Jesus' Call: Embracing the Outcasts and Sinners

 

Summary

In our study of the Gospel according to Luke, we encounter the transformative call of Levi, a tax collector, to follow Jesus. This narrative highlights Jesus' authority to forgive sins and His mission to reach out to those deemed outcasts by society. Levi, also known as Matthew, was a tax collector, a profession despised by the Jewish people due to its association with Roman oppression. Tax collectors were seen as traitors, much like the collaborators during wartime, and were often ostracized by their communities. Yet, Jesus called Levi to leave his life of sin and follow Him, demonstrating His mission to seek and save the lost.

The story of Levi's call is a powerful reminder of Jesus' compassion and willingness to associate with those considered unworthy by societal standards. Levi's response to Jesus' call was immediate and wholehearted; he left everything behind and even hosted a feast for Jesus, inviting other tax collectors to join. This act of hospitality was met with criticism from the Pharisees, who questioned why Jesus would associate with sinners. Jesus' response was profound: He came not for the righteous, but for sinners in need of repentance.

This passage challenges us to examine our own lives and attitudes. Are we like the Pharisees, quick to judge and separate ourselves from those we deem unworthy? Or are we willing to follow Jesus' example, reaching out to those in need of grace and forgiveness? The call to follow Jesus is a call to leave behind our old ways and embrace a life of transformation and service. It is a call to recognize our own need for a Savior and to extend that same grace to others.

Key Takeaways:

1. Jesus' Call to the Outcasts: Jesus' invitation to Levi, a despised tax collector, underscores His mission to reach those marginalized by society. This act of grace challenges us to extend love and acceptance to those whom society often rejects, recognizing that everyone is in need of redemption. [01:15]

2. The Burden of Sin and Redemption: Levi's willingness to leave his lucrative but sinful occupation to follow Jesus illustrates the transformative power of Christ's call. It reminds us that true repentance involves a decisive break from sin and a commitment to a new life in Christ. [19:30]

3. The Pharisees' Misunderstanding: The Pharisees' criticism of Jesus for associating with sinners reveals their misunderstanding of righteousness. True righteousness is not about segregation from sinners but about recognizing our own need for grace and extending it to others. [21:56]

4. The Role of Thrift and Generosity: The connection between thrift and generosity is highlighted as a biblical virtue. Living beyond our means not only leads to financial ruin but also hinders our ability to be generous and fulfill our obligations to God and others. [15:24]

5. The Universal Need for a Savior: Jesus' statement that He came to call sinners to repentance challenges us to acknowledge our own need for a Savior. No one is beyond the reach of God's grace, and recognizing our need for forgiveness is the first step toward spiritual healing. [24:52]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:33] - Levi's Call to Follow Jesus
- [01:15] - Jesus' Authority to Forgive Sins
- [02:05] - Prayer for Understanding
- [03:04] - A Story of Betrayal and Hatred
- [04:46] - The Burden of Roman Taxation
- [07:56] - The Jewish View of Tax Collectors
- [09:42] - God's Order of Taxation
- [12:04] - Historical Misuse of Taxation
- [13:40] - The Growth of Government Power
- [15:24] - Thrift and Generosity
- [17:08] - The Sin of Not Tithing
- [19:30] - Levi's Transformation
- [21:04] - Jesus' Association with Sinners
- [24:52] - Jesus' Mission to Save the Lost
- [27:48] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 5:27-32

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Observation Questions:

1. What was Levi's occupation before he followed Jesus, and why was it significant in the context of Jewish society? [07:56]

2. How did Levi respond to Jesus' call, and what actions did he take immediately after? [20:23]

3. What was the reaction of the Pharisees to Jesus dining with tax collectors and sinners, and how did Jesus respond to their criticism? [21:56]

4. What analogy did Jesus use to explain His mission to the Pharisees, and what was its significance? [22:39]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why might Levi's decision to leave his tax booth and follow Jesus be considered a significant act of repentance and transformation? [19:30]

