BREAKING BREAD WITH JESUS. . . . 4/16/23

Luke 5:27 – 32, NLT

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.”

FOUR SURPRISES AND TWO MIRACLES (earlier in Luke 5):
Surprise #1: Luke 5:1-11. A huge catch of fish! Simon Peter, James and John left everything

to follow Jesus. They are the first disciples.
Miracle One: Luke 5:12-13. Healing from leprosy.
Surprise #2. Jesus touched a leper and was not made unclean, the leper was made clean! Surprise #3. Jesus’ fame grows, which is not surprising, but it’s easy to miss what is in vs 16:

But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. (Lk. 5:16).
For Jesus and for us, prayer is time for renewal, time with God, and too important to miss. Miracle Two: Jesus heals a paralyzed man (Luke 5:17-26)
Surprise #4. Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Levi (Matthew) follows Jesus. Three Challenges to us from today’s passage:

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. (Luke 5:27–28)

First Challenge:

What’s our response when Jesus calls and prompts us to do something? Do we ask for signs, and drag our feet?

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?” (Luke 5:29-30)

Second Challenge:

Invite the lonely, the lost and the hurting to come have a seat at the table.

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.” (Luke 5:31-32)

Third Challenge:

Realize we are exactly the people God sent Jesus to save!

References:

Robert H. Stein, Luke, vol. 24, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992)

John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985)

Leon Morris, Luke: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 3, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988)