Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:05.000
Jesus Christ, we come to you
because we come to your word. It
2
00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:08.320
is your word, Lord, it
is your word. You have given it
3
00:00:08.359 --> 00:00:12.560
to us, God, and we
account every word in it, Lord,
4
00:00:12.599 --> 00:00:16.600
has coming from you. And Lord, therefore, when we read it,
5
00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:22.719
it speaks deep into our heart because
Lord, reveals the hidden recesses that we
6
00:00:22.839 --> 00:00:28.800
have. And Lord, today,
as we look at a brother whom you
7
00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:35.039
called out of great darkness. And
yet, Lord, in the instant that
8
00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:44.600
you called him in two words,
he arose by your effectual calling and followed
9
00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:50.560
you and then began to live and
to share his testimony through a Gospel that
10
00:00:50.600 --> 00:00:54.799
he would give about you. Lord, we pray as we look at this
11
00:00:54.880 --> 00:01:00.719
word challenge us. Let us see
ourselves as we all so, we're great
12
00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:04.359
sinners, and let us see that
we may follow the example of this brother
13
00:01:06.120 --> 00:01:10.719
if we ask your blessing now upon
this word illuminated to us, if we
14
00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:15.000
prayed in Christ's name. Amen.
Man, turn, if you will,
15
00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:19.159
to Luke Chapter Five. So we
make our way through the gospel of Luke,
16
00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:26.280
a short text this morning, but
I think, a very important text.
17
00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:32.799
Of course, all of God's Word
is important. Luke Chapter Five,
18
00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:37.159
beginning with verse twenty seven, reading
to verse thirty two. This is again
19
00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:42.239
God's word. After this he went
out and saw a tax collector named Levi
20
00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:48.920
sitting at the tax booth and he
said to him follow me, and leaving
21
00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:53.840
everything, he rose and followed him, and Levin made a great or made
22
00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:57.840
him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of
23
00:01:57.879 --> 00:02:02.480
tax collectors and others need at table
with them. And the Pharisees and their
24
00:02:02.519 --> 00:02:07.439
scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying
why do you eat and drink with tax
25
00:02:07.520 --> 00:02:14.639
collectors and sinners? and Jesus answered
them those who are well have no need
26
00:02:14.680 --> 00:02:17.960
of a physician, but those who
are sick. I have not come to
27
00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:23.560
call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance. That sense the reading of God's
28
00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:32.439
word. Please be seated. So
we come to a short passage this morning
29
00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:37.479
that relates to us the calling of
one of the disciples of our Lord.
30
00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:43.319
We are not given in detail the
calling of all the apostles in the Bible.
31
00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:46.759
We are given some, particularly the
fishermen. We are given their calling
32
00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:53.719
and but outside of that we have
this calling here of of Levi. And
33
00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:58.000
so, since the Lord doesn't see
fit to record all of their callings,
34
00:02:58.439 --> 00:03:01.280
uh. It seems as if there
is a special reason that God puts this
35
00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:07.240
calling uh not only in the scriptures, but actually in all three of the
36
00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:12.759
Synoptic Gospels, including the Gospel that
was written by the man who is in
37
00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:17.439
this text. And so there is
something here that his extraordinary, and part
38
00:03:17.479 --> 00:03:22.719
of it, we'll know, is
because here God, our God and Christ,
39
00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:27.800
calls one of the most hated men
of all time, at least of
40
00:03:27.879 --> 00:03:32.159
that time and perhaps in our time, a tax collector. And so we'll
41
00:03:32.199 --> 00:03:37.919
begin by looking at versus. So
we are introduced to a certain tax collector
42
00:03:38.599 --> 00:03:42.199
by the name of Levi. Of
course, we know him better as Matthew.
