seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Mark 2:13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.
15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
So.... Matthew was a tax collector, and some guy named Levi, son of Alphaeus was a tax collector. Yep, same guy. They changed his name too.... like they changed Simon to Peter. AND it turns out that Matthew had a brother named James.... and he was called James the lesser. Now the James Jesus already chose was known as James, Son of Zebedee. So, James, Matthew's [Levi's] brother was called James the lesser to distinguish them. Everyone went through changes, I guess.Now on to verse 15, check it out.... there are sinners and tax collectors. Jesus said [paraphrased] "they're the ones I'm here to help". I wonder, do the IRS employees feel a special need for Jesus?
I noticed GURPS has posted something that looks quite radical. I'm afraid if I click on it, my computer might blow up, or at the very least, get a nasty virus. Do you think that's what the Pharisees, Sadducees, and teachers of the law saw when they saw Jesus amassing those huge crowds? Did the crowds look dangerous?
To the people in the crowd, Jesus told them to follow Him. It's nice to be included.
Everybody changes when they meet Jesus!
