Calling Traitors

Imagine going to a craft festival or flea market only to find a booth with a white
man collecting money for the Taliban or Al Cida
• In our mind he might be considered
     Unpatriotic?
     Anti-American?
     Traitor?

• We would, as a minimum
     Walk away
     Maybe ask him why he is doing this
     Call him a traitor
     Some might be violent

In Jesus’ day there were people who did sit at booths and collected money for the
occupying forces, the Romans. The Romans paid these Jews very well. But their fellow Jews considered them as unpatriotic and traitors to Judaism

They reacted to these people by staying away from them. They might be asked, why they had sold out to the Romans. Often they were considered as bad, if not worse, than a perpetual
prostitute or drunkard.

This is the background behind Jesus calling Matthew to be one of his followers.
Luke 5.27

Matthew, aka Levi, was a tax collector for the Romans.
Read Luke 5.27-28

Jesus asked the worst man in town, the traitor, to be a disciple.

Jesus asks the man with a horrible political and social standing to be
someone important in His life. Jesus seemed to be gathering people from the bottom classes. He already had 4 stinky, obnoxious fishermen with him.

This event in Jesus’ life is a quick reminder that Christianity is not meant to
be a club

Jesus’ attention was not on those with social prominence.
It was after all this that the main lesson took place

Read Luke 5.29-32

This same tax collector threw a big feast to honor Jesus calling him. A large number of those traitors, uhhh, tax collectors were guests along
with others considered to be constant sinners.

Some Pharisees and their scribes attended, but not as guests.
o They began to grumble or mutter toward Jesus disciples, using a question. Why do you eat with this kind of people? Implied that they should KNOW better and should ACT better.

But Jesus put them back in their place and teaches US a great lesson. People who are healthy do not need a doctor, just the sick people

Luke 5:32

Jesus came to give sinners an opportunity to repent or change.

Jesus came for people like me, and maybe you. He wants us to make changes in our lives. He KNOWS what can make life wonderful because HE created us.

And we might be considered low in society and politics, but that does
not concern Jesus. Jesus wants you. He wants to give you a chance to change your life into HIS life. He wants you to enjoy the life you have HERE and NOW. AND He wants you to be with him in Heaven SHORTLY

But, it will require you making a dedicated effort to
▪ Learn Him (not a creed)
▪ Learn HIS truth
▪ Live HIS pattern.

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We love you and want only the best for you
May the Good lord take a likin’ to ya’.
Until next time, Goodbye for now.