Luke the beloved physician shared how Jesus, “went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them”, and in chapter five and verse thirty of his book Luke shares how, “their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples” where we read:
But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying,
Why do you eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
The verse reads, “But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, ...” Luke began with the words, “But their scribes” or “however, nevertheless, nonetheless, moreover and the people's men learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings and served as interpreters and teachers” “and Pharisees” which means “and men within the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life” “murmured” or “grumbled, said against in a low tone, conferred secretly together and discontentedly complained” “against his disciples” which means “in opposition to, towards and in regard to Jesus' pupils, learners and attendants”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring, proclaiming and asking” the following question. Luke shared how the “religious leaders” known as “scribes and Pharisees” began to “grumble” in opposition to Jesus' “disciples”.
The verse continues, “... Why do you eat and drink with publicans and sinners?” Luke added the words, “why do you eat and drink” which means “for what reason and cause to you devour and consume as well as imbibe” “with publicans” or “alongside tax-collectors” “and sinners” which means “and heathens, especially wicked men and those who are stained with certain definite vices or crimes”? Luke shared how the “religious leaders” questioned “why” Jesus and His disciples would “eat and drink” with these “wicked and heathen” men.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn again of the indignation within the “scribes and Pharisees”. This time they were questioning why Jesus and His disciples would “eat and drink” with “sinners” and “tax-collectors”. The “religious leaders” were used to shunning this type of people, and because they were considered “holy and pure”, “religious leaders” would never “eat or drink” with such sinful people. Eating and drinking with people in those days meant becoming “one” with them, and because they were “righteous” in their own eyes, the “religious leaders” would never associate with “wicked tax-collectors” or “sinful people”. God loves everybody, and because people needed to be saved from their “sinful” behavior, He sent His Son Jesus to dwell among them. Jesus came to die for the sins of everyone, and until a person realizes they are in need to be forgiven of their sins as much as anyone else, they will never repent or align themselves with Jesus. Those who study the life of Jesus will find that He came to “save sinners”, and that means every person regardless of how “righteous” they may think themselves to be over others.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “they that are whole need not a physician”, 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment