By Pastor Alex Ruelo
Luke 5:27-32 says, “Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?” Jesus answered 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 and need to repent.””
Tax collectors during Jesus’ time are looked down upon. They are in the same level as theives and murderers simply because they have decided to work for the Roman government. The taxes they collect, aside from it being unfair and sometimes doubled or tripled, are not for the Jews but for the Romans. So most people do not want to have anything to do with them, even their families.
What a big controversy when Jesus called Matthew to be His disciple. Everyone was bewildered and asked “why?” And when Jesus ate with Matthew and his “so-called” friends, people despised Him all the more.
Surely, Jesus must have passed Matthew by while going around the city. And Matthew must have heard about the rabbi who heals the sick. That is why when Jesus called him, he got up, left everything and followed Him.
What can we learn from this story?
Jesus calls sinners to follow Him. (V. 27)
There is alays a tendency to judge people who hve done worse things than you and stay away from them because they are “bad.” We do not welcome them in our homes and even in church because we do not want to be associated with them. But Jesus welcomes us even while we are sinners. He gave us the privilege to praise and worship Him because we are all called by Him and there is no exception. Following Jesus is not really complicated but challenging. It is not normal for people to walk the straight path because it is easier to sway. It is a lifelong journey full of trials and triumphs. But we fall and stand up and dust ourselves off. This goes on over and over again. Only God can “fix” us. That is why we need to move closer to Him; because the more we move closer to God, the more we are cleansed and sanctified.
We are called because we are sinners. The same thing happened to Matthew. I think he thought that he was not worthy of being called. But when Jesus called him, he knew it was a privilege to follow Him because He took notice.
The good thing that this verse shows is that Jesus was the one who called Matthew. Matthew did not go to Him first. Just like when God sent Jesus to earth so that he could reach man, die on the cross and save him from eternal damnation, no matter how much we ry to run away, Jesus will always be there waiting for us to return to Him.
What would you give up to follow Jesus? Are there things in your life that you need to surrender to Him?
Jesus fellowships with sinners. (V. 29)
If you are a Jew, you cannot touch anything that s unclean becaue you will also be unclean. There are so many laws that state this and more. What more to eat with them! It is a different thing to call a sinner and to eat and fellowship with them. That is why it was such a big controversy when Jesus dined with Matthew and his “friends” who were also tax collectors.
The lesson is, no matter what you have done, you have a seat in God’s table. Everybody as an equal seat in the Savior’s table. You are invited and God is caling you to join him in the feast.
Jesus calls sinners to repent. (V. 31-32)
Everyone is called by God. But not everyone who is called repents. Jesus came for the sinners and not for the righteous anyway. You need to make a decision to get up. The first step is the biggest. Ask for forgiveness and admit that you are wrong. Know that just like Matthew, you are unworthy. But Jesus called you anyway.
Application:
Get up. Levi got up to follow Jesus. He is calling you so move. Nobody else can make the decision for you.
Leave everything. Levi left everything to follow Jesus and did not turn back. Do not miss the opportunity to be with the Savior.
Follow Jesus. Just keep on following Jesus no matter what. As long as you know that you are wrong but you still keep on following Him, then you are on the rigght track.
Have a party for Jesus! When Matthew decided that he will follow Jesus, he threw a party. Celebrate because the Messiah noticed you. Just like He noticed Matthew. That is how you show the world how good your Savior is.
1 Timothy 1:15 says, “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.”
I am the worst of all and Jesus came to earth to save me.
1 Peter 1:18-19 says, “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.”
He saved us even if we are not worthy.
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