harder to understand then the fisherman disciples.

- Some ideas, it is a break from feeling like you are selling out your people - perhaps stuck in this job that he is conflicted - Good money, but a nasty feeling about it.

- The Chosen connects Levi with having scene some of Jesus’ miracles - Two stories before this.

Republicans/Democrats

But this is the rub.

15-Jesus’ Mission is to reach the outcast.

- Jesus has an eye on Levi - Looks intently at him.

- Jesus is intentionally reaching the Outcast.

Sometimes I think the Church forgets this,

And I know for myself I find it difficult.

Frequently for a new Christian, evangelism is strongest in the first two years after conversion. Then the change of one’s circle of friends cuts off further opportunity. Jesus, though he never lived in that former circle, extends himself toward others in such a way that they do hear his message.

Bock, D. L. (1996). Luke (p. 166). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

How have we been discipled?

We bring our kids to a church where they have friends - But problem, How will our kids learn to reach the outcast.

We want to go to a Church were our friends are and where everything is to our liking and comfortable. - We have been modeling this for our kids and we think we will reach the younger generation for Jesus?

Of course we should make friends within the church.

Notice - Jesus is not in the synagogue, Jesus calls the outcast to himself, after first having gone into the community and loved the community. - Where are we modeling that to our kids?

“Why don’t these Homeless people Come to our Church?”

Our way of discipling people is.

Let’s create excellent programs

To make our family comfortable

And then we can invite our friends to be comfortable with us.

Jesus’ mission is..

a. let’s get uncomfortable

b. By befriending people un like me.

c. So they can invite me to an uncomfortable situation with other people not like me, and there in relationship I can bring the light of Jesus with me.

My Mom modeled this quite a bit for me. She would befriend neighbors around us. She would have conversations with the Atheist neighbor respectfully, the Catholic, the Agnostic....

16-To Follow Jesus is to reach outcasts with Jesus.

How can we make the turn.

Matthew Party -

1. In response to Jesus’s kindness and acceptance, Matthew put together a great feast for Jesus at his house. At the banquet, “a large company of tax collectors and others” (Luke 5:29) reclined at the table with Jesus and his other disciples. Some Pharisees were also at the feast, and they became offended and complained upon seeing Jesus sharing a meal “with tax collectors and sinners” (v. 30). When Jesus heard them questioning his disciples about why he would eat and drink with such people, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (vv. 31–32).

It means giving more access to our life to others. Kids want to invite friends over to your house, open your house. Be intentional about inviting people to gatherings?

17 - Application: Invite your friends to Matthew Parties.

Examples:

Barbara’s - Book Club in the Community

Andrew - Hy5 Center - I want to challenge you all if you thought “Why is Andrew spending so much time with other kids then our kids.” - He is modeling the Matthew Party.

Dreisenga’s - Back Yard Parties.

Here are some ideas:

Pool Party

Outdoor Barbecue

Holiday get-together

Sports Tournaments

Picnic at a local park

Fair Haven M.C. - Throw a Birthday party in the park others noticed, and they invited them to join.

Ottawa Reformed - Youth Group started a Volley Ball party in the park, other Youth.

Missional Communities as Ready-Made Matthew Party.

Neighborhood events

Pray and Plays

Options are limitless -

COVID - make it smaller. Invite a neighbor to your house. Weather is getting nice - hang outside.

Invite for a hike

Go get some coffee

Support Restaurants by going to a restaurant.

Conclusion:

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Canons of Dort: Head I: Article 3