The custom of the family visiting around the dinner table = Perhaps a lost art
+ Some = My family = Enjoyed visiting during meals = But also after, living room
+ And then we would play cards and that’s when the real visiting began
+ Some = My wife’s family = Loved to linger at the table after the meal and chat
+ (Of course, that has the advantage of prolonging the meal AND DESERT...Amen & amen!)
Luke 15:1-2 = Publicans and sinners were excluded from the religious community
+ Publicans = tax collectors = and their agents = tolls & customs duties
+ Regardless of the character of the man = The job made them "unwholesome"
+ Regarded as collaborators with the Romans
+ The nationalistic religious crowd (Zealots, scribes & pharisees looking for Messiah, waiting for the redemption of Israel) especially despised them
+ Sinners = [a] = Those who did not eat food in ritual purity
+ [b] = Anyone who lived "sinfully" = Yes, all those you think of first
+ Also = Not necessarily a life-style full of sin
+ Those who did not observe / observe strictly the religious laws / duties / obligations
+ Especially those mandated by the scribes & Pharisees
+ And lived as though they did not care what the religious community thought about them
Jesus’ behavior here runs counter to the standards of piety among his Jewish contemporaries.
+ Table fellowship indicated intimate relations among those who shared it
+ "receiveth" = To admit to hospitality
+ Suggests you are looking for and waiting for a particular person to entertain
+ And the verb is in the "middle voice" = Stresses the subject (Jesus) is doing the action
+ And that action is "eateth" = Not just to "eat with" but "to take food in company with"
+ Almost suggests Jesus is the host = Perhaps not so for "the Son of man hath not where to lay his head" (Matt. 8:20, Luke 9:58)
+ But that helps understand the seriousness of the crime with which he’s being charged here
And to the prosecution, this was a serious crime
+ The Pharisees were particularly scrupulous about their special rules on eating
+ Did not like to eat with those less scrupulous = Esp. "publicans and sinners"
+ And they would look at Jesus = Reputation for being a wise teacher
+ They assumed He ought to share their religious convictions
It is true that the OT gave clear warning on the danger of spending time with sinners
+ ie: Prov. 1:10, 15-16; 13:20-21
+ In the OT God instructed "sinners" in His way
+ ie: Ps. 25:8-9 = The humble who knew their need
+ It is clear that the moral influence is from Jesus to the sinners (not the reverse) = [1]
+ And this kind of controversy is nothing new to Jesus
+ Nicodemus coming to see Him at night = Early in 1st year of ministry = Reputation
+ Near end of 1st year = Call’s Levi (Matthew) = A publican!
+ ie: Luke 5:27-28 = Take heed to what [28] says, please!
Jesus often would use the common images of the day to make His point
+ ie: Physician seeking those who are sick = Luke 5:29-32
+ And Jesus is going to do that here as he communicates God’s message to his listeners during this wonderfully intimate fellowship
+ At same time He’s going to turn the tables on those making unjust accusations against Him
+ And as we look at this I want to key in on [2] = "This man receiveth sinners"
Now those scribes and Pharisees "murmured" that = "To complain throughout a crowd"
+ They knew they were righteous = They knew they were obeying the letter of the law
+ And here were these people who were obviously sinners = Just look at them
+ And Jesus did look at them = And yes they were sick = They needed a physician
+ But these publican and sinners knew they were sick
+ That’s why they "drew near unto him...for to hear him"
+ And Jesus gladly received them
And do you know why this Man receiveth sinners?
+ Because they are loveable...like a lost sheep = Luke 15:3-4
+ 100 was an avg.-sized flock = And shepherds often worked / travelled together
+ So this shepherd knew the 99 were safe = But not the one lost in the wilderness
+ Out in the desert and the waste-land = Lost = Alone
+ Out with all the dangers = Wolves & other predators = Cold
+ He knew he was in a race against time = And he wouldn’t rest until he found it
+ [5] = Easiest way to carry a lamb = Over shoulders, legs crossed over chest
+ No matter how heavy = You’re walking with a bounce in your step = "Rejoicing!"
+ Once he was lost, now he is found! = And the lamb is safe = Secure = Alive
+ A wonderful cause for a celebration! = [6]
+ The shepherd loves all his sheep = But to have one lost
+ That one becomes the most dear sheep to him at that very moment
+ Until it’s found = And it’s safe and secure
And do you know why else this Man receiveth sinners?
