WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.859 Well, a couple weeks ago now we heard about how Jesus began to call men to follow him, to be his disciples. 00:00:09.699 --> 00:00:13.679 We heard about Peter and the miraculous catch of fish. 00:00:14.500 --> 00:00:22.719 And today as we continue the story of Jesus, we're going to hear about someone that we might have thought unlikely to become a follower of Jesus. 00:00:22.939 --> 00:00:30.000 We're in Luke chapter 5, and we're picking up the story in Luke chapter 5 verse 27. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:43.280 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. 00:00:44.920 --> 00:00:47.719 Follow me, Jesus said to him. 00:00:49.980 --> 00:00:54.019 So Jesus is out and about, and he sees a tax collector. 00:00:54.760 --> 00:00:57.460 And Luke tells us the name of this tax collector is Levi. 00:00:57.460 --> 00:01:02.060 And Levi is there sitting at his tax booth. 00:01:03.320 --> 00:01:05.680 We might wonder where all this took place. 00:01:06.799 --> 00:01:13.400 Mark tells us in his gospel that the location of this encounter was near the lake, the Sea of Galilee. 00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:21.340 It's possible that there was a tax booth right out at the lake, set up there in order to monitor the catches of the fishermen, 00:01:22.099 --> 00:01:25.120 and to ensure that the taxes were paid on the fish. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:33.140 Another possibility is that Jesus was at the lake, and he walked along until he entered one of the lakeside fishing villages, 00:01:33.859 --> 00:01:40.320 perhaps Capernaum, and that Levi had his tax booth set up there in the little fishing village. 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:45.379 Another important question here is, who was Levi? 00:01:46.199 --> 00:01:49.139 The Gospel of Mark says he was the son of Alphaeus. 00:01:49.679 --> 00:01:53.579 We don't really know who Alphaeus was, so that doesn't really help us a whole lot. 00:01:54.500 --> 00:02:01.199 But the Gospel of Matthew records the same account with the name Matthew used instead of Levi. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:09.199 And so the traditional view held by Christians for centuries is that Levi, the son of Alphaeus, was Matthew. 00:02:09.860 --> 00:02:16.219 This same tax collector became an apostle and later wrote the Gospel of Matthew. 00:02:17.259 --> 00:02:24.420 Either he had two names, or perhaps Jesus gave him a name, Matthew, similar to how he gave the name Peter to Simon. 00:02:24.419 --> 00:02:29.879 I'm just going to call him Levi this morning, since that's what Luke calls him here. 00:02:31.099 --> 00:02:34.939 And finally, what was Levi doing? 00:02:35.979 --> 00:02:41.879 Luke says Levi was a tax collector, sitting at his tax booth. 00:02:43.179 --> 00:02:51.259 To fully appreciate what's about to happen next, it helps to understand a little about tax collectors back then in their culture. 00:02:54.419 --> 00:03:00.459 Let's remember that Israel is under the control of the Roman Empire at this time. 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:05.279 And so with that comes a very different feeling when the tax bill comes due. 00:03:05.979 --> 00:03:11.500 These taxes are not going towards your local schools or hospitals or community projects. 00:03:12.199 --> 00:03:16.899 They're going to Rome to be used however the emperor decides. 00:03:16.900 --> 00:03:27.000 They're going to Herod so that he can use them for his purposes, projects, whatever he wants to do with them. 00:03:27.560 --> 00:03:29.560 Actually, it was a very complicated system. 00:03:30.200 --> 00:03:33.980 In the northern part of Israel, Herod was the tetrarch of Galilee. 00:03:34.360 --> 00:03:40.420 And he functioned as a sort of client ruler, such that there was no Roman governor in the region. 00:03:40.419 --> 00:03:47.339 And Herod was obligated to pay taxes to Caesar, whatever the Romans asked for. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:50.239 And Rome had set amounts on things. 00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:54.539 There was the poll tax, which was collected annually on every adult male. 00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:59.000 There was a land tax of 10% on grain harvests. 00:03:59.619 --> 00:04:03.759 And 20% on wine, fruit, and olive oil. 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:11.419 There were customs and transportation taxes on all the goods and merchants and travelers of about 2% to 5%. 00:04:11.419 --> 00:04:14.799 There was an inheritance tax of about 5%. 00:04:14.799 --> 00:04:19.139 There was a sales tax on everything of 1%. 00:04:19.139 --> 00:04:24.219 And those numbers might not sound too bad if you're thinking about our sales tax 00:04:24.219 --> 00:04:27.339 or some of the numbers we have in Canada today. 00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:30.060 But here's where it gets really ugly. 00:04:30.680 --> 00:04:33.639 These were the amounts that Rome demanded from Herod. 00:04:34.740 --> 00:04:40.019 And then what Herod and other Roman governors did was to add their own taxes on top of those. 00:04:41.180 --> 00:04:48.120 And then they would go a step further and auction off the rights to collect taxes to the highest bidders. 00:04:49.099 --> 00:04:56.519 So let's say that Herod was obligated to pay a million denarii, a million days' wages to Rome for his region. 00:04:56.819 --> 00:04:58.120 He would look at that. 00:04:58.279 --> 00:05:01.439 He would figure out how much he wanted for himself. 00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:11.319 In addition to having to collect that amount, to add to his wealth, to build whatever projects or buildings or monuments he wanted to. 00:05:12.019 --> 00:05:14.639 Of course, Herod's greed factored into this. 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:19.719 And so he might say, well, I'm going to aim to collect one and a half million denarii. 00:05:20.899 --> 00:05:24.019 And so Herod would add his own taxes on top. 00:05:24.740 --> 00:05:31.959 In Galilee, he put a 25% tax on all fishing since it was a big business in his region. 00:05:31.959 --> 00:05:33.659 So you can imagine this. 00:05:33.739 --> 00:05:39.079 Basically, one out of every four fish that you catch goes to the tax man. 00:05:40.439 --> 00:05:43.579 And then this tax farming system worked like this. 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:48.919 Herod would essentially auction off the job of tax collector to the highest bidders. 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:58.199 Let's say that in a local district, the sort of minimum required by Herod to meet his goal was 200,000 denarii. 00:05:58.900 --> 00:06:05.060 A guy might bid and say, well, I'll pay you 250,000 denarii to have the rights to collect in that district. 00:06:05.500 --> 00:06:07.939 Then another guy might say, well, I think I can do better than that. 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:10.580 I'll bid 300,000. 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:12.500 And up and up it would go. 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:18.439 And the highest bidder would pay his bid in advance to Herod. 00:06:18.899 --> 00:06:21.040 So Herod was guaranteed to get the money. 00:06:22.180 --> 00:06:32.240 But then this tax collector was now let loose in that area and was able to collect as much as he could to cover his bid and make his own profits. 00:06:32.600 --> 00:06:34.379 They could add on their own rates. 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:40.899 They could add on their own fees and surcharges and interest for late payments and penalties. 00:06:42.500 --> 00:06:45.980 And they were backed by local authorities to do the collecting. 00:06:46.439 --> 00:06:50.259 So if someone refused to pay, tax collectors could report them to Herod's officials. 00:06:51.800 --> 00:06:59.319 And the officials had the power to seize property, to enforce fines, and even to imprison people. 00:07:00.500 --> 00:07:06.920 So with this sort of a system, tax collection became a lucrative business for the wealthy few. 00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:14.480 And the people ended up paying much more than the minimum percentages required by Rome and Herod. 00:07:14.960 --> 00:07:23.400 Basically, these tax collectors, they would try to get as much as they could without causing backlash, without causing a revolt. 00:07:24.700 --> 00:07:28.660 And as a result of this, tax collectors were utterly despised people. 00:07:28.660 --> 00:07:36.640 They were thought of as robbers, bullies, swindlers, immoral scum. 00:07:38.020 --> 00:07:50.700 Now with that context in mind, we can imagine the surprise that many would have had when Jesus saw this tax collector named Levi sitting in his booth and walks over to him. 00:07:50.699 --> 00:07:58.039 Follow me, Jesus said to him. 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:07.860 And Levi got up, left everything, and followed Jesus. 00:08:09.139 --> 00:08:11.360 Now a couple things about this exchange. 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:16.399 First of all, we need to understand what Jesus meant when he said, follow me. 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:21.679 This wasn't just a temporary, for the moment, invitation to come along. 00:08:22.739 --> 00:08:25.279 That's often the way we use it when we use these words today. 00:08:25.379 --> 00:08:26.560 Follow me, I'll take you there. 00:08:26.799 --> 00:08:28.560 Or follow me, I'll show you. 00:08:29.919 --> 00:08:40.179 But here, this imperative comes in the context of Jesus deliberately selecting men to be his followers, to travel around with him, to work with him. 00:08:40.179 --> 00:08:51.479 This invitation is often spoken about by commentators in terms of a rabbi or teacher calling someone to be a full-time apprentice or pupil. 00:08:52.339 --> 00:08:54.579 So that's what we should hear in Jesus' words. 00:08:55.239 --> 00:09:07.519 When Jesus says, follow me, both Jesus and Levi know that this is an invitation not just to come with Jesus for the day, but to go with Jesus from now on. 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:11.840 And we can think over what Jesus has been doing. 00:09:12.579 --> 00:09:14.639 He's been traveling all over the place. 00:09:14.740 --> 00:09:16.279 He's been going town to town. 00:09:16.899 --> 00:09:18.439 He's been going through the countryside. 00:09:19.079 --> 00:09:22.720 He's making annual trips down to Jerusalem for the festivals. 00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:31.019 We heard about how he gave the same call to Peter just before this, not too long before this. 00:09:31.019 --> 00:09:35.220 And Peter and his brother Andrew and James and John, the fishermen. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:40.659 For them, to follow Jesus meant leaving behind their daily, usual work. 00:09:41.559 --> 00:09:42.720 Same here for Levi. 00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:53.480 When it says that Levi got up, left everything and followed Jesus, it basically means that he's walking away from his job to follow Jesus. 00:09:53.480 --> 00:09:58.360 You might be thinking, well, who's going to be sitting in the tax booth tomorrow? 00:10:00.259 --> 00:10:01.019 Not Levi. 00:10:03.680 --> 00:10:05.180 And notice the word everything. 00:10:06.060 --> 00:10:09.860 He left everything and followed him. 00:10:10.180 --> 00:10:13.200 The sense this gives us is that Levi was all in. 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:21.759 He wasn't planning to follow Jesus, you know, three days a week and then spend the other three at the tax booth, continuing to collect. 00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:26.720 Another thought that I had about this exchange. 00:10:27.660 --> 00:10:33.640 You know, it might seem strange to us to hear of Jesus just sort of walking up to Levi and saying, follow me. 00:10:33.680 --> 00:10:36.200 And then Levi just leaving everything and following him. 00:10:36.259 --> 00:10:37.320 Like, what's going on here? 00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:38.560 Why did he do that? 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:42.359 Is this the first time they've met? 00:10:45.439 --> 00:10:50.059 Now, I've never heard anyone say or suggest what I'm about to suggest, so take it with a grain of salt. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:55.459 But it would seem to me that Levi, at the least, already knows who Jesus is. 00:10:56.139 --> 00:11:00.479 It would seem that he understands what Jesus means when he says, follow me. 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:06.959 Remember that Jesus has been teaching in this region, all over the place. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:11.080 News of Jesus has been spreading all over, even down as far as Jerusalem. 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:18.560 And if Levi is here by the lake, and Jesus has spent a fair bit of time out at the lake, 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:25.460 perhaps Levi knows a fair bit of what Jesus has been teaching. 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:26.680 He's been listening to it. 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:32.099 This is where the miracle catch happened recently with Peter. 00:11:32.939 --> 00:11:33.679 Who knows? 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:37.279 Maybe Levi even had a professional interest in that haul of fish. 00:11:38.659 --> 00:11:43.120 Maybe he was in charge of keeping tabs on the revenues of fishing in the area. 00:11:44.479 --> 00:11:51.139 At the least, I think we can kind of see between the lines that Jesus is not a complete stranger to Levi in this moment. 00:11:51.139 --> 00:11:54.059 Levi's been hearing things. 00:11:54.580 --> 00:11:55.960 He's been seeing things. 00:11:56.819 --> 00:11:59.259 He's probably heard a fair bit of Jesus' teaching. 00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:03.120 And I would suggest that maybe, there's no way to know this for sure, but just maybe, 00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:12.419 Levi was one of the tax collectors who responded to John the baptizer's preaching before Jesus began his public ministry. 00:12:12.419 --> 00:12:17.779 If you recall back in Luke chapter 3, John was preaching a message of repentance, 00:12:18.339 --> 00:12:22.139 and that God's judgment is coming for the wicked and disobedient. 00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:26.339 And some tax collectors were there, and they asked, well, what should we do? 00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:29.240 If we're going to turn from our wicked ways, what should we do? 00:12:29.319 --> 00:12:30.819 How does it apply to our profession? 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:35.399 And John told them not to collect any more than they were required to. 00:12:37.699 --> 00:12:40.480 Could Levi have been one of those tax collectors? 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:49.259 Again, it doesn't say here, but it makes sense that something was going on in Levi's heart leading up to this moment of decision, 00:12:49.500 --> 00:12:54.320 such that now he's just ready to leave everything behind and follow Jesus. 00:12:56.080 --> 00:13:02.879 Imagine, if you can, what it might have been like to be Levi. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:09.240 Levi, a hated individual, despised by most people. 00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:15.060 You have the memories of all the ways that you've taken advantage of people through your career. 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:22.779 You maybe never allowed yourself to feel the full weight of the shame and guilt you should have felt 00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:28.779 as you took advantage of people, as you watched them suffer at your very hands, 00:13:28.820 --> 00:13:33.500 as you pressed them again and again and again for more and more money, 00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:36.080 even threatening. 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:40.600 But then all of a sudden, God begins to work in your heart. 00:13:42.540 --> 00:13:45.320 Perhaps, as I said, through the preaching of John the Baptizer, 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:47.740 and your attitude is beginning to change. 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:53.520 Your heart's beginning to wake up to all the ways that you've hurt people. 00:13:54.560 --> 00:13:57.780 You're beginning to see why they despise you. 00:13:57.779 --> 00:14:00.659 And you don't blame them. 00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:05.459 And then suddenly this man, Jesus, comes to your town. 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:09.759 Everybody goes to the synagogue to hear him. 00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:13.399 You don't even dare to try and go see him at the synagogue 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:16.659 because the people don't even let you come in the door there. 00:14:16.659 --> 00:14:21.459 But out at the docks where the fishermen are working, 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:24.439 you see him. 00:14:25.419 --> 00:14:27.899 There on the shore of the lake, you hear him preaching. 00:14:29.839 --> 00:14:33.719 And the words that he speaks are beginning to soften your heart. 00:14:33.839 --> 00:14:37.659 You hear him speaking about righteousness and about love 00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:40.439 and about the heart that we should have towards God 00:14:40.439 --> 00:14:43.299 and the heart that he has towards us. 00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:47.759 And Jesus is not like the Pharisees and the teachers of the law 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:49.959 with their hypocrisy and pride. 00:14:52.539 --> 00:14:55.939 And you hear of Jesus calling people to follow him. 00:14:57.299 --> 00:15:00.699 And many are going around with him everywhere that he goes. 00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:04.219 And most of them are the very people who hate you. 00:15:05.459 --> 00:15:06.740 And maybe you wonder, 00:15:07.339 --> 00:15:11.299 could I ever be a follower of Jesus? 