Publicans and Sinners Eating with Jesus - Mark 2:15

Mark wrote concerning Jesus, “as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him”, and in chapter two and verse fifteen of his book, Mark shares how Jesus, “as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinner sat also together with Jesus and his disciples” where we read:

And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

The verse reads, “And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples:” Mark began with the words, “and it came to pass” which means “and it happened and came into existence”, “that, as Jesus” or “that while and during the time the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “sat at meat in his house” which means “was reclining to eat in Levi's home”, “many publicans” or “a great crowd and group of tax gatherers and collectors who were Jews that were employed by the Roman government” “and sinners” which refers to “and people who were devoted to sin, especially wicked, with certain vices or crimes and heathen” “sat also together” or “were even so and indeed assembled” “with Jesus” which means “alongside and by the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “and his disciples” or “and Jesus' students, pupils and attendants”. Mark shared how Jesus and His disciples were eating in the home of Levi alongside “detested tax collectors” and “willful violators of the law of God”.

The verse goes on to say, “... for there were many, and they followed him.” Mark continued with the words, “for there were many” which means “because there was a large group of the publicans and sinners”, “and they followed him” or “and the publicans and sinners were joined to and came alongside Jesus and Levi”. Mark shared how there was a “large group” of “tax collectors and sinful people” who also “followed” Jesus when He called “Levi”

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we notice Jesus “eating” with His disciples in “Levi's” home. “Levi's” friends came too, and all of them were interested in Jesus. Jesus made Himself at home in “Levi's” house, and His presence was so inviting that “tax collectors”, who were hated, and “sinners”, who were disliked even more, felt comfortable there. People who do not know Jesus are “lost”, and like “Levi”, Jesus is inviting them to be in a relationship with Him. Those who are “least liked” and “hated” among men are often ones whom Jesus calls into fellowship with Him. Let all who read these words, regardless of their “station” in life, hear Jesus calling to them today - “follow me” and “I will come and dine with you”.

Next time Mark shares, “as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinner sat also together with Jesus and his disciples”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".