We have been looking at the glory of our Savior, in His power to heal, to cast out demons, and to forgive the sins of those who come to Him. This Sunday, we will look at the heart of Jesus’ mission. He came to seek and to save those that are lost. We see this first in Him calling a tax collector to be one of His disciples. Then we see it in Him reclining at a table to share a common meal with sinners, in order to bring them the hope of the gospel. This section has been called the scandal of grace–God’s grace lavished not on the socially acceptable, the people with good moral reputation, but on notorious sinners, those that have a reputation for being greedy, swindlers, extortioners, and traitors.
As you read this passage, consider the following questions:
- How is God’s electing, unconditional, and empowering grace demonstrated in the calling of Levi (v.14); can you relate to that in your own salvation experience?
- How would you describe Levi’s response to Jesus’ command to follow Him (v.14b), and how should that resemble the way we respond to His commands?
- What immediate changes do you see in Levi’s life (v.15), and what can we learn from that?
- Why did the Pharisees take issue with Jesus eating with sinners (v.16), and what are some of the ways that we can act like them?
- Based on Jesus’ metaphor (v.17), how is sin like a disease and how is Jesus the physician of our souls?
May we see more of God’s scandalous grace in our lives this Sunday, and be filled with praise for our Savior- The Friend of Sinners!