00:15:11.299 --> 00:15:14.259 Would he even accept me 00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:16.819 with who I am? 00:15:17.599 --> 00:15:18.959 A tax collector. 00:15:19.659 --> 00:15:21.959 And with the things that I've done to people. 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:26.299 Can you imagine what this moment must have been like 00:15:26.299 --> 00:15:28.719 when Jesus locked eyes with Levi 00:15:28.719 --> 00:15:30.559 sitting in the tax booth. 00:15:31.319 --> 00:15:32.599 And instead of doing in that moment 00:15:32.599 --> 00:15:34.740 what everybody else did and quickly looking away, 00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:37.639 he begins to walk 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:39.339 right toward you. 00:15:39.340 --> 00:15:44.680 He sees you like nobody else 00:15:44.680 --> 00:15:45.759 has ever seen you 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:46.759 while you're in that booth 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:49.460 as a human being. 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:52.940 He's actually coming to you 00:15:52.940 --> 00:15:55.600 to initiate with you. 00:15:56.420 --> 00:15:57.519 And maybe you wonder, 00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:58.440 what's he going to say? 00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:01.000 Is he going to rebuke me 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:03.780 for how I've wronged so many people? 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:05.639 And it's none of that. 00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:08.600 He simply says, 00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:10.379 follow me. 00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:14.720 And you can hardly believe your ears. 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:16.919 Like, me? 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:19.480 You're calling me? 00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:24.720 It doesn't say what Levi was thinking or feeling, 00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:26.139 but I imagine two things. 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:28.600 First, a sense of deep unworthiness. 00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:33.000 And second, a realization 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:34.779 that this is the most amazing 00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:37.040 and gracious opportunity ever. 00:16:37.180 --> 00:16:39.100 And I don't want to miss out on this 00:16:39.100 --> 00:16:41.300 for anything. 00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.620 Levi gets up, 00:16:45.340 --> 00:16:46.540 leaves it all behind, 00:16:46.940 --> 00:16:48.980 and follows Jesus. 00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:55.480 Verse 29. 00:16:57.519 --> 00:17:00.120 Then Levi held a great banquet 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:01.580 for Jesus at his house, 00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:04.220 and a large crowd of tax collectors 00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:06.420 and others were eating with them. 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:11.360 You get the sense that Levi was happy. 00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:15.500 So happy to have been called by Jesus. 00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:17.160 Like, we've got to celebrate. 00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:18.240 Let's have a feast. 00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:21.120 Let's throw a big banquet. 00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:23.300 Let's do it at my house. 00:17:25.320 --> 00:17:27.440 Jesus, you'll be the guest of honor. 00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:30.440 I'm going to invite all my friends. 00:17:32.320 --> 00:17:34.340 Who are the friends of the tax collector? 00:17:36.340 --> 00:17:37.740 Other tax collectors 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:40.080 and other scoundrels 00:17:40.080 --> 00:17:41.620 and sinners. 00:17:41.619 --> 00:17:44.359 Luke says, 00:17:44.439 --> 00:17:46.079 a large crowd of tax collectors 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:47.799 and others were eating with them. 00:17:48.139 --> 00:17:48.959 Matthew and Mark 00:17:48.959 --> 00:17:50.379 both say that it was 00:17:50.379 --> 00:17:51.739 many tax collectors 00:17:51.739 --> 00:17:52.619 and sinners. 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:54.759 And we'll see why they use that term 00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:55.339 in a moment. 00:17:56.919 --> 00:17:58.439 So the moral people, 00:17:58.539 --> 00:17:59.619 the religious people, 00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:00.819 they aren't even friends 00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:02.419 with tax collectors like Levi. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:05.279 But we also remember 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:07.119 that Levi was probably very wealthy. 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:09.299 and wealth attracts 00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:10.459 all sorts of people. 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:14.139 Sinners was kind of a label 00:18:14.139 --> 00:18:15.079 given to Levi 00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:16.659 and his buddies 00:18:16.659 --> 00:18:19.019 by the self-righteous Pharisees. 00:18:20.679 --> 00:18:22.179 But there was also probably 00:18:22.179 --> 00:18:23.539 some truth to that as well. 00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:25.699 The kind of people 00:18:25.699 --> 00:18:26.419 that would be friends 00:18:26.419 --> 00:18:27.479 with a guy like Levi 00:18:27.479 --> 00:18:29.579 were probably other greedy men 00:18:29.579 --> 00:18:30.459 of means. 00:18:31.699 --> 00:18:32.179 Swindlers. 00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:34.320 Men and women 00:18:34.320 --> 00:18:35.960 who were obviously immoral, 00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:37.440 corrupt, 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:39.920 maybe collaborators, 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:41.500 traitors, 00:18:41.840 --> 00:18:43.460 self-indulgent people, 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.700 given to drunkenness. 00:18:45.900 --> 00:18:46.080 I mean, 00:18:46.140 --> 00:18:47.100 the list could go on. 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:49.940 We notice 00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:51.340 the adjectives. 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:54.940 Levi held a great banquet 00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:58.320 and a large crowd 00:18:58.320 --> 00:18:59.420 of tax collectors 00:18:59.420 --> 00:18:59.920 and others 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:01.440 were eating with them. 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:03.000 So Levi doesn't just 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:04.140 kill the fattened calf, 00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:05.080 he slaughters 00:19:05.080 --> 00:19:06.220 half the herd. 00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:07.799 He pulls out 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:08.799 all the stops, 00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:10.140 a massive banquet, 00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:11.480 massive feast. 00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:12.880 And notice 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:14.220 who the banquet is for. 00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:18.000 For Jesus. 00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:21.960 To honor 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:22.779 and celebrate 00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:23.340 Jesus. 00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:27.200 And as you can imagine, 00:19:27.340 --> 00:19:28.299 this kind of banquet 00:19:28.299 --> 00:19:29.100 or party 00:19:29.100 --> 00:19:30.660 is the last place 00:19:30.660 --> 00:19:31.340 that some 00:19:31.340 --> 00:19:32.160 would expect 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:33.160 Jesus to be. 00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:36.240 Held by a tax collector 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:38.180 in his own mansion 00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:39.960 with a large crowd 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:40.640 of other wealthy 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:41.620 tax collectors 00:19:41.620 --> 00:19:42.300 and sinners, 00:19:43.300 --> 00:19:44.420 would a holy man 00:19:44.420 --> 00:19:44.960 like Jesus 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:46.279 even darken the door 00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:47.880 of such a gathering? 