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Sermon: Jesus’ Acceptance of a Tax Collector and Sinner
Bible Passage: Mark 2:13-17
I. Last two weeks:
1. The elder brother of Luke 15
a. No legalism
b. God’s unmerited favor on the prodigal
2. The Samaritan woman of John 4
a. God’s outreach to the undeserving
b. Jesus defying social, political, and geographical boundaries
3. The Gospel is subversive and disruptive—God accepting the unlikely
II. Verse 13 is the introduction to the narrative 2:13-17
1. “Jesus went out again by the sea”—the same expression we see in the call narrative of Andrew, Peter, James, and John (cf. 1:16-20)
2. The crowd was coming to Jesus (verse 13b), but Jesus was zeroing in on Levi who was sitting by the tax booth (verse 14)
3. From Matthew 9:9 we know that Levi is none other than “Matthew”
a. Jesus going by the tax booth does not seem to be accidental, but it is intentional
b. Most Jews would avoid Levi due to his profession, but Jesus went by his workplace
c. Levi was working for Rome as a tax collector, which the Jews would equate to a traitor—
d. As a tax collector, Levi would stay in touch with all sorts of people and thereby remained permanently unclean
e. If a Jew had chosen to be a tax collector, he must have been a rebel, living in complete disregard for his religion and society
i. A borderline extortionist
ii. Lived on the labor of others (an aggressive parasite)
iii. Disregarded ethics and good conduct
iv. Broke the moral law and scribal law
v. Most likely Levi was a Levite, a paradox
f. He remained unclean and most likely hated by fellow Jews
i. Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 25b: A Jew who collected taxes was disqualified as a judge or witness in court, expelled from the synagogue, and a cause of disgrace to his family
ii. Mishna Teharot 7:6; mishna Hagiga 3:6: The touch of a tax collector rendered a house unclean
iii. Jews were forbidden to receive money and even alms from tax collectors since revenue from taxes was deemed robbery
g. Levi had a title (verse 15): “a tax collector and sinner,”which was a doubly dishonorable one!
h. The title “sinner” was ascribed to him because he probably disregarded the teachings of the Law
i. Jesus going by Levi’s tax-booth paints a beautiful picture of God visiting a sinner, an undeserving person
i. Despite who Levi was, Jesus invited him “to follow” Him
ii. Jesus’ call to Levi “to follow” Him was purely Jesus’ choice and it was not based on the person of Levi (purely grace, unmerited favor)
iii. Jesus’ call of Levi seems to point to the doctrine “unconditional election” (sovereign election)
iv. Jesus is the initiator of the call (cf. John 15:16 “you did not choose me, but I chose you)
j. Unlike Mark 1:16-20, Jesus does not promise anything to Levi
k. The word “follow” is closely associated with “discipleship
i. It is to “take a position” after Jesus—relationship with Jesus
ii. It is to be “totally committed” to Jesus and “be influenced” by the life and teaching of Jesus
iii. It is to identify with the mission of Jesus and thereby become an active promoter of his mission—“fishers of men” (cf. Matt 28:19-20)
iv. Jesus is certain about the transformation of the disciples if they truly followed Him: “I shall make you to become”
v. Jesus’ training was not going to take place in a classroom nor is it following a curriculum
vi. The content of the Jesus’ school is Jesus himself
4. Requirements for Jesus’ training (Jesus was going to train them to do something they have never done)
a. Disciples’ radical separation from former allegiances in order to be free for the new allegiance to Jesus— (verse 17)
b. Free of encumbrances: tax booths, nets, and families (cf. Matt 5:29-30)
c. Characterized by obedience (verse 18-20)
d. Emphasis for “immediately” or “at ones” (verse 18-20)
5. Levi followed Jesus at ones
6. It looks like God’s “irresistible grace” was at work in Levi (Jesus came by his place)
7. Levi was regenerated so that he could respond to Jesus’ call
a. Regeneration precedes faith
b. Regeneration produces faith to respond to the Gospel
c. Levi’s response was aided by the Holy Spirit
8. Levi chooses the new relationship and profession over the old ones
9. The old one was characterized by: extortion, defilement, wrong associations
10. The new life is characterized by: being with Jesus and his community
11. He left his business and company of influencers
12. He took a position behind Jesus (symbolically, Jesus became Levi’s leader)
Levi develops a missional lifestyle
13. He invited Jesus for a meal
14. He also invited his old colleagues “tax collectors and sinners” so that they would listen to Jesus
15. Jesus joining Levi and “other tax collectors and sinners” point to God’s acceptance of sinners
III. Lessons
1. God’s acceptance of a person is purely God’s sovereign decision; man can never merit God’s acceptance by his own efforts
a. The prodigal son
b. The Samaritan woman
c. Levi/Matthew the tax collector
2. When God regenerates a sinner, he responds to God in faith—both regeneration and faith are from God through the Holy Spirit
3. Work is a result of one’s relationship with God through Jesus as a fruit of salvation—emphasis on works lead to legalism
4. A true follower of Jesus takes a position behind Jesus by leaving/renouncing his godless past—one cannot be both Jesus-follower and world-pleaser
5. The purpose of Christian discipleship is that the disciples will share in the salvation plan of God in Jesus—a disciple cannot be just a classroom disciple but becomes an active participant in the Great Commission!
6. Jesus was acting out the Good News of God—“the Kingdom of God is near, repent and believe in the good news”—God’s Kingdom is extended to the leper, the paralytic, tax collectors, and sinners
Take Away:
Demonstrate our discipleship by actively promoting Jesus’ mission with your time, talent, and resources