The Conversion and Call of Levi (Whom We Have Come to Know and Love As Matthew)

The Conversion and Call of Levi (whom we have come to know and love as Matthew)

West Woods Bible Chapel – 10.25.2015

Mark 2:13-20

Introduction: Earlier in the chapter, we read of a remarkable story of Jesus healing a man with palsy who came into a house through the roof in Capernaum. In our story today, we see a brand new beginning of man name Levi.

In that story, we see the faith and persistence of the paralytic’s friends. While in this story we see the power and persistence of Jesus our Savior to seek and save the lost.

Begs the Q: Would you carry your friends to Jesus? Would you carry Jesus to your friends?

Background Notes about the Gospel writers:

Matthew written to Jews and reveals Jesus as King, Son of Davidonce rejected as the Son of Abraham

Mark reveals the Lord Jesus as the True Servantand as a Servant-Gospel is characteristically a gospel of deeds rather than words.

Mark is primarily written to the Gentiles and he will leave out some things that are Jewish in nature (e.g. Matthew 9:13 – “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come…”

Luke reveals Christ walking on earth as a True Manin fellowship with men, yet separate from sinners, holy, harmless, and undefiled

John he is the Eternal Son of God

The Conversion & Call of Levi (13-15)

The Setting – Sitting with Jesus

Came from a house in Capernaum Healed the Palsied Man
Found traveling by the sea side where a multitude resorted he Taught them (imparted instruction or doctrine) taking advantage of every opportunity where people gathered or were detained
Common highway of traffic
Enough room & could be heard, not constrained
Divine Appointment – Jesus went and Jesus saw Levi

Levi’s (Matthew’s) Office - Sitting at the receipt of custom (gr. Telion – “toll house” ...by the sea side); tax of transportation of goods, similar to our highway toll booths or levies on goods transferred in / out of the country (brother Eric trips to Nigeria); many resorted there, made their occupation; maybe had to pay a toll to access the sea of Galilee (Length 13 miles, width – 8 miles, depth 141 feet wow, catchment 1052 sqmiles)

Character Before Christ

Seen as one belonging or “joined” to the hated and ill-reputed publicans

Publicans(KJV incorrectly translates tax collectors, these wealthy men usually non-Jewish who contracted with the Roman government to be responsible for the taxes of a particular district of the imperial Roman state and were often backed by military force)

In our case, it speaks to their standing with the Romans as the middlemento the Roman officials. They were employed by publicans to do the actual collecting of monies in the restricted areas in which they lived.
“In Jesus’ day, land and poll (census) taxes were collected directly by Roman officials, but taxes on transported goods were contracted out to local collectors. Matthew was such a person. These middlemen paid an agreed-upon sum in advance to Roman officials for the right to collect taxes in an area. Their profit came from the excess they could squeeze from the people.” – Nelsons New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
Hated by Jews and others for their harshness, greed, and deceitfulness and considered mercenaries who worked for and with the Romans.
John the Baptist identified their sins in Luke 3:12-14
Tax Collectors: Exact no more than is appointed

Matthew’s Character After Meeting Christ

Matthew’s Response– Evidence of a Changed Lifestyle (14 end)

Luke says in 5:28, Levi left all, rose up, and followed Him (new Master)

Follow Me (gr. Akoloutheo)– “joinme as a disciple”

He arose (gr. Anistemi) “to raise up from lying down”, “to raise up from the dead”

* As (man of influence and wealth) he arose and followed others would arise and follow of the same

Matthew’s Character

Invited Jesus and His disciples to the “Farewell Feast” which he made to his friends

As an expression of gratitude and thanksgiving to God for calling him

Similar to the feast provided Elisha’s family when he left all to go into the ministry (I Kings 19:21)

He was a man of great influence and wealth

Mark states in (15) that they met “in his house” implying that he might have owned the custom-house and that you might call him the “chiefest of publicans’

It would appear that his house became a servant to tax collectors and sinners, strategically located by the sea-side.

His fellow tax collectors were used to relying on him.

He would now invite them to rely on Jesus

This would be another indication that he had left hisold lifestyleto minister to Christ!

Matthew’s Account

Matthew 9:9 – writing his own account of his call he gives his name as Matthew;
Perhaps Levi (“joined”, see publicans) was his original name and was associated with someone who delighted in the gifts of others; Now Jesus changed his name to “a gift of God” or “a gift of the Lord” to show forth a changed lifestyle
Similar to how he changed Simon’s name to Peter
My son Peter reminded us that his first name means “stone” and his last name means “rock”
Son of Alphaeus – father of Levi, includes the honor of his family or that he honored his father

Matthew (9:10) in his humility doesn’t mention that he put on the feast “in his house” but “in the house” and focuses his readers attention on who came to the house “Jesus” and who came to sit down with him at supper “many publicans and sinners… and his disciples.”
Luke says in 5:29, And Levi made a great feast in his own house
Another point, Matthew records that the Pharisees addressed Jesus as Master…because he had a new Master this would also point to his conversion and new life in Christ!