2. How does Jesus' response to the Pharisees' criticism challenge the traditional understanding of righteousness and sin? [24:52]

3. In what ways does the story of Levi illustrate the broader mission of Jesus to seek and save the lost? [24:11]

4. How does the sermon suggest that the Pharisees' misunderstanding of righteousness might be relevant to contemporary attitudes within the church? [25:51]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt judged or ostracized by others. How can Levi's story encourage you to seek Jesus' acceptance and transformation in your life? [07:56]

2. Levi left everything to follow Jesus. What is one thing in your life that you feel called to leave behind to follow Jesus more closely? [19:30]

3. Jesus associated with those considered outcasts. How can you intentionally reach out to someone in your community who might feel marginalized or rejected? [21:04]

4. The Pharisees believed in salvation by segregation. How can you ensure that your faith community is inclusive and welcoming to all, regardless of their past or present circumstances? [21:56]

5. Jesus' mission was to call sinners to repentance. How can you personally respond to this call in your daily life, acknowledging your own need for a Savior? [24:52]

6. Consider the connection between thrift and generosity mentioned in the sermon. How can you practice financial stewardship in a way that allows you to be more generous to others? [15:24]

7. How can you cultivate a heart of compassion and grace towards those whom society often rejects, following Jesus' example with Levi? [24:11]

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus' Radical Inclusion of the Marginalized
Jesus' call to Levi, a tax collector, exemplifies His mission to reach those marginalized by society. Tax collectors were despised and ostracized, yet Jesus extended His invitation to Levi, demonstrating that no one is beyond the reach of His grace. This act challenges us to extend love and acceptance to those whom society often rejects, recognizing that everyone is in need of redemption. Jesus' actions remind us that His kingdom is open to all, regardless of their past or societal status. [01:15]

"And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, 'Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?' And Jesus answered 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.'" (Luke 5:30-32, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life might you be overlooking or avoiding because of societal judgments? How can you extend Jesus' radical inclusion to them today?


Day 2: The Transformative Power of Christ's Call
Levi's willingness to leave his lucrative but sinful occupation to follow Jesus illustrates the transformative power of Christ's call. This narrative shows that true repentance involves a decisive break from sin and a commitment to a new life in Christ. Levi's immediate and wholehearted response to Jesus' invitation is a testament to the profound change that occurs when one encounters the Savior. It challenges us to consider what we might need to leave behind to fully embrace a life of discipleship. [19:30]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life that you feel called to leave behind in order to follow Jesus more closely? What steps can you take today to begin this transformation?


Day 3: Misunderstanding Righteousness
The Pharisees' criticism of Jesus for associating with sinners reveals their misunderstanding of righteousness. True righteousness is not about segregation from sinners but about recognizing our own need for grace and extending it to others. Jesus' response to the Pharisees highlights the importance of humility and compassion in our spiritual journey. It invites us to examine our attitudes and to embrace a righteousness that is rooted in love and grace rather than judgment and exclusion. [21:56]

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways might you be misunderstanding righteousness in your own life? How can you shift your perspective to align more closely with Jesus' example of grace and compassion?


Day 4: The Connection Between Thrift and Generosity
The sermon highlights the connection between thrift and generosity as a biblical virtue. Living beyond our means not only leads to financial ruin but also hinders our ability to be generous and fulfill our obligations to God and others. By practicing thrift, we create space for generosity, allowing us to support those in need and contribute to the work of God's kingdom. This principle challenges us to evaluate our financial habits and to consider how we can better align them with our spiritual values. [15:24]

"One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." (Proverbs 11:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you practice thrift in your daily life to create more opportunities for generosity? What specific changes can you make to your financial habits this week?


Day 5: Acknowledging Our Universal Need for a Savior
Jesus' statement that He came to call sinners to repentance challenges us to acknowledge our own need for a Savior. No one is beyond the reach of God's grace, and recognizing our need for forgiveness is the first step toward spiritual healing. This truth invites us to approach God with humility, seeking His mercy and extending that same grace to others. It reminds us that our journey of faith is one of continual repentance and renewal. [24:52]

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to acknowledge your need for a Savior? How can you actively seek God's grace and extend it to others today?

