Passage Read: Luke 5-6
Meditation Verses: 5:30-32
Thought
The Pharisees are upset that Jesus is dining at the feast Levi throws for Him. Levi has come to faith and is delighted that Jesus has called him to follow Him. He wants to share the joy of what he has found with his friends, all of whom are sinners and tax collectors, many who would like salvation but perhaps feel there's no hope for them. Jesus, of course, goes because that is why He came into the world, to preach the gospel to those who need it and call the unrighteous to repentance! How could He skip such an opportunity to call a bunch of people to repentance? How could He miss such a chance to let those who hunger for salvation know the only way to salvation? Are the Pharisees jealous that He's not spending time with them? Why spend time with people who think they have it all figured out? They don't recognize their need, they just want to hang with others like them so they can pat themselves on the back for their righteousness! Jesus is going to where the real need and hunger is.
Application
There are many "righteous" people who need repentance, but they wouldn't admit it or recognize it. They're already convinced of their own righteousness. There's little point in going directly to them, but going to those who are lost, who know they're lost but hope there might be a way for them, going to them is worthwhile! But the only way to find them is to proclaim the truth out in public where you can find lost people. Those longing for hope will hear it and be drawn to it. They don't usually hang out in places where "saved" people hang out, like at church. But they go shopping and to parks and to schools and to all kinds of other places. Jesus taught inside synagogues and even more outside them. If I want to find people hungry and desperate for salvation, I need to spend more time teaching outside the church.