00:19:50.060 --> 00:19:50.519 Well, 00:19:50.540 --> 00:19:50.920 he did. 00:19:52.060 --> 00:19:52.980 And it was 00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:53.940 met with criticism 00:19:53.940 --> 00:19:55.880 from the Pharisees 00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:57.200 and the teachers 00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:57.220 and the teachers 00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:58.320 of the law. 00:19:58.520 --> 00:19:59.080 Verse 30. 00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:00.640 But the Pharisees 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:01.220 and the teachers 00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:01.880 of the law 00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:04.040 who belong 00:20:04.040 --> 00:20:04.860 to their sect 00:20:04.860 --> 00:20:05.540 complained 00:20:05.540 --> 00:20:06.520 to his disciples, 00:20:07.640 --> 00:20:09.020 why do you eat 00:20:09.020 --> 00:20:09.520 and drink 00:20:09.520 --> 00:20:10.700 with tax collectors 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:11.380 and sinners? 00:20:14.080 --> 00:20:14.920 In other words, 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:15.660 if you're a righteous 00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:16.420 and holy, 00:20:16.620 --> 00:20:17.260 devout man, 00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:17.660 Jesus, 00:20:17.800 --> 00:20:18.420 you would not 00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:19.100 keep company 00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:19.980 with immoral 00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:21.120 and greedy men 00:20:21.120 --> 00:20:22.120 like them. 00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:25.699 But unbeknownst 00:20:25.699 --> 00:20:26.699 to the Pharisees, 00:20:27.239 --> 00:20:28.079 Levi's purpose 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:29.399 in this great feast 00:20:29.399 --> 00:20:30.879 was noble. 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:33.579 It was a banquet 00:20:33.579 --> 00:20:36.479 given for Jesus 00:20:36.479 --> 00:20:38.299 to honor 00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:39.479 and celebrate Jesus 00:20:39.479 --> 00:20:40.139 who had just 00:20:40.139 --> 00:20:40.959 called him 00:20:40.959 --> 00:20:44.159 whom he has now 00:20:44.159 --> 00:20:45.599 become a follower of. 00:20:46.199 --> 00:20:46.879 The purpose 00:20:46.879 --> 00:20:47.659 of this banquet 00:20:47.659 --> 00:20:48.719 is not to engage 00:20:48.719 --> 00:20:49.579 in gluttony 00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:50.579 and drunkenness 00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:51.599 nor is it to impress 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:53.719 all his wealthy friends. 00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:56.059 It would seem 00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:56.639 that Levi 00:20:56.639 --> 00:20:57.899 is attempting 00:20:57.899 --> 00:20:59.539 to bring his colleagues 00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:00.659 and friends 00:21:00.659 --> 00:21:01.659 together 00:21:01.659 --> 00:21:03.480 so that they can 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:04.719 meet Jesus 00:21:04.719 --> 00:21:05.579 personally. 00:21:07.459 --> 00:21:09.000 To introduce them 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:09.719 to Jesus. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.699 And there are 00:21:12.699 --> 00:21:13.359 the Pharisees 00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:13.959 and the teachers 00:21:13.959 --> 00:21:14.539 of the law 00:21:14.539 --> 00:21:16.439 sitting on the sidelines 00:21:16.439 --> 00:21:18.079 judging Jesus 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:19.039 and his disciples 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:20.219 for even attending. 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:22.319 Because of who's 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:22.879 at the party. 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:25.219 Why do you eat 00:21:25.219 --> 00:21:26.839 and drink 00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:27.980 with tax collectors 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:29.559 and sinners? 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:33.919 Jesus answered them, 00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:36.459 It is not the healthy 00:21:36.459 --> 00:21:37.899 who need a doctor 00:21:37.899 --> 00:21:39.740 but the sick. 00:21:42.199 --> 00:21:43.279 What an answer. 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:46.519 These words of Jesus 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:47.439 are loaded. 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:49.240 we notice Jesus 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:50.059 likens himself 00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:50.860 to a doctor. 00:21:51.620 --> 00:21:52.519 This is an amazing 00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:53.000 analogy. 00:21:53.180 --> 00:21:53.900 I was thinking about 00:21:53.900 --> 00:21:54.920 this a lot this week. 00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:56.100 Have you ever been 00:21:56.100 --> 00:21:57.220 to a walk-in clinic 00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:58.019 in the city? 00:21:59.600 --> 00:22:00.799 Sometimes if it's busy 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:01.400 you're waiting 00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:02.420 in the waiting area 00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:03.660 with all kinds of people 00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:05.100 and you see 00:22:05.100 --> 00:22:05.960 and you hear them 00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:07.480 coughing all around you 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.580 and sniffling 00:22:08.580 --> 00:22:09.860 and you know 00:22:09.860 --> 00:22:11.160 you're starting to worry 00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:12.019 am I going to catch 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:13.059 something from them? 00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:14.660 And you're trying 00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:15.640 to keep your distance 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:17.240 and maybe you know 00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:19.480 are these arms 00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:20.160 on my chair? 00:22:20.320 --> 00:22:21.480 Who was sitting here last? 00:22:21.580 --> 00:22:22.480 Did they wipe their snot 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.280 all over this? 00:22:23.340 --> 00:22:24.440 And you start to kind of 00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:25.520 you know 00:22:25.520 --> 00:22:28.800 curl up in a ball. 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:32.140 But then you get in 00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:32.920 to see the doctor 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.740 and if you've ever seen 00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.680 a good doctor 00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:36.440 he cares about you. 00:22:37.360 --> 00:22:38.700 He listens to you. 00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:40.980 He examines you carefully. 00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:42.060 He tries to figure out 00:22:42.060 --> 00:22:42.840 what's the matter? 00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:44.320 What are your symptoms? 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:46.319 What's the solution? 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:47.059 And he offers 00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:48.019 his best advice 00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:48.720 and solutions. 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:52.079 And you feel better 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:53.500 and then you walk out 00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.919 and you see all the people 00:22:54.919 --> 00:22:55.619 still waiting 00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:56.679 in the waiting area 00:22:56.679 --> 00:22:58.460 coughing 00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.980 and sniffling. 00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:03.419 Have you ever wondered 00:23:03.419 --> 00:23:04.139 in those moments 00:23:04.139 --> 00:23:05.079 just how the doctor 00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:06.519 how often the doctor 00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.279 gets sick 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:09.439 just from meeting 00:23:09.439 --> 00:23:10.480 face to face 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:11.319 with sick people 00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:12.339 all day long? 00:23:12.339 --> 00:23:14.759 Have you ever felt 00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:15.399 admiration 00:23:15.399 --> 00:23:16.199 for the doctor 00:23:16.199 --> 00:23:17.159 whose job it is 00:23:17.159 --> 00:23:17.939 to get close 00:23:17.939 --> 00:23:19.419 to every other person 00:23:19.419 --> 00:23:21.220 in that waiting room? 