43
00:03:42.919 --> 00:03:46.080
In Matthew's account of his own calling, he gives that he gives his
44
00:03:46.199 --> 00:03:52.479
name in that account has matthew,
but luke and mark give it as Levi
45
00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:55.719
Uh. In the listing of all
the apostles that are found in Matthew,
46
00:03:55.759 --> 00:04:01.240
mark and Luke U and acts every
time I'm he is referred to there as
47
00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:08.080
Matthew. Mark even further identifies him
as the son of Alpheus, but that
48
00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:12.199
doesn't really help us much. There
is another disciple who was the son of
49
00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:15.800
Alpheus, by the name of James
but it does not appear that this is
50
00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:20.120
the same alpheus. Now, why
does Matthew have two names? While there
51
00:04:20.160 --> 00:04:25.120
could be a couple of reasons,
we don't know for sure, but one
52
00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:30.319
is that some people had named to
names from the beginning. It appears this
53
00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:33.480
would be the case with Thomas,
who was also called Didimus, which means
54
00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:39.560
the twin, which indicates it probably
he had that second name from the very
55
00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:44.560
beginning. But it also could be
because in his call, Jesus changed his
56
00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:48.560
name, as he did to uh
Simon, whom he called Cephas or Peter
57
00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:53.480
Uh and, and gave him that
name, and so it could be also
58
00:04:54.360 --> 00:04:59.759
that matthew had that happened. The
name Matthew Means Gift of God, so
59
00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:02.920
that could very well lead to the
fact that maybe our Lord Jesus said this
60
00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:08.839
would be the name that he would
now be known by. In all three
61
00:05:08.839 --> 00:05:15.000
of the gospels, his calling is
recorded immediately after the healing of the Paralytic,
62
00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:18.600
and I've told you that Luke is
not that interested in chronology and tells
63
00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:24.959
the events as he's fit. But
the fact that it finds itself in all
64
00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:30.160
three Gospels in this location leads us
to believe that probably this was exactly when
65
00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:36.360
mark or matthew or Levi's calling happened. Now, his occupation, as I
66
00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:40.920
mentioned, was a tax collector and, as I mentioned, I'm sure you
67
00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:45.959
know, in those days particularly,
the tax collector was one of the most
68
00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:50.399
hated men in all of the land, and there was a lot of reasons
69
00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:57.199
that people weren't very fond of them. Also known as Publicans. Uh.
70
00:05:57.240 --> 00:06:01.279
There are times in the gospels in
one breath linked together with sinners. So
71
00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:06.759
we find it several times, even
here in verse nine, the phrase Publicans
72
00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:13.439
and sinners. So they are expressly
called out in that thing that we find
73
00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:18.959
nine times in the gospels. Now
there are three main reasons that the tax
74
00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:27.519
collectors were hated. Number one,
in going into that occupation and collecting taxes
75
00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:32.240
for the Romans, who were invaders
and oppressors, the tax collectors were considered
76
00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:36.920
by the people as traders to Israel. They never believed it was lawful for
77
00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:43.120
Rome to rule over them, and
so therefore the tax collector working for the
78
00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:47.519
Roman government. No, he was
hated. The second reason was not only
79
00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:53.319
did they collect the taxes that Rome
wanted, but they were able to add
80
00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:57.959
other things of their own that they
could add to the taxes. This is
81
00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:02.319
how they made their living. So
were also considered as thieves. And the
82
00:07:02.439 --> 00:07:08.759
third was because of their jobs,
they were often in contact with other gentiles
83
00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:15.120
or gentiles and therefore they were also
considered unclean. So what were tax collectors?
84
00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:20.639
They were traitorous, unclean thieves.
Not a good combination. And the
85
00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:24.680
people who wanted to be tax collectors
in those days, they didn't just go
86
00:07:24.759 --> 00:07:29.800
in and fill out a job application
and listing their previous experience and references and
87
00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:33.439
all that. No, this job
was a job that the Romans put up
88
00:07:33.480 --> 00:07:39.560
forbid in each area, that people
could actually bid on and the job would
89
00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:45.079
go to the highest bidder. So
of course this job was highly coveted among
90
00:07:45.240 --> 00:07:48.079
the covetous, because it could be
a job where you could make a lot
91
00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:55.079
of money, and so that was
very well. I wanted that particular job.
92
00:07:55.160 --> 00:07:57.920
And then that was another reason,
by the way, to hate collect
93
00:07:58.120 --> 00:08:03.079
tax collectors, because most of them
were rich because of that. I might
94
00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:07.199
have mentioned this before, but the
most money I ever made in my life
95
00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:09.480
was not in the ministry, but
it was when I was a door to
96
00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:15.480
door microwave oven salesman. Uh,
yes, and this was back in the
97
00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:18.959
seventies when microwaves were brand new and
and all of my friends were making two
98
00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:22.959
dollars an hour, which was a
minimum wage, and I was making two
99
00:08:24.040 --> 00:08:28.560
hundred dollars a week for three to
four hours of work because I would just
100
00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:31.080
schedule three appointments or four appointments.
I knew I gets out two or three
101
00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:35.639
microwaves, that I would make a
couple hundred dollars and do that, which
102
00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:41.960
was very, very good wages.
