(Luke 5:27-32 GW) After that, Jesus left. He saw a tax collector named Levi sitting in a tax office. Jesus said to him, “Follow me!” So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. Levi held a large reception at his home for Jesus. A huge crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples. They asked, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor; those who are sick do. I’ve come to call sinners to change the way they think and act, not to call people who think they have God’s approval.”
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” Let’s close this week out with a reminder that we all need God. The passage I have provided for you is the story of Jesus calling Matthew to become a disciple. This passage calls him “Levi.” Both names are right. Matthew was his Greek name and Levi was his Hebrew name. As a tax collector Matthew worked for Greek-speaking Romans and he gathered taxes from Hebrew-speaking Jews. As you know, IRS tax collectors are not very liked today, but back then it was worse. The Israelites were under the rule of the Romans and any Jew who willingly worked for the Romans was considered both a traitor and a sinner. Additionally, tax collectors were rumored to skim a portion of the money for themselves. So not only were Jewish tax collectors who worked for the Romans considered ‘sell-outs,’ but they were also considered thieves. That being context isn’t it amazing that Jesus selected Matthew to be one of his 12 journeymen? The common mind would think that when considering the 12 men he would spend his days and night with – mentoring, teaching, and pouring into them – that Jesus would have been more selective; that He would have picked 12 upright, outstanding, exceptional men of flawless character. But that type of thinking does not consider grace.
After his selection Matthew was so excited that he threw a big party in his big house. Matthew invited his friends and sure enough, the house filled with tax collectors and sinners. Matthew had just been selected by the Son of God for the greatest internship program every available and the only people he knew to invite were people that we were nothing like Jesus, but exactly like him. Somehow a few Pharisees made their way into the party. As the Pharisees looked around they were amazed. They would never associate with this crowd. They considered themselves righteous and there was no way (in their minds) that righteous people were to associate with the scum of the earth. When the question was posed “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus’ response was simple, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor; those who are sick do. I’ve come to call sinners to change the way they think and act, not to call people who think they have God’s approval.” Jesus’ statement was both a free offer of God’s grace to the lost and an indictment of the self-righteousness and pride of the Pharisees.
So what does this mean to you today? Two things:
1. God can make Holy garments from flawed material. The 12 men Jesus picked did not earn their assignment, because none of them were ‘good enough’ for an internship with Jesus. These men were selected by Gods immeasurable grace. Guess what? The same can be said of you!
2. Never fall into the trap of self-righteousness. The Pharisees thought they were righteous by their own works. They were working for their salvation with their own effort and by their own merit. People like this don’t need God because they are the god of their own lives. But people who know they are sick go to the doctor. Those who know they are lost call upon a Savior, and when they do don’t look down on others who are lost because they realize they never earned their place in God’s kingdom… Jesus earned it for them! That’s grace!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for this reminder. I refuse to be like the Pharisees in this story who thought they were better than the sinners. I acknowledge the fact that I was lost without You. I was a sinner in need of a Savior and You saved me by Your grace, not by my own works. I could have never earned Your salvation. Even if I focused my heart and mind to live right before You every waking moment of every day, I know I would have still fallen short. The Law condemned me and there was no way I could ever live up to Your standard. However, Jesus did. Jesus fulfilled the Law, He lived a sinless life, and by Your grace You imputed Jesus’ righteousness on me when I accepted Him as Lord of my life. Thank You Father for making a way for me when I had no way. I could never earn it, but You gave me salvation by grace. Since I know I did not earn it I will never look down on those who are still sinners and who have yet to receive Your salvation by grace. Instead of looking down on them I ask You to use me to reach them with Your grace and Your love. I ask this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