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:22.039 The same people 00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:22.759 that you were 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:24.039 moving away from 00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:24.839 curling up 00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:26.539 shielding yourself from. 00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:29.539 Isn't the doctor 00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:30.720 worried about getting sick 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.159 too? 00:23:32.359 --> 00:23:33.659 What about his health? 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.819 What about his well-being? 00:23:35.919 --> 00:23:37.439 It's an amazing analogy. 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:39.420 It highlights 00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:39.960 how Jesus 00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:41.019 is not concerned 00:23:41.019 --> 00:23:42.320 so much about himself 00:23:42.320 --> 00:23:43.820 like the Pharisees 00:23:43.820 --> 00:23:44.360 and the teachers 00:23:44.360 --> 00:23:44.960 of the law. 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:45.920 His focus 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:46.840 is on others 00:23:46.840 --> 00:23:48.779 and how he can help 00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.680 them to get well. 00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:52.460 He has compassion 00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:55.240 on Levi's friends. 00:23:56.360 --> 00:23:57.160 He cares about 00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:58.259 each one of them 00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:59.700 just like he cared 00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:00.420 about Levi 00:24:00.420 --> 00:24:02.500 the tax collector. 00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:05.279 Like a doctor 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:06.039 Jesus moves 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:07.460 towards these people 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:09.160 who are spiritually 00:24:09.160 --> 00:24:09.640 sick 00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:11.200 in an effort 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:11.799 to see them 00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:12.279 restored. 00:24:12.619 --> 00:24:13.339 He wants to see 00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:14.299 them made well 00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:14.900 again 00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:16.200 with God. 00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:18.579 That's why 00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:19.559 he goes to the banquet 00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:22.099 because he loves 00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:22.359 them 00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:24.440 because he has 00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:25.660 compassion on them. 00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.980 He sees their need. 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:29.119 In fact 00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:30.000 Jesus goes even 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:30.880 further in the next 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:31.279 statement 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:33.379 he says 00:24:33.379 --> 00:24:34.160 this is his 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:35.200 very purpose 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:35.839 and mission 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:38.240 to call sinners 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:40.039 to repentance. 00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.759 How can you do that 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:43.339 if you avoid 00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.059 all contact 00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:44.500 with them 00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.539 and never 00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:46.639 associate with them? 00:24:48.399 --> 00:24:49.599 How can you do that 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.119 if you're always 00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:50.660 trying to keep 00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:51.200 your distance 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:51.720 from them? 00:24:54.539 --> 00:24:55.359 And notice 00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:55.940 what Jesus 00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:57.000 the doctor does. 00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.319 He says 00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:58.879 I've come to 00:24:58.879 --> 00:24:59.599 call the sick 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:01.059 the sinners 00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:03.319 to repentance. 00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:06.159 To repent 00:25:06.159 --> 00:25:06.720 means to 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:07.159 acknowledge 00:25:07.159 --> 00:25:08.240 and confess 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:08.799 your sins 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:09.359 to God 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:10.579 and to turn 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:11.119 away from 00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:12.519 those sinful 00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:13.279 attitudes and 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:13.720 behaviors 00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:14.399 and to turn 00:25:14.399 --> 00:25:15.240 to God 00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:18.200 to seek to be 00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:18.960 restored in 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:19.639 your relationship 00:25:19.639 --> 00:25:20.240 with him. 00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:22.899 So Jesus 00:25:22.899 --> 00:25:23.879 doesn't condone 00:25:23.879 --> 00:25:25.500 any of the 00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:26.299 sinful attitudes 00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:27.079 or behaviors 00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:29.099 of the people 00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:29.639 that he's 00:25:29.639 --> 00:25:30.179 eating and 00:25:30.179 --> 00:25:30.439 drinking 00:25:30.439 --> 00:25:32.279 with at the 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:32.639 table. 00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.480 He's there 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.059 to call 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:34.919 them to 00:25:34.919 --> 00:25:35.339 repent. 00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:37.279 He's there 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:37.720 to call 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.259 their evil 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:38.859 deeds and 00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:39.599 attitudes what 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:40.159 they are 00:25:40.159 --> 00:25:42.859 and turn 00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:43.460 from those. 00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:44.259 Turn back 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:44.839 to God. 00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:47.279 Jesus 00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:47.759 preached 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.480 repentance 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:50.019 just like 00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.339 John the 00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:50.759 Baptist, 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:51.460 John the 00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:51.980 Baptizer 00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:52.279 did. 00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:54.539 This last 00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:55.019 statement of 00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:55.559 Jesus may 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:55.940 have had 00:25:55.940 --> 00:25:57.420 some nuance 00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:58.119 to it and 00:25:58.119 --> 00:25:58.740 sometimes it 00:25:58.740 --> 00:25:59.259 might be 00:25:59.259 --> 00:25:59.899 difficult to 00:25:59.899 --> 00:26:00.519 unpack it a 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:00.960 little bit. 