So Commission work can be very lucrative and
103
00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:46.720
it would be that way with these
tax collectors. So we find our Lord
104
00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:50.480
Passing Levi and as he does,
he's in his tax booths. So just
105
00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:54.720
like we saw the fishermen were mending
their nets or maybe fishing at the time
106
00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:58.799
that the Lord came by and called
them uh, here we also find a
107
00:08:58.840 --> 00:09:03.759
man in the middle of his occupation
and it says in our verse Jesus saw
108
00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:07.279
a tax collector. Now we have
to stop for a moment. You say,
109
00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:09.879
well, I mean what's in that? Of course he saw a big
110
00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:15.960
deal. The word saw here is
not a simple word that is often used
111
00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:20.159
for seen. Um, it's not
like I might say I saw a bobcat
112
00:09:20.200 --> 00:09:24.840
today. It's not that kind of
a word. Strong. says. The
113
00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:30.240
word means to look closely at,
that is, by implication, to perceive
114
00:09:31.320 --> 00:09:35.960
literally or figuratively. They are says. It means to behold, look upon,
115
00:09:37.559 --> 00:09:43.360
view, attentatively, contemplate. It's
the same word that John Uses in
116
00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:48.759
John One fourteen when it says the
word became flesh and dwelt among us and
117
00:09:48.840 --> 00:09:54.600
we beheld. That's the same word. We beheld his Glory as of the
118
00:09:54.639 --> 00:10:01.840
only begotten Son of God. And
so Jesus sees deeply into Matthew, and
119
00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:05.240
I want to come back to that. In the application, James Edwards says
120
00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:11.200
it indicates in this word that Jesus
was not just looking at but even looking
121
00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:18.320
into Levi. And that makes sense
because if you're just looking at the outward
122
00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:24.039
you'd see a tax collector that everybody'd
hate. But Jesus looks deeper and he
123
00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:30.399
sees something in Matthew that nobody else
could have seen. and Jesus gives the
124
00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:35.799
command that he gives to other disciples
as well and simply says follow me because
125
00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:39.360
of what he sees in Matthew.
He says that. So in Verse Eight
126
00:10:39.320 --> 00:10:46.240
is probably the most amazing statement in
the whole account. Leaving everything, he
127
00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:50.799
rose and followed him. And again
we have to take note of the Greek
128
00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:52.679
here, because the English doesn't quite
bring it out. And that is when
129
00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:56.639
it says he was leaving. In
the Greek it's the heiress tense, which
130
00:10:56.679 --> 00:11:01.399
indicated to once for all acts that
he just got up and left everything.
131
00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:05.080
And then it says it followed him. That's not the Herass, that's the
132
00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:09.360
imperfect which indicates, of course,
that an action is ongoing, it's not
133
00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:16.200
perfected. And so he leaves in
one act and then he follows Jesus for
134
00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:22.639
a lifetime. Now, in one
sense, Levi left everything to follow Christ.
135
00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:24.679
And you say, well, so
it passed her, so did the
136
00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:28.440
fisherman. You're right, but there
are some differences. For one thing,
137
00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:33.519
in fact, we see this in
the Bible. The fisherman could always go
138
00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:37.679
back to their occupation, they could
always go and fish again and in fact,
139
00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:41.159
as I said, the disciples did
that. But if you left the
140
00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:46.000
office of a tax collector, people
were ready to jump on that one and
141
00:11:46.039 --> 00:11:50.399
bid for that one right away.
You were never going back as a tax
142
00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:54.759
collector. When you did it.
This was a critical decision that has life
143
00:11:54.840 --> 00:12:01.480
changing application. So Levi left his
livelihood aside and follow Jesus. Now he
144
00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:05.360
didn't give away everything that he had
because he he has a great feast and
145
00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:07.240
that would have cost the money.
So he doesn't just give away everything,
146
00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:11.879
but he leaves his occupation, his
means of livelihood, to follow Jesus.
147
00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:16.840
So let in versus twenty nine and
thirty. Were told that immediately Levi makes
148
00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:22.360
a great feast in his house.
William Hendrickson says what is so wonderful about
149
00:12:22.440 --> 00:12:30.519
Levi is that surrendering everything made him
the happiest man in the world. Now
150
00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:35.720
we don't usually throw a feast to
celebrate a conversion, but if we look
151
00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:41.240
at this story and the story of
the Prodigal Son that Jesus tells, perhaps
152
00:12:41.320 --> 00:12:46.360
that's not a bad idea. There
really is probably nothing so joyful in this
153
00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:50.840
life. Has Seen his soul come
to Christ right. That is that is
154
00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:56.759
means of great I mean the angels
are rejoicing in heaven at that time.
155
00:12:56.200 --> 00:13:00.279
And if the angels, who aren't
even of our race at the a Joe's
156
00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:05.320
are rejoicing, how much should we
rejoice as well? J C Ryle says,
157
00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:09.240
nothing can happen to a man which
ought to be such an occasion of
158
00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:13.200
joy as this conversion. It's a
far more important event than being married.
159
00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:18.480
Sorry, ladies, are coming of
age or being made of noblemen are receiving
160
00:13:18.519 --> 00:13:24.399
a great fortune. It's the birth
of an immortal soul. It's the rescue
161
00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:28.840
of a center from Hell. It's
a passage from life to death. It's
162
00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:33.879
being made a king and priest for
evermore is being provided for, both in
163
00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:39.200
time and eternity. It is adoption
into the noblest and richest of all families,
164
00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:43.799
the families of God. So it's
a time of rejoicing, a great
165
00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:48.759
time, and the guest list for
the party that leave throws is not a
166
00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:54.960
guest list that anybody would really envy
in those days or or any time like
167
00:13:56.080 --> 00:14:01.200
that. And Uh, it says
that the the guest list is combined with
168
00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:09.000
more tax collectors and sinners. That's
how the Pharisees described the crowd that is
169
00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:13.360
there. And a sinner doesn't just
mean you know, a reputable sinner,
170
00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:16.720
but I think in this context is
telling us these are the low lifes of
171
00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:22.919
the world that Levi invites to his
house, those that the Pharisees would particularly
172
00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:28.840
consider great sinners. These are the
kind of people that a tax collector whatever
173
00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:33.639
his friends, because normal people wouldn't
want to associate with the tax collector.
174
00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:41.240
So that is why he could invite
other tax collectors and sinners. And so
175
00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:48.240
the people that criticize this are are
described to us as the Pharisees and the
176
00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:50.120
scribes that were among them. In
other words, there were other scribes,
177
00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:54.799
there were scribes in the sadducies and
other parties as well, but these are
178
00:14:54.879 --> 00:15:00.919
scribes of the Pharisees that are present, and so these are are the respected
179
00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:05.679
teachers of the law. And Luke
says they grumbled at the disciples, and
180
00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:09.159
I like the King James here better
because it says the S V says they
181
00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:15.399
grumbled, but the King James says
murmured. Now I don't like murmured better
182
00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:18.960
than grumbled because I think it's a
better word per per se as far as
183
00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:22.679
how it translates what they did,
but I like it because it is an
184
00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:30.360
example of the English uh figure of
speech we call Automatopia. In other words,
185
00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:33.720
these are words that are are like
what they uh, what what they
186
00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:39.559
sound like, and they describe that
so I like Murmur because that's what murmuring
187
00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:43.200
is right. Murmur, Murmur Murmurs. That that's what the word sounds like.
188
00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:48.000
Well, in Greek the word here
is Gone Good Zoe, which is
189
00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:50.919
very much like grumbling. Gone Good
Zo, gone good Ze, good Zo,
190
00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:54.879
doesn't it sounds like, okay,
you know, it sounds very mean
191
00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:58.480
and it's so a grumbling a kind
of word. It's the word that's used.
192
00:15:58.039 --> 00:16:03.159
Uh, and there's a two gendef
Israel grumbling against Moses. Paul uses
193
00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:07.879
it in First Corinthian stand referring to
the children of Israel murmuring against Moses.
194
00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:14.360
And again, the fact that the
Lord and the disciples were eating to the
195
00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:18.600
Pharisees indicated more than just associated.
It even indicated, or could indicate to
196
00:16:18.679 --> 00:16:23.799
them a covenant kind of relationship.
And so this, of course, would
197
00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:27.480
be terrible. So there was a
law in the Talmud that says the disciples
198
00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:33.480
of the learned should not recline at
table in the company of the common people.
199
00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:37.360
So they weren't supposed to do it. But in verse thirty one,
200
00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:41.480
Jesus utters a very simple even though
we don't know how Jesus knew. They
201
00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:44.759
even said that it said. They
said it was disciples. So did he
202
00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:47.919
hear them over hear it? The
disciples come and say it to Jesus?
203
00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:51.720
Or did Jesus just known his Omnippancy
in His divine nature? We don't know,
204
00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:56.679
but somehow he knows uh concerning that. And so he utters his proverb.
205
00:16:56.759 --> 00:17:00.720
That might have been a common proverb. But the day it's not the
206
00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:03.920
healthy that are in need of a
physician but those that are ill. And
207
00:17:03.920 --> 00:17:08.559
of course Luke, as physician,
would be very interested in that analogy.
208
00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:15.000
And so in verse thirty two,
Jesus utters what looks like a very simple
209
00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:19.400
statement but could be taken different ways. He says I have not come to
210
00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:26.720
call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance. Now I suppose we could look
211
00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:30.200
at that as the Lord saying I
have not come to those who already believe
212
00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:36.680
they are I should say I have
not come to those who feel there is
213
00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:42.079
no need uh for for Um righteousness
because they think it themselves it's already righteous.
214
00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:48.359
Or I have not come to call
those who are really, really righteous,
215
00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:52.680
but those who are really sinners.
And so, in Matthew's fuller account,
216
00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:57.599
he actually begins by saying a quotation
from Joseah six six, go and
217
00:17:57.720 --> 00:18:06.319
learn what this means. I desire
mercy and not sacrifice. In William Hendrickson's
218
00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:11.920
commentary on on Luke he makes the
case that he thinks the translation repentance is
219
00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:15.559
too weak there and I looked at
the Greek word. It's found twenty four
220
00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:21.000
times in the New Testament and twenty
four times it's translated repentance. So it
221
00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:25.160
seems like a good translation. But
I think Hendrickson's point here is that he
222
00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:30.000
thinks it also can indicate conversion and
that that's perhaps what is going on here.
223
00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:36.000
Uh, we're talking about not to
repentance but actually to conversion. So
224
00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:41.240
repentance is in most of the translations
that I looked at Um, but the
225
00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:45.920
only one I found with conversion was
the literal standard version, where it translates
226
00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:51.880
it has conversion. The amplified version
translates repentance but adds to change their old
227
00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:56.799
way of thinking, to turn from
sin and to seek God and his righteousness.
228
00:18:56.079 --> 00:19:00.440
But anyway, we know of course
it. Repentance and conversion are closely
229
00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:04.160
tied together. But to be converted
and repent one has to believe that one
230
00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:07.279
is a sinner. Because if you
don't believe your sinner, you're not going
231
00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:12.000
to do that. And so of
course you have to understand that. And
232
00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:15.359
this is what the Pharisees didn't believe. Now we know some would come to
233
00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:21.279
that knowledge. The Apostle Paul particularly
comes to that knowledge. We know that
234
00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:25.319
he said that. You know at
the time he thought he was blameless concerning
235
00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:27.279
the law and all of those things, but then all of a sudden the
236
00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:30.400
law came in and said Io shoall
not covet, and all of a sudden
237
00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:34.559
he dies. He says so as
long as he looked at himself, as
238
00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:38.480
he said in Philippians, is touching
the law blameless. He's not gonna look
239
00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:42.640
at himself as one who needs conversion. But when he says that sin came
240
00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:47.480
alive and he died, and then
of course he's ready. And then he
241
00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:52.480
says to Timothy, I would the
chief of sinners. And so here we
242
00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:59.319
have someone in Matthew who is aware
of his spiritual condition. He's not under
243
00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:03.079
any miss apprehensions as the kind of
person he as. He knows he's a
244
00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:07.279
tax collector, he knows what he
is, and so he is ready for
245
00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:11.440
God to work in his life.
Well, let's make some applications this morning.
246
00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:15.160
The story, first of all,
Levi is a wonderful example to us
247
00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:21.079
of what we believe in the reformed
faith concerning the doctrine of salvation. We
248
00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:26.680
see the major points of our doctrine
all in this short little story. We
249
00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:30.319
speak about total depravity, for example. That's true. We really are told
250
00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:37.960
much about Levi in the Bible,
about pre conversion Levi. But knowing who
251
00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:41.680
he was and his occupation, we
would certainly say, and from what follows
252
00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:45.160
in his account, that he would
be a good example of somebody who was
253
00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:52.000
not righteous at all and would illustrate
to US total depravity. And then from
254
00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:55.039
the kind of people he invites to
the feast, we can also make a
255
00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:59.000
guest. I guess we know that
when Peter went before the Lord, he
256
00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:03.400
said depart for me, I am
a sinful man. But he probably didn't
257
00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:08.240
think himself as sinful as a tax
collector. But we see this and we
258
00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:15.279
also see the doctrine of unconditional election. Who Chooses does? Christ walked by
259
00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:18.279
and Levi says, Lord, I
want to follow you. No, our
260
00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:25.160
Lord Calls Levi. He is the
one who chooses him Levi doesn't choose Christ.
261
00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:29.279
Christ chooses Levi. As he would
say later. He would say,
262
00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:33.319
you did not choose me, but
I chose you. It was God's election.
263
00:21:34.359 --> 00:21:40.920
And we see our doctrine of irresistible
grace. We see what happens in
264
00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:45.039
Levi's case. He doesn't sit there
and go, hmmm, I don't know,
265
00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:47.359
Lord, I'm not sure if this
is a good move, move from
266
00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:48.960
me right now, because you know, I'm a tax collector, I make
267
00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:52.559
a lot of money, I've got
dependence, I've got things I got to
268
00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:57.920
think about. He's not sitting there
and says immediately, immediately there's our struggle.
269
00:21:59.400 --> 00:22:02.119
There's no done at all. Levi
I just gets up and says,
270
00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:07.000
all right, I'm following you.
And so again we see irresistible grace that
271
00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:14.079
draws him into the fold and to
believe in the perseverance of the saints.
272
00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:18.480
We know, although we're not we
only know from tradition, that Matthew was
273
00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:22.519
martyred and we don't even know how
he was martyred because there's different accounts of
274
00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:27.559
that. But we do know that
he followed Jesus until the end, because
275
00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:33.079
he wrote the Gospel that is named
after him. And so we have all
276
00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:40.160
of these doctrines found in this one
little short account of a conversion. We
277
00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:45.160
also see and leave the Lord likes
us to be people who introduce other people
278
00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:51.039
to Jesus. The Pharisees thought it
was wrong to associate with sinful people around
279
00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:56.960
them. People said that the Pharisees
believed in the doctrine of salvation by segregation.
