JESUS - REBEL, REFORMER, OR REVOLUTIONARY? (17)
by Zach Terry
Scripture: Luke 5:27-39
This content is part of a series.
Title: Jesus - Rebel, Reformer, or Revolutionary? (17)
Series: Luke
Author: Zach Terry
Text: Luke 5:27-39
CONTEXT: As we have seen thus far, the sudden growth in Jesus's following has been accompanied with a sharp increase in His critics. They appeared on the scene sitting in the congregation listening when the 4 men tore off the roof to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus.
They made the first charge of Blasphemy when Jesus looked at the man and told him his sins were forgiven. To make matters worse, Jesus immediately does something they could not tolerate...
TEXT: Luke 5:27-32 (ESV)
27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, "Follow me." 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.
Levi, is another name for Matthew, the writer of the first Gospel. He was a tax collector. These guys were different than tax collectors in our day. They were Jewish men who corroborated with the Romans to tax the people.
Rome already placed the heaviest tax burden of any world power in all of history on Israel. These tax collectors not only collaborated with them, but they were allowed to basically practice legal extortion to get all they could possibly get from the citizens.
As a result they became very wealthy and very hated.
Then Jesus calls one to be his disciple. It was a shocking turn in the story. But then it gets worse...
29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.
Now imagine seeing the Preacher you love the most at a party with the people you hate the most.
Also, remember in a Jewish context meals are almost sacramental.
- Much of the OT law was dietary in nature
- Passover was the most significant Jewish Holiday and it revolved around a meal
And here Jesus eating with a group of the most hated men in Israel - tax collectors.
ILLUSTRATION: The closest thing ...
Series: Luke
Author: Zach Terry
Text: Luke 5:27-39
CONTEXT: As we have seen thus far, the sudden growth in Jesus's following has been accompanied with a sharp increase in His critics. They appeared on the scene sitting in the congregation listening when the 4 men tore off the roof to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus.
They made the first charge of Blasphemy when Jesus looked at the man and told him his sins were forgiven. To make matters worse, Jesus immediately does something they could not tolerate...
TEXT: Luke 5:27-32 (ESV)
27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, "Follow me." 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.
Levi, is another name for Matthew, the writer of the first Gospel. He was a tax collector. These guys were different than tax collectors in our day. They were Jewish men who corroborated with the Romans to tax the people.
Rome already placed the heaviest tax burden of any world power in all of history on Israel. These tax collectors not only collaborated with them, but they were allowed to basically practice legal extortion to get all they could possibly get from the citizens.
As a result they became very wealthy and very hated.
Then Jesus calls one to be his disciple. It was a shocking turn in the story. But then it gets worse...
29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.
Now imagine seeing the Preacher you love the most at a party with the people you hate the most.
Also, remember in a Jewish context meals are almost sacramental.
- Much of the OT law was dietary in nature
- Passover was the most significant Jewish Holiday and it revolved around a meal
And here Jesus eating with a group of the most hated men in Israel - tax collectors.
ILLUSTRATION: The closest thing ...
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