Levi The Tax Collector

Title: Levi the Tax collector

Text: Luke 5:27-32

LK 5:27 After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.”

LK 5:28 And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him.

LK 5:29 And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them.

LK 5:30 The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?”

LK 5:31 And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick.

LK 5:32 “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Introduction

Jesus just healed the paralytic man.

Walking down the streets, there were many people around.

The rich buying their things in the shops.

The self-righteous religious leaders praying in the open so that people can see their righteousness.

Jesus walked past a tax collector booth and He noticed a tax collector by the name of Levi.

1.Jesus noticed Levi.

As Jesus looked at Levi, compassion welled up within His heart for this man. Why?

a.Levi was a hurt and rejected man.

As a tax collector, Levi was a social outcast. The Jews hated the tax collectors because most of them cheat the people of their money. They were hated because they were seen as traitors who were working for the Rome.

Levi had no real friends; he was probably despised by even his own family.

Are you like Levi? Do you carry with you a heavy sense of rejection wherever you go? Are you hurt because you come from a broken family? Maybe you feel that parents love your other siblings more than you and as a result you are hurt.

I know of a girl, who was almost aborted by her mother because the mother wanted a boy instead. When she was three years old she was abandoned by her mother at China Town. For many years of your life she was hurt and broken.

If you are hurt and rejected, Jesus is not passing you by, Jesus is stopping and He noticed you!

b.Levi was an empty man

Levi was a rich person. He acquired much wealth as a tax collector. It was materialism that drove him into such an occupation. He wanted an IPod and a crumpler bag when he was a teen like you. His parents can’t afford and he made up his mind that one day he will make his first million.

Levi was captured by materialism, but materialism never satisfied his inner need. Now he is rich and he had made it big, but he is still as empty as ever.

Many young people are captured by materialism to day, but materialism never satisfy them, because deep inside their heart is a God created vacuum that needs to be filled with real love.

c.Levi was a sick person

Jesus said that Levi was a sick person. I have seen the devastation of physical illness. I have seen my own dad dying from cancer. From a healthy person who was independent, he lost his strength, lost his weight, and died within one month after he was diagnosed with cancer of the colon.

Jesus said that Levi was a sick man. Levi was not having physical sickness. Levi was suffering from sickness of sin.

Adam and Eve sinned

All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory

The devastation of sin is worse than physical death it is an everlasting life in the fires of hell. (Luke 16:23-24)

2.Jesus invited Levi

When Jesus approached Levi, he was shocked. Not many people would want to associate with him a sinner and an outcast.

Jesus was a celebrity, whom many said was the Son of God, who performed signs and wonders.

Jesus invited Levi to follow him.

Levi left everything and followed Christ.

He threw a big reception for Jesus in his house.

Never was there such joy in his heart.

The chains of brokenness and darkness were broken.

When Christ is in your house, there will be healing and restoration.

Share your testimony here.

3.Jesus died for Levi

The religious leaders were furious with Jesus for going to the house of the sinner.

They said that it was impossible for Levi to be saved.

First of all like us believers learnt a lesson here and don’t be like the Pharisees. God loves all man no matter who they are or what they have done.

Jesus went to the house of Levi, because He loved Levi so much and he want to forgive him of all that he had done.