280
00:22:57.200 --> 00:23:02.799
They had forgotten not only Joseah,
six six, but also Micah,
281
00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:06.599
the very famous scripture. He has
showed the old man what is good.
282
00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:11.200
And what does the Lord require of
Thee but to do justly and to love
283
00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:18.880
mercy and to Walk Humbly With Thy
God? Phil rikin points out, the
284
00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:23.880
Pharisee isn't someone we find outside the
church, but inside the church, and
285
00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:30.359
here we see the problem of trying
to be holier than thou. The Pharisees
286
00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:32.720
were like the Leo to see in
Church. It said, Oh, we
287
00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:37.559
are rich and increased with goods and
want nothing, and Jesus said no,
288
00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:45.920
you're poor, wretched, miserable,
blind, naked. I want you to
289
00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:52.319
notice in the account not only what
Jesus said but what he doesn't say.
290
00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:59.359
He doesn't deny the charge leveled against
him. What is the charge? You
291
00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:03.400
eat with tax collectors and sinners?
He doesn't say, Oh, wait,
292
00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:06.480
everything, man, no, no, no, I don't associate. No,
293
00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:12.200
he accepts the charge has been completely
true. What the Pharisees should have
294
00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:15.319
done at that point to say,
well then, let us come to the
295
00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:18.880
table, because we're sinners too.
But of course they didn't do that,
296
00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:22.920
did they? Kelvin said, we
are reminded that the grace of crisis of
297
00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:27.640
no advantage to us unless, when
conscious of our sins and groaning under their
298
00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:33.799
load, we approached to him with
humility. Let's go back to Levi for
299
00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:37.480
a moment, because I think there's
an important lesson. As I said,
300
00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:45.400
he's someone introduced people to Jesus.
The Pharisees thought it was wrong to associate
301
00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:53.400
with sinful people, but Levi didn't
think that. Now let me ask you
302
00:24:53.400 --> 00:25:02.559
a question. What do you know
about Matthew Levi? Now I know you
303
00:25:02.599 --> 00:25:06.319
don't have to answer. I know
what you know about Matthew Levin. You
304
00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:11.640
know about his call because it's here. You know he wrote a Gospel because
305
00:25:11.640 --> 00:25:15.119
it's in your Bible, and you
know he was one of the twelve apostles
306
00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:19.920
because he shows up in all four
lists. What else? You know nothing.
307
00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:26.400
I know nothing. There's no record
of Levi Matthew ever saying anything in
308
00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:32.200
the Gospels. We don't read of
him ever uttering the saying. His recorded
309
00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:34.319
words of Christ we have in the
Gospel, but we know nothing about him
310
00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:41.079
personally outside of what we have here. He's kind of a nobody, but
311
00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:49.759
yet in the opinion of Christ he
becomes a great somebody. He was humble,
312
00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:57.000
he was merciful, he invites all
the rejects and in so doing he
313
00:25:57.079 --> 00:26:03.079
gives to us an example that is
given to us by our Lord Jesus and
314
00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:10.920
also by the Apostle Paul. Jesus
associated with tax collectors and sinners, and
315
00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:17.240
we should associate and socialize with tax
collectors and sinners. We should do that.
316
00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:21.640
Paul Instructs the Corinthians at Verse Corinthians
Five. I wrote to you in
317
00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:26.519
my letter not to associate with sexually
a moral people, not at all meaning
318
00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:30.799
the sexually a moral of this world
are the Gredient, swindlers or idolaturs.
319
00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:36.599
Since then you would have to go
out of the world and you should associate
320
00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:41.960
with those kinds of people. That's
who Levi I associated with and in one
321
00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:48.920
sense we should even seek out those
kind of opportunities for us to be that
322
00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:52.160
way. I want to say something
here this morning because I don't want you
323
00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:57.160
to misunderstand before I say what I'm
gonna say. I love the ministry.
324
00:26:57.480 --> 00:27:03.279
I Love Particularly Pastoral Ministry. I
love being able to preach God's word,
325
00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:07.599
which I have been doing now for
probably over forty five years of my life.
326
00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:11.480
I love it. Since I was
in seventh grade I knew that God
327
00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:17.640
called me to be a minister and
God has been so gracious to allow that
328
00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:22.759
to happen in my life. However, and there are times in my um
329
00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:27.839
ministerial life that I've also worked a
secular job to support myself. But I'll
330
00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:33.640
tell you this. The one thing
that I really miss about secular work is
331
00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:40.880
the opportunities God gives to share the
Gospel. I really really missed that living
332
00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:45.839
among sinners every day, letting your
light shine, and I find oftentimes they
333
00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:48.440
wouldn't say anything for a long time, but they would observe. They would
334
00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:55.839
just been days and months and years
observing and then one day they come and
335
00:27:55.880 --> 00:28:00.160
they say, I've been watching you
and I want to know what is it
336
00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:07.559
that you believe, and so it
has been one of my greatest joys in
337
00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:11.799
my life to see a CO worker
come to Christ and still living for him
338
00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:18.640
today. I'm so happy and excited
about those things. Now you can say,
339
00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:22.680
well, come on, pastor,
you you still can converse with sinners,
340
00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:26.680
you can still go out into the
world. You know, don't don't
341
00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:29.160
act like you can't do that.