Matthew’s Heart’s Desire - Application
Use what you have to win the lost
Disciples’ Missions Lesson
Take initiative to seek opportunities to befriend the lost
Seek to be friend the ungodly (Proverbs, lifting, running, etc find a common purpose (bb,foot,soft)
Without Compromise to our Testimony
Not to isolate ourselves
Nor allow world to drag us down to their level

“Once converted he wants all his friends & associates to meet the Lord desiring that Christ would win the souls of the guests to Him” – AVR

“Such were these our blessed Lord was pleased to converse with in the days of his flesh.” - MH

The Good Shepherd Standing Up For His Own (16-17)

Pharisees First Objection (16) – accusing Jesus of eating and drinking with sinners

Pharisees (Out of Envy and Bitter Resentment have a very critical spirit toward Jesus and his disciples)
Tried to Separate the Sheep from their Shepherd– by going after the disciples/children
Agenda - Try to undermine Jesus and ruin his reputation by criticizing his friendship with sinners

Not there to hear him preach; otherwise, they might be convicted and saved
No they were (like Simon) there to try and FIND FAULT – “modern day fault finders”
Thought His character should separate Him from such sinners as the priest and Levite in the parable of the Good Samaritan.
They would even twist the lawto excuse themselves from sinners altogether

Jesus’ Redirection & Mission as the Good Shepherd(17)

Yet Jesus masterfully engages & draws them into conversation in an attempt to change their mindset
Justifies himself in speaking to publicans and sinners
Justifies his disciples in their not fasting
First through conviction – what side are you?
Second through reason – there will be a day when the disciples will fast
Third through doctrine– Introduces a New Era (out with the old and in with the new)

One of Christ’s greatest characteristics as the Good Shepherd He lays down His life for the sheep

Stood His ground / Held His own (2:17) – I am fascinated at this quality of our Lord Jesus
Stood up His own vs. against the authority of the day
Redirects them…shows Jesus’ priority and mission…His mission was to bring sinners into the very presence of God! Come to make the sick whole and make them serviceable for the kingdom of God!
Stepped in the gap (John 18:1-8,9)
Secured His Own
He sympathized & has empathy on the sinners in need of a Savior
His character drew himself to sinners and enabled sinners to be drawn to him
Separates Those who belonged to Him from those who would not repent
I am not here to call the proud Pharisees who think they are already righteous (Mal 3:7)
The Lord Jesus did not suggest that the Pharisees were really righteous but only that they thought they were
Full of themselves “whole”; had no use for Christ and refused mercy and neglected their need to be saved (their denial would lead to envy, critical spirit, hatred and would even lead to murder (Mark 3:6)

The Parable of the Bridegroom who is going to leave his own down here (18 - 20)

Pharisees Second Objection (18) – accused him and his disciples of not fasting

Tempted / Tested Him Concerning Fasting
Motive or Hidden Agenda was to divide the flock or “make a difference”
Boasted themselves in their religiosity (Luke 18:2 fasted 2x a week > 100x a year)

MH thinks, this day while the disciples were feasting the Pharisees were fasting which further aggravated;
people get pretty nasty when they perceive others having an advantage (success or superiority) and will try to minimize that person out of their own resentment

Fasting as Defined by Scripture:
Contrast between indulging oneself in self-seeking pleasures vs. denying oneself to relieve others
Isaiah 58:6-7 “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal/share thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him: and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?”
Feed the hungry, shelter the poor, cloth the naked, help the helpless…whatever you have done to the least of these you have done it Unto Me (Steve Green)
To go without physical nourishment to obtain divine guidance and victory over temptation
In Old Testament it became an expression of deep sorrow

In Jesus’ time it lost most of its meaning and became more of an outward show of piety for the religious leaders of the day

Mark 3:6 – Fault finders, criticize & seek for cause to kill Him

Jesus’ Second Redirection (19-20)

Jesus redirects by defending the children again (Mark 2:19-20)
Compares their relationship to a marriage; disciples/children were companions of the bridegroom
They were enjoying the wedding receptionwith their bridegroom
There would come a day when the bridegroom would be removed…and the widow would sit in solitude and fasting (go without)