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:03.500 I have not 00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.100 come to 00:26:04.100 --> 00:26:04.579 call the 00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:05.100 righteous 00:26:05.100 --> 00:26:08.000 but sinners 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:09.579 to repentance. 00:26:10.120 --> 00:26:10.420 What does 00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.220 Jesus mean by 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:11.579 this? 00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:13.980 Is he 00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:14.559 agreeing with 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:15.200 the Pharisees 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:15.480 and the 00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:15.980 teachers of 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.360 the law 00:26:16.360 --> 00:26:18.539 that yeah 00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:18.860 they're 00:26:18.860 --> 00:26:19.440 righteous and 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:19.799 they really 00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:20.380 don't need 00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:21.900 Jesus but 00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:22.480 these sinners 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:22.860 well they 00:26:22.860 --> 00:26:23.460 really need 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:23.700 me. 00:26:24.380 --> 00:26:25.100 They're sick. 00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:25.600 You guys 00:26:25.600 --> 00:26:26.319 are well. 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:28.680 Well the 00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:29.319 Pharisees they 00:26:29.319 --> 00:26:29.680 certainly 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:30.640 thought of 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:31.300 themselves as 00:26:31.300 --> 00:26:31.680 being 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:32.300 righteous. 00:26:34.100 --> 00:26:34.960 We follow 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.400 the law 00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:36.800 right down 00:26:36.800 --> 00:26:37.120 to the 00:26:37.120 --> 00:26:37.380 letter. 00:26:38.060 --> 00:26:38.180 We're 00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:38.940 experts in 00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:39.320 the law. 00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:41.220 We take 00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:41.900 it seriously. 00:26:42.340 --> 00:26:43.000 We take 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:43.600 it literally. 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:44.880 Not like 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:45.620 the Sadducees 00:26:45.620 --> 00:26:46.120 and others. 00:26:47.320 --> 00:26:47.540 And so 00:26:47.540 --> 00:26:48.080 these words 00:26:48.080 --> 00:26:48.460 are really 00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.180 striking aren't 00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:49.300 they? 00:26:49.380 --> 00:26:49.980 I have not 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:50.440 come to 00:26:50.440 --> 00:26:50.820 call the 00:26:50.820 --> 00:26:51.120 righteous 00:26:51.120 --> 00:26:51.900 to repentance. 00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:58.600 Why not? 00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:00.280 Is it 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:01.359 because they 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:01.779 don't need 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:02.000 to? 00:27:04.399 --> 00:27:04.980 Or is 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.500 Jesus saying 00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.119 something else 00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:06.359 here? 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:08.899 I think 00:27:08.899 --> 00:27:09.379 what Jesus 00:27:09.379 --> 00:27:09.940 means to 00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:11.079 say is 00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:11.480 not that 00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:11.660 they're 00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:12.019 actually 00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:12.700 righteous and 00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:13.059 don't need 00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:13.599 to repent. 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:15.700 We'll see 00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:16.240 later on in 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:16.720 the gospel 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:17.519 Jesus has a 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:18.019 lot more 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:19.099 to say about 00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:19.700 these people 00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:20.079 and what 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:20.500 they've been 00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.220 up to 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:22.139 that's not 00:27:22.139 --> 00:27:22.680 righteous. 00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:24.420 I think 00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:24.700 what he's 00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:25.200 saying is 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:25.960 that they 00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:26.539 are self 00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:27.079 righteous 00:27:27.079 --> 00:27:30.839 because of 00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:31.099 their 00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:31.879 self 00:27:31.879 --> 00:27:32.420 righteousness 00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:33.240 they are 00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:34.379 deaf to 00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:34.940 his call. 00:27:36.159 --> 00:27:36.940 They are 00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:37.680 blind to 00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:38.139 their need 00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:38.639 for Jesus. 00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.059 They won't 00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:39.579 ever come 00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:40.119 to see 00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:41.159 Jesus the 00:27:41.159 --> 00:27:42.000 doctor because 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.639 they don't 00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:43.420 see themselves 00:27:43.420 --> 00:27:43.940 as being 00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:45.539 sick with 00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:45.879 sin. 00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:47.740 They see 00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:48.379 themselves as 00:27:48.379 --> 00:27:48.980 being well, 00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.220 as being 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:50.700 healthy, 00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:52.579 being right 00:27:52.579 --> 00:27:53.159 with God 00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:54.480 by their 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.480 own good 00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:56.100 works, 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.560 by their 00:27:57.560 --> 00:27:57.960 careful 00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:58.620 keeping of 00:27:58.620 --> 00:27:59.040 the law, 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:00.800 by their 00:28:00.800 --> 00:28:01.880 own avoiding 00:28:01.880 --> 00:28:03.019 contact with 00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:05.100 sinners like 00:28:05.100 --> 00:28:06.540 Levi and 00:28:06.540 --> 00:28:07.080 his buddies. 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:11.140 This should 00:28:11.140 --> 00:28:11.620 make us 00:28:11.620 --> 00:28:12.940 think and 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.300 ask the 00:28:13.300 --> 00:28:13.660 question, 00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:14.080 what about 00:28:14.080 --> 00:28:14.340 me? 00:28:16.100 --> 00:28:17.040 How do 00:28:17.040 --> 00:28:17.680 you see 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:18.519 yourself in 00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.100 relationship 00:28:19.100 --> 00:28:20.080 to Jesus? 