Matthew's Party
Celebrating Jesus!
Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 5:22-32
In the above verses, Jesus was doing and saying things that confounded the Jewish leaders and Pharisees, but made other people marvel and want to follow Him.
So come on, if you know of a lifelong paralyzed man who was healed by Jesus, you just might be a little bit curious and follow this guy around for a while! And now He’s saying He can forgive sins, too? What? The people in the crowd tell you, “Oh, this isn’t His first miracle. The other day, we saw the fishermen having trouble with their catch. Jesus sent them back out and they returned with so many fish, their nets were breaking! And then later on in the week, He completely healed a leper. You would not believe the number of people that He has healed!”
Jesus was starting to draw large crowds and the Jewish leaders and the Pharisees were getting concerned. This man, Jesus, was breaking all of the rules!
Then the hated tax collector, Levi (later named Matthew), was asked by Jesus to follow Him. Matthew, being a wealthy man, decided to hold a big party for Jesus. In attendance with Jesus were more fellow tax collectors and sinners. What is Jesus thinking? Again, very unacceptable behavior from the leaders’ standpoint and considered shocking by his own Jewish people.
While we’re not known to throw big banquets, my husband, Steve, and I like to entertain. We usually invite family, friends, or members of our Sunday school class. Among them are some quirky personalities, some more liked than others, and frankly, when it comes to family (especially) – just tolerated. We like to think that we leave no one out just because they are different than us, but do we?
Jesus excluded no one, recognizing that His mission was to heal the sick, whether physically, mentally, or spiritually ill. So He partied with the tax collectors and the sinners, and physically touched those who were considered untouchable.
These scripture verses challenge us. How much do we avoid the untouchables in our lives – choosing to look away from or ignore the homeless, staying in our comfort zones, avoiding the difficult family members, or choosing the easiest route?
Who do we invite to our parties, allow into our lives, and make an effort to know? If we choose to participate in and be worthy of Jesus’ Great Banquet, it is imperative that we understand and accept that ALL are invited and NO ONE is excluded.
