“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.” (Luke 5:29)
In the new testament, people were often known by two names, and sometimes (as was the case with Saul, who later became Paul) the Lord changes that person's name into something completely new. For the casual reader of the scriptures, this can become somewhat confusing, particularly when there is more than one individual bearing the same name. When questions like these emerge, we should yearn to search the scriptures for clarity so that we can fully understand why each individual is named specifically in the scriptures, and how the Lord fulfilled His purpose for them within the world.
Certainly, there is no shortage of examples in the new testament, that show us how the members of the body of Christ at that time laboured to fulfill His will. It is in this context, that the example of Levi caught my attention, and not whether his name was changed to Matthew or James (as religious tradition over the last 2,000 years dictates), or perhaps, in fact, neither.
Let's begin with what we do know. Alphaeus was Levi's father (Mark 2:14). So was James (the lesser) a son of Alphaeus, according to Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; and Luke 6:15.
When Jesus first met Levi, he was a publican -- a public servant -- a tax collector, and a known profession that people despised because corruption was oft linked with the position. The account of Jesus meeting Levi for the first time is explained in three of the gospels.
"And as He [Jesus] 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." (Mark 2:14)
"And as Jesus passed forth from thence, He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and He saith unto Him, "Follow Me." And he arose, and followed Him." (Matthew 9:9)
"And after these things He 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." (Luke 5:27)
From these examples, we further understand that the scribes and Pharisees murmured against His disciples, saying, "Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?" And Jesus answering said unto them, "They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." And they said unto Jesus, "Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise [the disciples] of the Pharisees, but Thine eat and drink?" And Jesus said unto them, "Can ye make the children of the bride chamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the day will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days ..." (Luke 5:27-35)
Let's begin with what we do know. Alphaeus was Levi's father (Mark 2:14). So was James (the lesser) a son of Alphaeus, according to Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; and Luke 6:15.
When Jesus first met Levi, he was a publican -- a public servant -- a tax collector, and a known profession that people despised because corruption was oft linked with the position. The account of Jesus meeting Levi for the first time is explained in three of the gospels.
"And as He [Jesus] 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." (Mark 2:14)
"And as Jesus passed forth from thence, He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and He saith unto Him, "Follow Me." And he arose, and followed Him." (Matthew 9:9)
"And after these things He 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." (Luke 5:27)
From these examples, we further understand that the scribes and Pharisees murmured against His disciples, saying, "Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?" And Jesus answering said unto them, "They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." And they said unto Jesus, "Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise [the disciples] of the Pharisees, but Thine eat and drink?" And Jesus said unto them, "Can ye make the children of the bride chamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the day will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days ..." (Luke 5:27-35)
But more to the point being made here ....
"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. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto His disciples, "How is it that He eats and drinks with publicans and sinners?" When Jesus heard [it], He said unto them, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance ..." (Mark 2:16-22)
The example to us as believers in Jesus by faith is that our walk with Jesus should not end in believing by faith only. In fact, there is much more when Jesus calls us to "follow Me!" This is evident in Levi (regardless of whether the scholars claim Levi to be either Matthew or James. That is, when Levi decided in his heart to follow Jesus, and indeed did, there was fruit that followed. In Levi's case, the fruit appeared to be immediate.
"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." (Mark 2:15)
Whose house? In Levi's house. It was Levi who fed the "many" publicans and sinners. (Matthew 9:10)
From this example, we understand that following Jesus includes leaving everything behind. Leaving that which is earthly and the things of this world, in favour of the heavenly. (Luke 18:28) Just as the publican named Levi did -- he left all, rose up and followed Jesus. (Luke 5:27-28) In so doing, he opened his home so that the publicans and sinners could sit with Jesus and His disciples.
"And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples." (Matthew 9:10)
"Holding forth the Word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." (Philippians 2:16)
"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. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto His disciples, "How is it that He eats and drinks with publicans and sinners?" When Jesus heard [it], He said unto them, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance ..." (Mark 2:16-22)
The example to us as believers in Jesus by faith is that our walk with Jesus should not end in believing by faith only. In fact, there is much more when Jesus calls us to "follow Me!" This is evident in Levi (regardless of whether the scholars claim Levi to be either Matthew or James. That is, when Levi decided in his heart to follow Jesus, and indeed did, there was fruit that followed. In Levi's case, the fruit appeared to be immediate.
"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." (Mark 2:15)
Whose house? In Levi's house. It was Levi who fed the "many" publicans and sinners. (Matthew 9:10)
From this example, we understand that following Jesus includes leaving everything behind. Leaving that which is earthly and the things of this world, in favour of the heavenly. (Luke 18:28) Just as the publican named Levi did -- he left all, rose up and followed Jesus. (Luke 5:27-28) In so doing, he opened his home so that the publicans and sinners could sit with Jesus and His disciples.
"And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples." (Matthew 9:10)
"Holding forth the Word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." (Philippians 2:16)
Levi did not just open his heart, but his home also-- to publicans and sinners. And there was a cost because as Jesus sat at meat in the house, so did those who came and sat with Him and His disciples.
Note too that there is one more point worth making here -- about the reputation of publicans. Jesus later offers two viewpoints on publicans. In the first, (as we read in Matthew 18:17) Jesus links a heathen man with a publican -- when He explains what to do if a brother trespasses against you and does not listen.
And then, secondly, there are Jesus' words to the chief priests and the elders of the people when He was come unto the temple, and the chief priests desired to know "by what authority" did Jesus teach these things. (Matthew 21:31, 33)
And Jesus answered and said unto them, "I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell Me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?" And they reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we shall say, from heaven; He will say unto us -- "Why did ye not then believe Him?" But if we shall say, "Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and said, "We cannot tell." and He said unto them,"Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. But what think ye? A certain man had two sons, and He came to the first and said, "Son, go work today in My vineyard." He answered and said, "I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And He came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, "I go, sir" and went not."
And Jesus answered and said unto them, "I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell Me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?" And they reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we shall say, from heaven; He will say unto us -- "Why did ye not then believe Him?" But if we shall say, "Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and said, "We cannot tell." and He said unto them,"Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. But what think ye? A certain man had two sons, and He came to the first and said, "Son, go work today in My vineyard." He answered and said, "I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And He came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, "I go, sir" and went not."
Jesus asks them, "Whether of them twain did the will of [his] father? They say unto him, "The first." Jesus saith unto them, "Verily, I say unto you -- that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you." For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him; and ye, when ye had seen repented, not afterward that ye might believe him." (Matthew 21:23-32)
As we learn, Jesus goes on to tell another parable -- that of the householder which can be referenced in Matthew 21:33-46, wherein Jesus says unto them "Therefore, I say unto you-- the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." (Matthew 21:43)
Not to take this dialogue too far from Levi, it is important to note that when we ask Jesus to become Lord and Saviour in our hearts, there will be fruit that comes from following Jesus. Our hearts and lives will change, and our friends will note that difference. Indeed, Jesus said, " Ye shall know them by their fruits ... wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:16-20)
As for Levi, who is not mentioned again as Levi in the gospels, after deciding to follow Jesus, we do know that there were fruits, among those publicans and sinners who came to hear Jesus share the good news gospel of His Kingdom in Levi's home. Yes, Jesus knows our hearts. He knows our innermost heart desires, and He has a purpose specifically for you. Stand in the offering plate.
No comments:
Post a Comment