+ Because they are redeemable = Like the sinner who repents = [7]
+ The scribes and Pharisees grumbled = [2b]
+ But Jesus wanted to make it clear = This is what it’s all about
+ This is what I’m all about = It’s what I’ve always been about
+ And you could look into that crowd of sinners on that day
+ Oh and you’d find some bad ones, no doubt = Adulterers = Prostitutes = Liars
+ Perhaps even common criminals and killers, I don’t know = And [7]
+ You know, today, some people don’t have the Pharisees problem
+ Their problem was they were self-righteous = That was bad enough
+ But you can still find some people bad enough that you don’t have to convince them
+ They’re a sinner = Only they think they’re too bad a sinner = God don’t want me
+ God can’t love me = God could never forgive me
+ But I’ve got a Bible that says He can
He sought out Adam after he sinned = And he tried to reach out to Cain before he sinned
+ Think about David = Lust / Adultery / Liar / Murderer = Yet still willing to forgive
+ And yet = Some people still think, "Oh, but you don’t know what I’ve done"
+ No = But God does = And just to make sure you know He knows
+ He gave us a wonderful example in the person of Paul = 1 Tim. 1:12-16
+ Longsuffering mercy = To the sinners who acknowledge their sin
+ "for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting" = Luke 15:7
But do you know the most important reason this Man receiveth sinners?
+ Because they are valuable...like a lost coin = Luke 15:8
+ Why is this woman seeking it? = Perhaps it was part of her dowry
+ 10 coins means she doesn’t come from a wealthy background
+ She probably didn’t marry into money = 1 piece lost means the world to her at that moment
And the soul is being likened to a coin = Silver is a valuable commodity
+ And a coin bears the image of it’s maker = The one who infuses it with value
+ And this coin is lost = But not for long = A candle is lit = The house is swept
+ "Diligently" = "with great care" = Until she finds it
+ And again = [9] = Cause for great concern
CONCLUSION
These publicans and sinners knew they needed what Jesus had to offer
+ But as long as you were blinded by your own self-righteous
+ You had no idea you needed exactly the same thing
+ Because Jesus "came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance"
+ And that’s why I’m so glad that "This man receiveth sinners"
+ "And eateth with them" = And calls them to repentance = And saves their soul
Other Jewish teachers stressed God’s forgiveness for the repentant
+ But Jesus stressed God’s seeking sinners out to save them
+ And that dear little lost lamb is the most dear one to Christ today
+ He is the Good Shepherd = Left joys of Heaven and traversed the wilderness of this world
+ Seeking those who were lost = Seeking those who were not seeking Him
+ And with hands of love = And strong shoulders
+ He delights to find them and bring them to the safety and security of His Home
+ Is. 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong [hand], and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward [is] with him, and his work before him. 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.
Or like a lost coin, my friend = We bear the image of our maker
+ And because of Who He is = We have value
+ And when we are lost = His Holy Spirit like a light will come along
+ And with great care will will try to sweep us out of our hiding space
+ Into His light = And into the safe care of our rightful owner once again
If you are saved today = Can you think back for a moment to the day when the Lord found you?
+ And notice please = [10] = Did you have any idea of the commotion you caused in Heaven?
+ If a King had ordered out all his troops = Or all the princes of the earth formed a line
+ And marched in a parade showing all their jewels & crowns
+ All their regalia & chariots & horsemen
+ Or if all of the finest the ancient world had to offer could come back from the dead
+ At the height of their power = Egypt = Babylon = Tyre = Greece = Rome
+ Not one angel would have stopped in his course to even crack a smile at all of that
+ To them who enjoy the blessings of Heaven = All that would be poor, shabby, tawdry
But YOU = Who may seem vile and poor to a king
+ You who acknowledged you sin = Humbled yourself in repentance and asked for forgiveness
+ Around you angels would "camp out" = About you they would say "Hallelujah, a child of God’s been born today!"
INVITATION
How many of you would that include?
Maybe that’s not you = Maybe you are not saved
+ Has anyone ever told you that you are loved? = Valuable? = You can be redeemed?
+ We would be delighted to show you how = Directly from God’s Word
If that does include you = Could you clearly remember the moment you were born again?
+ Or perhaps has that initial rejoicing that you likely felt = Sort of worn off?
+ You already know you are loved and valuable = You’ve been redeemed!
+ You were the cause of joy in Heaven once = Are you still?
+ Perhaps God’s been working last week’s sermon on Jesus being the cure for stress deep in your heart?
Do you have a burden to be used of God to find those He loves & died for who are lost?
+ Perhaps God is bringing to your heart & mind = A lost soul right now?
+ Perhaps you’ve been praying ever since we spoke about it 2 weeks ago?
+ Will you come and ask God to turn on His light = And let you be the broom that sweeps them back to His loving care?
#292 = Have you any room for Jesus?
Notes used: Keener: IVP Bible Background Comm (NT) [Mark 2:13-17 = Luke 5:27-32 = Luke 15:1-2]