Yeah, you're right, I can,
342
00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:34.119
but how great it was to have
a whitened harvest before me every day of
343
00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:38.119
my life. But again, I'm
not saying I want to leave the pastoral
344
00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:44.640
ministry, and I know that even
covid has kind of destroyed that in many
345
00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:48.240
places where I know it's it's a
great blessing for people to work at home,
346
00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:52.839
there's no question about it. But
yet I sometimes agree because it takes
347
00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:56.839
away so many good opportunities. You
say we don't you believe an election?
348
00:28:56.920 --> 00:29:02.599
I do, but I also believe
in evangelism as well. But I also
349
00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:06.799
have to say this. In talking
about being in the company of sinners,
350
00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:12.359
there is also an inherent danger that
is there and we have to be careful
351
00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:17.559
in doing that. I have known
believers. In fact we had one man
352
00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:22.559
that we had to discipline who went
to a party of people that he worked
353
00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:26.480
with and ended in sin and he
had to come and repent before us.
354
00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:34.680
And so we have to be careful. One of my favorite theologians is the
355
00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:41.960
famous one dirty Harry, and dirty
Harry one said a man's got to know
356
00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:48.720
his limitations, and I say to
you, know your limitations, know your
357
00:29:48.759 --> 00:29:52.319
temptations, know what you have to
be careful of in doing this as well.
358
00:29:52.359 --> 00:29:57.920
We are to be wisest serpents and
harmless as doves. But the problem
359
00:29:57.920 --> 00:30:04.519
on the other side of this oftentimes
is although we are not associating perhaps with
360
00:30:04.599 --> 00:30:10.720
sinners as we ought, yet in
the church we don't follow the discipline.
361
00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:14.039
In the same chapter, first Continde. Five, that Paul says that we
362
00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:18.799
don't go out of the world.
He says in the church it shouldn't be
363
00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:22.599
that way. He says, I'm
writing to you not to associate with anyone
364
00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:27.119
who bears the name of brother if
he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed
365
00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:32.519
or is an idolatry, reviler,
drunkard or swindler, not even to eat
366
00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:38.440
with such a one. And there
Paul is encouraging church discipline so oftentimes the
367
00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:48.160
church has stopped associated with sinners without
and doesn't deal with sinners within. But
368
00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:52.319
I want to close on a positive
note. I want to close by again
369
00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:56.440
coming back to what I said.
The Christ saw something in Matthew that I
370
00:30:56.440 --> 00:31:03.839
don't think anybody else ever really saw, and sometimes I think we don't do
371
00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:08.039
that. Not that God gives us
insight into every person, but I think
372
00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:15.680
sometimes we end up with negative opinions
and negative thoughts about people. When I
373
00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:21.839
was in junior high, uh,
I was in the band and I played
374
00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:27.799
the most manly of instruments to clarinet, and even in junior high, and
375
00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:32.000
I don't know why we did this, but we always had to have marching
376
00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:36.079
band, and so we would go
out in the parking lot of our junior
377
00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:42.440
high and we would practice marching formations
and in the process of these marching formations
378
00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:48.400
there would come a time when the
trombone players would come by the clarinet players.
379
00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:52.400
I was on the outside of the
clarinet players and there was a guy
380
00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:57.359
that was on the inside of the
trombone players and every time we passed each
381
00:31:57.359 --> 00:32:04.039
other he would make up and slugged
me in the arm and he did it
382
00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:08.079
every time he passed me and I
really didn't like him. To be honest,
383
00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:14.519
I was not not fond of him
at all. Fast forward three years.
384
00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:19.079
I'm on a band trip to Iowa, that state where all your children
385
00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:24.319
love to go, and we're on
a bus late at night going back to
386
00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:29.079
our hotel and there's two girls sitting
behind me and I carried my Bible and
387
00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:31.519
they knew that and they said,
Kim read something out of Your Bible.
388
00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:35.640
I don't know if they were teasing, if they were just, you know,
389
00:32:36.160 --> 00:32:37.759
trying to say something. I don't
I don't know what their reason or
390
00:32:37.799 --> 00:32:42.440
if they were sincere. I'm not
sure. But Hey, somebody asked me
391
00:32:42.440 --> 00:32:45.160
to read the Bible to him.
I'm going to read the Bible to him.
392
00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:47.559
So I take out my little pocket
Bible, open it up and all
393
00:32:47.559 --> 00:32:52.279
of a sudden, from the front
of the bus comes this guy who always
394
00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:57.440
hit me and he says, are
you gonna read from the Bible? He
395
00:32:57.519 --> 00:33:01.400
said Yeah, and he's is can
I listen? Wow, it was a
396
00:33:01.400 --> 00:33:05.000
little skeptical. I didn't know what
he was gonna do, just make more
397
00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:07.880
fun of me, or what he
was going to do, and I said
398
00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:12.759
okay, yeah, it's fine.
So I read from the Scriptures. We
399
00:33:12.880 --> 00:33:15.839
ended up, when he got home, having a conversation that went for a
400
00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:22.920
few hours, talking about Christ,
salvation, and the end of the story
401
00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:25.960
is he committed his life to Christ. He's still following Christ. I talked
402
00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:34.559
to him this last week. He's
still following God years later. I said,
403
00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:38.279
you know, when you were in
bed and you used to pass me,
404
00:33:39.440 --> 00:33:43.720
you've always hit me in the arm. Why did you do that?
405
00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:49.160
And he said, well, I
really don't know, but I used to
406
00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:53.319
hit people in the arm that I
liked. I said, I wish you
407
00:33:53.319 --> 00:34:00.160
wouldn't have liked me, but nonetheless
God did a work in his life.
408
00:34:00.920 --> 00:34:06.720
I've worked as lasted. Sometimes we
need to see. We think about people
409
00:34:07.119 --> 00:34:10.480
who we despair of ever having a
desire for the Gospel. People who leave
410
00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:15.480
the church we think are lost forever, friends and family that you've long shared
411
00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:20.559
the Gospel with and prayed for and
interceded for, and you think there was
412
00:34:20.599 --> 00:34:24.679
no hope and everything about them indicates
bad and negative and and you think,
413
00:34:24.760 --> 00:34:29.400
oh, it's just it's just not
even worth it anymore and I don't even
414
00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:32.880
know if I could pray anymore.
And all of these things. But maybe,
415
00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:38.599
just maybe there's a Levi that's there
that we don't see. But Jesus
416
00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:45.599
sees something and God sees something in
them that we can't see, that we're
417
00:34:45.719 --> 00:34:53.840
blinded to see what it is.
But who knows, perhaps perhaps God will
418
00:34:53.880 --> 00:34:59.440
do a great work and we need
to be able to look and see with
419
00:34:59.559 --> 00:35:02.440
the eyes faith. I know not
everybody is going to come to Christ,
420
00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:07.320
I know that, but let us
have the faith and believe and seek not
421
00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:13.440
to give up. Maybe there is
a Levi that we don't see. Can
422
00:35:13.480 --> 00:35:17.920
we pray, Lordly, thank you
for the faith that Leavi I had and
423
00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:22.440
believing on you and trusting in you
and following you. And Lord, he
424
00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:29.119
saw something that Lord, not the
Pharisees and scribes could see in that day,
425
00:35:29.159 --> 00:35:32.880
but he saw in you a redeemer
who would die for a sins,
426
00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:38.960
who would go to the Cross and
shed his blood for the sins that he
427
00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:44.079
committed. And Lord, we see
you as well. We see you on
428
00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:50.840
the cross, we see you crying
out in mercy and we know that anyone
429
00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:55.960
here today that sincerely cries out to
you as you work in their life can
430
00:35:57.000 --> 00:36:00.599
know you and find you as a
savior, Lord, because you've find them
431
00:36:00.639 --> 00:36:05.440
first. And so, Lord,
we pray and ask God you would help
432
00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:09.840
us. We all have people on
our heart's lot, people very close to
433
00:36:09.920 --> 00:36:15.639
us, people that we love very, very dearly. And Lord, we
434
00:36:15.679 --> 00:36:16.599
look at them. I know I
do. Lord, I look at them
435
00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:20.719
and I think, Lord, there
was just no hope. But Lord,
436
00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:27.119
help us to see that perhaps there
is a Levi. Perhaps there is one,
437
00:36:28.679 --> 00:36:31.840
and perhaps you have a work yet
to do, and help us not
438
00:36:31.960 --> 00:36:37.719
to give up. But the trust
in you. Lord, we praise you
439
00:36:37.239 --> 00:36:42.079
for the work of salvation that we
have had in our heart and we pray,
440
00:36:42.199 --> 00:36:45.880
God, that you would help us
not to be shy about sharing,
441
00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:51.360
but to tell others about the good
news of the Gospel of Christ. We
442
00:36:51.480 --> 00:36:57.880
prayed in Christ name. Amen.
Amen. The scripture tells us we have
443
00:36:57.920 --> 00:36:58.440
a mission.
