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Luke 5:27-32
Jesus has just healed a man both physically and spiritually that had been lowered from the roof into His presence because of the crowd (Luke 5:17-26). Jesus now leaves that place and finds a tax collector (of which were some of the most dishonest people of society at the time) and says two words to him; “Follow Me” (Luke 5:27, NKJV). This lying, cheating, backstabbing outcast of society, “left all, rose up, and followed Him” (Luke 5:28). Jesus was not participating in sin with these sinners, but He went to them to call them out of the sinful lives they were living and into a new life of forgiveness that is not concerned with the outward appearance that the scribes and Pharisees were concerned with, but the inner cleansing of the heart.
This is a promise and example that Jesus came to save sinners, of which we all are.
Jesus states in Luke 5:31-32, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” This is a very important statement that Satan tries to twist in our minds to make us believe that it does not apply to us. Satan tries to convince us that, in our own minds, we are righteous because we are generally a “good” person, but the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”. We all must first realize the need for forgiveness before we can come to a humble understanding that we too need the forgiveness of Jesus each day of our lives.
We all need Jesus, and we must seek the guidance of Jesus each day to prevent us from falling to the evil scheme of the devil who strives every minute of every day to trick us into believing otherwise. When we begin to look down on others or think that we are better than some, we fall to the tricks of the devil. The Apostle Paul states in Galatians 3:26-29, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” We are all in need of the saving power of Jesus. Jesus tells us in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
Dear Lord,
Thank You Lord for the story of Jesus choosing Levi (Matthew) to be one of His disciples. Thank You that even though our past may be considered as an outcast of society, Jesus came to save us all from sin. Thank You for forgiveness in and through Christ Jesus who came to save the world from sin. Thank You that in Your eyes we are all equal and that You desire to have a personal relationship with each of us. In Jesus name I pray, amen.