00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:22.240 Do you 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:22.860 see yourself 00:28:22.859 --> 00:28:23.699 as healthy 00:28:23.699 --> 00:28:26.759 or as 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.119 one who 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:27.559 is sick? 00:28:31.079 --> 00:28:31.819 Jesus has 00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:32.319 come as 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:33.079 a doctor. 00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:37.419 Do you 00:28:37.419 --> 00:28:37.779 need his 00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:38.039 care? 00:28:40.439 --> 00:28:41.039 Do you 00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:41.479 need his 00:28:41.479 --> 00:28:41.799 help? 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:44.819 Or are 00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:45.079 you good 00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:45.500 to go 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:46.339 without him? 00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:47.959 Been doing 00:28:47.959 --> 00:28:48.459 pretty good 00:28:48.459 --> 00:28:48.759 on your 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:49.000 own. 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:51.599 Do you 00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:52.459 see yourself 00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:53.519 as a 00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:53.759 sinner? 00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.079 Or do 00:28:58.079 --> 00:28:58.340 you see 00:28:58.340 --> 00:28:58.940 yourself as 00:28:58.940 --> 00:28:59.299 being 00:28:59.299 --> 00:29:00.059 righteous? 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:02.700 A pretty 00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.319 good person. 00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:06.720 Do you 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.380 hear Jesus 00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:08.079 calling to 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:09.799 you to 00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:10.200 repent? 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:13.059 Have you 00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:13.519 done that? 00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:19.440 God makes 00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:19.759 it very 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:20.279 clear in 00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:20.799 other places 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:21.200 in his 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:21.579 word. 00:29:22.059 --> 00:29:22.299 Romans 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:23.079 chapter 3. 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:24.599 There is 00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:25.000 no one 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:25.480 righteous, 00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:27.039 not even 00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:27.379 one. 00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:28.639 There is 00:29:28.639 --> 00:29:29.039 no one 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:29.200 who 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:29.819 understands, 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:30.319 there is 00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:30.779 no one 00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:31.319 who seeks 00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:31.799 God. 00:29:32.359 --> 00:29:33.039 All have 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:33.700 turned away. 00:29:34.420 --> 00:29:34.799 They have 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:35.180 together 00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:35.599 become 00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:35.980 worthless. 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.139 There is 00:29:37.139 --> 00:29:37.639 no one 00:29:37.639 --> 00:29:38.099 who does 00:29:38.099 --> 00:29:38.480 good, 00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:40.019 not even 00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.339 one. 00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:40.379 sin. 00:29:41.439 --> 00:29:41.959 That's 00:29:41.959 --> 00:29:42.099 our 00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:42.539 condition. 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:44.720 He goes 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:45.139 on to say 00:29:45.139 --> 00:29:45.359 a little 00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:45.639 more. 00:29:45.799 --> 00:29:46.000 Therefore, 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:46.639 no one 00:29:46.639 --> 00:29:47.000 will be 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:47.480 declared 00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.039 righteous 00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:49.079 in God's 00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:49.519 sight by 00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:50.179 the works 00:29:50.179 --> 00:29:50.720 of the 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.019 law. 00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.279 Rather, 00:29:53.439 --> 00:29:53.819 through the 00:29:53.819 --> 00:29:54.099 law, 00:29:54.399 --> 00:29:55.000 we become 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.639 conscious 00:29:55.639 --> 00:29:57.459 of our 00:29:57.459 --> 00:29:57.759 sin. 00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:57.799 sin. 00:30:00.859 --> 00:30:01.539 And just 00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:01.879 down the 00:30:01.879 --> 00:30:02.259 page a 00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:02.640 little in 00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:03.299 Romans 3. 00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:06.359 There's 00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:06.960 no difference 00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:07.640 between Jew 00:30:07.640 --> 00:30:08.319 and Gentile, 00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:08.980 for all 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:09.779 have sinned 00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:10.420 and fall 00:30:10.420 --> 00:30:12.160 short of 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:12.619 the glory 00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:13.160 of God. 00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:13.980 So we've 00:30:13.980 --> 00:30:14.379 all blown 00:30:14.379 --> 00:30:14.579 it. 00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:15.680 Every one 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:16.160 of us 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:17.299 is a 00:30:17.299 --> 00:30:17.539 sinner. 00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:19.319 And no 00:30:19.319 --> 00:30:19.720 amount of 00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:20.200 good works 00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:20.519 on our 00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:20.960 part can 00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:21.299 make up 00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:21.440 the 00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:21.859 difference. 00:30:23.420 --> 00:30:23.920 Our 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:24.460 guiltiness 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:24.879 cannot 00:30:24.879 --> 00:30:25.839 just be 00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:26.420 undone. 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:28.500 It can't 00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:28.900 be wiped 00:30:28.900 --> 00:30:30.039 away by 00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:30.680 simply doing 00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:31.319 more good 00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:32.720 things than 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:33.099 the bad 00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:33.519 things that 00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:33.960 we've done. 00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:34.480 We've still 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:35.180 done those 00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:35.920 bad things. 00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.480 We've still 00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:38.059 sinned in 00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:38.799 countless ways. 00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:39.400 All of us 00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:39.740 have. 