Monday - July 15, 2024
Food Controversy - Calling Levi and the Question of Fasting (Mark 2:13-22)
Mark 2:13-22.
“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” (Mark 2:14).
“Jesus said to them: Can those who are at the wedding fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast” (Mark 2:19)
The Sick Needs Physician not the Whole
"And Levi made him a great feast in his own house. He felt himself highly honored by Christ's call, and gave expression to his feelings, by making an effort in calling his friends; for he was to be no longer engaged in the business he had followed. Jesus and his disciples were invited, and "many publicans and sinners came and sat down with his disciples." Jesus never refused invitations of this kind, because here he could ask and answer questions that would diffuse light. He came to sow the seeds of truth in human hearts, knowing that the time would come when hearts would respond to the truth that fell from his lips. {KC 162.2}
"But the Scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with sinners and publicans and sinners? And Jesus answered and said unto them, They that are whole (or claim to be whole) need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." {KC 162.3} The Kress Collection, 1985
A Call for Sinners not for Righteous
Jesus was accused of eating with publicans and sinners, as though it were a crime to associate with the fallen, and he replied, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Had his accusers been truly righteous by faith in God, they would gladly have received the Son of God, and would have profited by his instructions; but those who were self-righteous, rich in their supposed knowledge, and far advanced in their own eyes in spiritual things, felt no need of receiving more truth and light. Christ said of these who supposed themselves wise, "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God." Jesus recognized their difficulty and said, "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." The Pharisees believed themselves very prudent in withholding their faith and sympathy from Christ; for though they had the Scriptures, they misinterpreted them. {RH, June 2, 1896 par. 4} The Review and Herald
Bring the Light of Heaven to the Darkened World
The Pharisees would not consider that Jesus was eating with publicans and sinners in order to bring the light of heaven to those who sat in darkness. They would not see that every word dropped by the divine Teacher was a living seed that would germinate and bear fruit to the glory of God. They had determined not to accept the light; and although they had opposed the mission of the Baptist, they were now ready to court the friendship of his disciples, hoping to secure their co-operation against Jesus. They represented that Jesus was setting at nought the ancient traditions; and they contrasted the austere piety of the Baptist with the course of Jesus in feasting with publicans and sinners. {DA 276.2} The Desire of Ages, 1898
The Lesson of Mercy to Sinners who Repent
"And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Will you let this lesson sink deep into your hearts?--Letter 199, 1905. {RC 203.7} Reflecting Christ, 1985
Consider the Following
Jesus ate in the house of the publican Levi, and surrounded himself with many like him (Mark 2:13-15). The critics did not waste the opportunity (Mark 2:16).
Jesus refuted them logically: where better than here will I find sinners to save? (Mark 2:17). Additionally, he challenged them to examine their own feelings. They had to learn to love (Mt. 9:12-13).
Far from learning to love, the Pharisees incited John's disciples to join in their criticism (Mark 2:18).
Jesus' response came in the form of parables:
The parable of the wedding (Mark 2:19-20). How can someone fast while at a wedding? The bridegroom is Jesus; the guests the disciples. When Jesus died and was resurrected, then his disciples would need to fast.
The parable of the new and the old (Mark 2:21-22). The living teachings of Jesus had no place in the dead teachings of tradition; and vice versa.
