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Levi throws a party!Levi throws a party!

Luke 5:27-30 Luke 5:27-30 

  2727After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, said to him,

2828and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. 2929Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house,

and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. eating with them.

3030But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

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Story 3 times toldStory 3 times told

Luke 5Luke 52727After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by theAfter this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the

name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus"Follow me," Jesus

said to him, said to him, 2828and Levi got up, left everything and followedand Levi got up, left everything and followed

him.him.

Mark 2Mark 21414As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sittingAs he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting

at the tax collector's booth. "at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him,Follow me," Jesus told him,

and Levi got up and followed him.and Levi got up and followed him.

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Matthew 9 Matthew 9 99As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man namedAs Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named

Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he"Follow me," he

told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

A man named: “Matthew” (A man named: “Matthew” (Maththaion legomenon)  Maththaion legomenon)  

Matthew: “Gift of the Lord” alias of LeviMatthew: “Gift of the Lord” alias of Levi

5 times in the Bible (Math 9:9, 4 times as apostle)5 times in the Bible (Math 9:9, 4 times as apostle)

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Gospel of Matthew specifically to the Jews: Gospel of Matthew specifically to the Jews:

9 times Jesus is referred to as the “Son of David”9 times Jesus is referred to as the “Son of David”

50 times and more the word “Kingdom” is mentioned50 times and more the word “Kingdom” is mentioned

33 times specifically “Kingdom of heaven” and only in 33 times specifically “Kingdom of heaven” and only in MatthewMatthew

The gospel of Matthew carries the proclamation:The gospel of Matthew carries the proclamation:

““Jesus is the Messiah, the promised Kingdom has come!”Jesus is the Messiah, the promised Kingdom has come!”

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Characteristics of tax collectors:Characteristics of tax collectors:

They were rich They were rich

Zaccheus Luke 19.Zaccheus Luke 19.

……he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.

They were despisedThey were despised

When the Pharisees saw this they asked his disciples:When the Pharisees saw this they asked his disciples:

““Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors andWhy does your teacher eat with tax collectors and

sinners?”sinners?”

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The partyThe party

Matthew 9:10 Matthew 9:10 

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house,

many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with himmany tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him

and his disciples.and his disciples.

Luke 5:29Luke 5:29

Then Levi held a Then Levi held a great banquet great banquet for Jesus at hisfor Jesus at his

house, and a large crowd of tax collectors andhouse, and a large crowd of tax collectors and

others were eating with them. others were eating with them.

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The guestsThe guests

Luke: A “great” banquet for Jesus! Luke: A “great” banquet for Jesus!

The invited: tax collectors and “sinners” The invited: tax collectors and “sinners”

……nice to meet you, sinner is my (middle) name…nice to meet you, sinner is my (middle) name…

The host:The host:

“ “ Hey guys and girls… May I introduce to you Jesus, you Hey guys and girls… May I introduce to you Jesus, you know…the one who “talked” to me…? know…the one who “talked” to me…?

Well meet the King of David, Messiah! Well meet the King of David, Messiah!

And he is glad to talk to you also!”And he is glad to talk to you also!”

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People to avoid:People to avoid:

The “not done” things:The “not done” things:

The Jews did not meet with:The Jews did not meet with:

Those with infectious diseases: LepersThose with infectious diseases: Lepers

Those who are not pure Jews (Samaritans) Those who are not pure Jews (Samaritans)

Publicans, tax collectors and “sinners” of all sorts.Publicans, tax collectors and “sinners” of all sorts.

Who are you avoiding to meet?Who are you avoiding to meet?

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What do I learn from this story?What do I learn from this story?

With Jesus there is no partialityWith Jesus there is no partiality

Colossians 3:11 Colossians 3:11 

Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised orHere there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or

uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, butuncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but

Christ is all, and is in all.Christ is all, and is in all.

When I want to follow Jesus, I must be radicalWhen I want to follow Jesus, I must be radical

““Follow me” he told him, and Matthew got up and followedFollow me” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed

Him. Him.

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What do I learn from the “place” where Matthew What do I learn from the “place” where Matthew puts the story of his calling?puts the story of his calling?

Big question: What made this man move? Big question: What made this man move?

The Sermon on the mount, the beatitudes, The Sermon on the mount, the beatitudes,

the new order in the Kingdom of Heaven, illustrated by athe new order in the Kingdom of Heaven, illustrated by a

whole series of miracles. (scattered and incomplete orwhole series of miracles. (scattered and incomplete or

shortened in the other gospels)shortened in the other gospels)

The sermon of the mount contains 109 verses. A little moreThe sermon of the mount contains 109 verses. A little more

than half of these verses are peculiar Matthew's Gospel.than half of these verses are peculiar Matthew's Gospel.

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This is more that just recording what happened: This is more that just recording what happened:

It is a careful argumentation why Matthew stood up andIt is a careful argumentation why Matthew stood up and

followed Jesus. (he wrote it down years after it happened)followed Jesus. (he wrote it down years after it happened)

Luke 19Luke 1955When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said toWhen Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to

him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay athim, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at

your house today." your house today." 66So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

What makes you move?What makes you move?