(1) The gap between the tax collectors and the Pharisees
Tax collectors= (NET) The tax collectors would bid to collect taxes for the Roman government and then add a surcharge, which they kept. Since tax collectors worked for Rome, they were viewed as traitors to their own people and were not well liked.
Pharisees= (NET) Pharisees were members of one of the most important and influential religious and political parties of Judaism in the time of Jesus
2:16 When the experts in the law and the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
(NET) The issue here is inappropriate associations. Jews were very careful about personal associations and contact as a matter of ritual cleanliness. Their question borders on an accusation that Jesus is ritually unclean.
In other words, the tax collectors were considered as sinners. Association with the sinners will make a person unclean. The Pharisees would not like to do so and despise people who did that. Jesus was that person.
In other words, the tax collectors were considered as sinners. Association with the sinners will make a person unclean. The Pharisees would not like to do so and despise people who did that. Jesus was that person.
(2) From the passage in 2:1-12, when the sinner came to Him He forgave him and made him walk again. Now, Jesus actively sought Levi v.14 and having a meal or associating with many other sinners like him v.15. He would not be "contaminated" by the sinners. He is different. He is the doctor who took the sin away v.17. Jesus is not like a white paper that might get stained by the dark ink. He is the eraser which can take the stain away.
(3) Reflection: God is holy and hates sin, but He seeks the sinners and heals us. It was because He loves us and thinks about our needs. If God did not seek me out, I am still a sinner like Levi and his friends. Levi, probably never thought about religion. The Pharisees would never like to associate with people like him. Until the day Jesus came and invited him his life changed. I thank God also that He sought me and had someone to share the Gospel to me multiple times. Thank God that He loves me.
Today, we celebrated Christmas for the same reason: God sought me and He came to the earth 2000 years ago.
Audrey
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