He Knows the effect his death would have on them
Certain Depression would settle in (John 13:33 – “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.”
John 16:5-6, 20, 22 in reference to Mark 2:19-20CHECK TIME>
Going w/o physical presence of Christ
Time for fasting (As long as he was with them there was no need for an outward demonstration of sorrowBut the days were coming when they would experience deep sorrow but their sorrow would turn to joy (as a mother who has given birth to a new born baby – John 16)
He has not leave His disciples comfortless (John 16:27)
Holy Spirit has filled the place which he left to return to heaven (John 14:18)

The Parable of the New Garment & the New Bottles – The Gospel Message! (21-22, MT 9:16-17, Luke 5:36-39)

{See PowerPoint for updated grid - Parable of the cloth and bottles in presentation view.pptx}

Old garments vs. New garments–Works
Any sewers or seamstresses in the crowd?
Old bottles vs. New bottles (skins of animals, leathery, mildewed and grew brittle, would burst with the fermentation of new wine and thus in need of new wine skins) - Vessels
Lesson –
Grace and legalism are incompatible; rebuke to the self-R Scribes & Pharisees (educators of the law)
It was no use for John’s disciples and the Pharisees to put the Lord’s followers under the bondage of sorrowful fasting, as it had been practiced.

Old Garment / New Garment / Old Wine Skins / New Wine Skins
New patch of cloth that has not been shrunk would tear the old worn & weak cloth / Need to transfer our old stained garments for new clean garments / The old leather wine skins lost their power to stretch. The pressure buildup of new wine would cause it to burst (limited warranty) / New wine needs new wine skins (Luke 5:38)
But new wine must be put into new wine bottles; and both are preserved (eternity)
Legal system – old meritorious system
God demands righteousness from man and the law demands the blessings be earned (Ex 19:5, Deut. 28:1-6, John 1:17 note) / Grace Age –based on Divine Perfection
God bestows / accounts righteousness by faith (Rom. 1:16-17; 2 Cor. 5:21) / Old types/forms and sacrifices could never take away sin (Hebrews 10:4)
Need for Substitute – Equal to condemned person (Hebrews 10:5, 2:17) / Christ the Mediator of a Better Covenant / Testament made in his blood for the remission of sins (Matt 26:28, Heb 12:24)
God Himself is our Substitute (2 Cor. 5:21)
Man’s Works are NO good
Man’s Righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) / God’s Works are PERFECT(Deut. 32:4) / Man Himself is NOT good
(Rom. 3:10 & 12) / Man Must be a New Creation in Christ
(2 Cor. 5:17) with a
NewHeart (EZ36:26-27)
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. / For he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe or righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) / Convicts man of sin – for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Rom 3:30b; Gal 3:24law our schoolmaster) / Expands with fermentation – speaks of believers transformation takes place over time
Not strong enough on its own to hold/keep it together / Christians Perfect Standing based on the merits of God’s Own Son (Titus 3:5, Eph. 2:8-9) / Obedience based on keeping the whole law blameless / New Heart must expand with the New Life of indwelling Holy Spirit
Old Nature shrinks away from the New (Luke 5:39) - Natural reluctance of man to abandon the old traditions for the new / Acceptance in the Beloved – made something new (Eph. 1:6-7) / Mosaic Law – Old Covenant – fulfilled and done away with in Christ / New Heart is NOT constrained by the rigidity of the law
A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away – (Heb 8:13) / Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (Hebrews 10:9) / New Life of Exuberance and joy – overflows to others

What it is not represented in the parable?

-Christianity is not a patch-up / patchwork for Judaism but a whole new revelation of God

-Not Replacement Theology where the Church takes the place of Israel in His Eternal Plan

Conclusion
The Pharisees and scribes (lawyers of the day):
Provoked by His friendship with sinners (16)
Tempted / Tested Him concerning fasting (18)

Jesus receives sinners had he not done so no man would be saved
Jesus loves to fellowship with those that come to Him and receive His Word
Interesting that following his call by Jesus, Matthew is not mentioned again in the New Testament
He wrote the gospel of Matthew
He may have been very instrumental in bringing many sinners and tax collectors to salvation in Christ
Grace and legalism are incompatible
We are vessels of Almighty God – 2 Cor 4:7 – “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
Clothed with the garments of God’s Perfect Salvation and Indwelt with Holy Spirit with overflow of new wine filling our souls
Hebrews 10: Fulfilled the old by establishing the new (wine bottles and cloth parable)
The New Covenant is so much better than the Mosaic Covenant (Heb 8:8 – 8 Covenants, Scofield)
The Mosaic Covenant condemns man ‘for all have sinned” and is conditional “If ye will” (Exodus 19)
The New Covenant is absolutely unconditional secures the eternal blessedness of the believer on behalf of Christ’s Perfect sacrifice. It is the 8th covenant which speaks of resurrection and eternal completeness.