Quotes


“After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So, he left all, rose up, and followed Him. Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, ‘Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus answered and 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.’” [00:16:43]

Again, Luke gives us another particular example of Jesus reaching out to an individual. This follows immediately after the healing of the paralytic, in which Jesus declared that as the Son of Man He had the authority to forgive sins on the earth. What follows immediately after that in Luke’s account is the manifestation of that authority of Jesus to forgive those who are sinners. [00:01:15]

I tell that story, I’ve told it before, but I tell it for a reason. This kind of hatred that the woman had for the traitor, the collaborator, was how the Jewish people felt about tax collectors. In Israel, the terms “sinner” and “publican” were virtually anonymous terms because the worst sin that the people felt was that sin of collaboration with the Romans who so severely oppressed the Jewish people. [00:07:48]

The burden of the taxes that the Roman government imposed upon captive Israel was incredible. The Romans were able to discover a tax for just about everything, taxes on wheat, taxes on olives, taxes on grapes, taxes on wine, taxes on chariots, taxes on gasoline…no that wasn’t the Romans. And here was this Jewish man who was working for the Romans, sitting at his table outside, along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, right on the route, the trade route from Syria to Egypt, and he was collecting a toll tax or a tariff of some sort, keeping a percentage of what he collected for himself. [00:08:39]

A few weeks ago in Philadelphia, I listened to a lecture from a man by the name of Jack Templeton, whose father John Templeton, perhaps the most famous philanthropist on the face of the earth and founded the Templeton Foundation, and Jack Templeton lectured on thrift and generosity as biblical virtues. He talked about the connection between thrift and generosity. He said, “You won’t have anything to be generous with if you’re not first thrifty.” [00:15:14]

Levi was a wealthy man, and you know he wasn’t tithing. But when Jesus came to him, a man who routinely stole from God and stole from his own people, Jesus called him to be His disciple. Jesus called him to write the first Gospel in order of the four Gospels of the New Testament, because Levi’s other name was Matthew who wrote the Gospel according to Matthew. He said, “Leave this, and follow Me.” [00:19:41]

Jesus responded to them, because remember that the Pharisees believed in salvation by segregation, by separating themselves from the “am ha’aretz,” the people of the land or it could be translated “the people of the dirt, the dirty people, the outcasts, the sinners, tax collectors.” If you wanted to be saved, you had to stay a safe distance from these people because if you come close to them, you’ll become like them and you’ll become contaminated. [00:21:56]

Jesus responded to them with very simple wisdom, where He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” Oh, I know we get annual checkups or some of us do. I know sometimes we go to the doctor when we’re not sick. But for the most part, we hold off that call until we need the doctor. [00:22:49]

Who do you expect Me to spend time with? You don’t know who I am or why I’m here. I’m the Son of Man, and I’ve come to seek and to save the lost. And I found one of those people who was lost, really lost at that table, sitting along the toll road by the Sea of Galilee. And I asked him to join My group, and he left everything to follow me. [00:24:31]

I came for Matthew. I came for tax collectors. I came for prostitutes. I came for the people of the land, the dirty people. They are My people. I’m going to shed My blood for those people, for collaborators, for your enemies. And, Mr. Pharisee and Mr. Scribe, I didn’t come to save the righteous or to call the righteous to repentance, but to call sinners to repentance. [00:24:52]

Nobody needs a physician more than somebody who is fatally ill but doesn’t know it. So, it was with the Pharisees, and so it was with the scribes, and so it was with all of us who think for a minute that we don’t need the ministrations of the Son of God to cover our sins, to forgive us and to redeem us. [00:26:32]

Beloved, this is our Savior who calls tax collectors to join Him, who calls tithe evaders to be His, who wants His people to be made whole, to delight in the things that He delights in and to delight in the law of God. [00:27:14]

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Transcript
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