Luke 5:27-39

Luke 5:27-39

The Lord Jesus called the publican Levi to follow him. This same Levi was Matthew. He immediately left everything and followed the Lord Jesus.

He invited the Lord Jesus to his house and threw a party for him and his friends. These friends were publicans and sinners.

The Lord Jesus sat down with them and no doubt some came to faith in Christ.

However, religious folk criticized the Lord Jesus for visiting with sinners. The Lord Jesus replied that sick people need a doctor. He did not come to call righteous people but sinners to repentance.

They change their strategy and criticize him because he did not fast like John the Baptist. Note that these religious leaders did not believe in John or Jesus. The comparison was sinister on many levels. This was a temptation of the pride of life to cause a division between him and John the Baptist. The Lord Jesus did not fall into their trap. He taught them that there was a time and place for all things. There was a season and a time for fasting but at that time that it was appropriate for him and his disciples to eat with these sinners. He taught them that they tried to contain him in their religious system and that he would never fit into their system of religion. God is too big to fit into the religious boxes men create.

The Lord Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. His goal was to die on the cross so we could be saved from our sins. Christ died for our sins. Jesus said when he was lifted up he would draw all men to himself. Jesus was lifted up on the cross. He was buried. He rose again on the third day.

Romans 8:34, "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."