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:42.180 None of us 00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:42.660 are righteous. 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.460 We are all 00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:44.740 sinners. 00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:47.279 But here's 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:47.599 the good 00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:47.960 news. 00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:49.460 Hear these 00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:49.879 words of 00:30:49.879 --> 00:30:50.500 Jesus again. 00:30:50.619 --> 00:30:50.920 I have 00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:51.559 not come 00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:52.039 to call 00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:52.720 the righteous 00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:54.460 but sinners 00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:56.099 to repentance. 00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:58.720 Jesus has 00:30:58.720 --> 00:31:00.299 come to 00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:00.740 call us 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.519 back into 00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:02.200 a restored 00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:02.879 relationship 00:31:02.879 --> 00:31:03.599 with God. 00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:06.279 Do you 00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:06.680 hear that 00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:07.640 call to 00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:08.039 repent? 00:31:11.379 --> 00:31:12.180 He's like 00:31:12.180 --> 00:31:12.720 the doctor 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:13.180 that we 00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:14.279 all need 00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:16.400 to save 00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:17.279 us from 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:18.460 sin's 00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:19.119 deadly 00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:19.759 effects in 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:20.039 us. 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:21.960 Let me 00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:22.339 read the 00:31:22.339 --> 00:31:22.720 rest of 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.200 this verse. 00:31:24.339 --> 00:31:24.799 For all 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:25.379 have sinned 00:31:25.379 --> 00:31:25.720 and fall 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:26.140 short of 00:31:26.140 --> 00:31:26.640 the glory 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:27.220 of God 00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:30.319 and all 00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:31.140 are justified 00:31:31.140 --> 00:31:31.860 freely 00:31:31.860 --> 00:31:32.960 by his 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:33.460 grace 00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:34.440 through the 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:34.920 redemption 00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:36.460 that came 00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:37.519 by Christ 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:37.940 Jesus. 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.519 I love 00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:41.120 these words. 00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:45.380 We can 00:31:45.380 --> 00:31:45.839 all 00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:47.720 be justified 00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.940 made right 00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:49.940 with God 00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:52.319 by his 00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:52.860 grace. 00:31:52.859 --> 00:31:56.279 his gift. 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:56.439 His gift. 00:31:58.939 --> 00:31:59.539 It's a 00:31:59.539 --> 00:31:59.939 gift that 00:31:59.939 --> 00:32:00.479 comes 00:32:00.479 --> 00:32:01.959 by Christ 00:32:01.959 --> 00:32:02.379 Jesus. 00:32:02.539 --> 00:32:02.779 It's a 00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:03.159 redemption 00:32:03.159 --> 00:32:03.759 that comes 00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:04.359 through Christ 00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:04.740 Jesus. 00:32:04.859 --> 00:32:05.199 How does 00:32:05.199 --> 00:32:05.519 it work 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:05.879 we might 00:32:05.879 --> 00:32:06.199 wonder. 00:32:06.339 --> 00:32:06.639 How can 00:32:06.639 --> 00:32:07.199 sinners 00:32:07.199 --> 00:32:08.539 be justified? 00:32:09.479 --> 00:32:09.799 How can 00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:10.139 we be 00:32:10.139 --> 00:32:10.919 made to 00:32:10.919 --> 00:32:11.379 have this 00:32:11.379 --> 00:32:12.059 right standing 00:32:12.059 --> 00:32:12.659 with God? 00:32:13.219 --> 00:32:13.779 Paul just 00:32:13.779 --> 00:32:14.240 goes on 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:14.679 and tells 00:32:14.679 --> 00:32:15.099 us 00:32:15.099 --> 00:32:16.159 God 00:32:16.159 --> 00:32:16.659 presented 00:32:16.659 --> 00:32:17.219 Christ 00:32:17.219 --> 00:32:18.319 as a 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:18.819 sacrifice 00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:19.639 of 00:32:19.639 --> 00:32:20.240 atonement 00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:22.759 through the shedding of his blood 00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:25.460 to be received by faith. 00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:31.420 The Apostle Paul is talking about Jesus' death on the cross. 00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:36.359 As we'll hear later in Luke, 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:42.220 Jesus will go on to offer himself as a sacrifice to God 00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:45.140 to atone for our sins. 00:32:45.140 --> 00:32:52.500 What that means is that Jesus freely, as a gift of grace, 00:32:52.600 --> 00:32:57.340 will put himself forward on our behalf 00:32:57.340 --> 00:33:00.040 and willingly take upon himself 00:33:00.040 --> 00:33:04.259 the punishment that we deserve for our sins. 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:10.340 And God will accept this as payment in full 00:33:10.339 --> 00:33:15.579 such that justice is done for the wrongs we've committed 00:33:15.579 --> 00:33:19.720 and we can be let off the hook completely, 00:33:21.399 --> 00:33:24.199 forgiven, spared what we deserve. 00:33:24.639 --> 00:33:27.659 This is what happened when Jesus died on the cross. 00:33:31.159 --> 00:33:33.720 We're getting close to that time of the year 00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:36.079 when we turn our hearts towards that 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:40.899 with Easter coming or Resurrection Sunday, I should say. 00:33:41.619 --> 00:33:43.939 But each month also we take time to remember 00:33:43.939 --> 00:33:47.000 this amazing gift of God's love and grace. 00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:53.399 His body, which is what the loaf of bread represents, 00:33:53.879 --> 00:33:54.579 was broken. 00:33:57.000 --> 00:34:00.579 His blood, which is what the cup represents, 00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:04.740 ran out of his body as he hung there 00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:06.939 and died on the cross. 00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:11.480 We eat the bread and we drink from the cup 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:15.759 to remember his sacrifice of atonement for us. 00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:21.960 The thing that he did to make us sinners well. 00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:25.599 And so if you have repented, 00:34:25.900 --> 00:34:27.519 if you have believed in Jesus, 00:34:27.699 --> 00:34:30.139 then I want to invite you to partake with us this morning. 00:34:30.579 --> 00:34:35.679 And if not, please just let the elements pass you by. 00:34:36.739 --> 00:34:39.579 We'll take some time now to quietly reflect and pray. 00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:44.860 And then we'll have Charles and Dave come 00:34:44.860 --> 00:34:46.579 and pass out the elements. 00:34:48.719 --> 00:34:49.900 Once you've received them, 00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:51.579 I encourage you just to hold on to them 00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:53.400 until everybody's been served. 00:34:54.139 --> 00:34:55.980 And then we'll give thanks 00:34:55.980 --> 00:34:58.619 and we'll eat and drink together.