God doesn’t just speak to us in Religious settings, He is always seeking to reveal Truth and Light to us, be open and expectant!
29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.
31 Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I HAVE NOT COME TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT SINNERS TO REPENTANCE.’ Luke 5
We saw yesterday that after Jesus called Levi, a tax collector, he went to his house and ate with him and his companions. We’d think His response to the Pharisees would be obvious, but their WORKS BASED RELIGION AND PRIDE REJECTED HIS WORDS.
Jesus went to eat in the house of Simon the Pharisee where He was attended by a, ‘sinful woman’. No-one is Righteous before God. Isaiah 53:6 Once again the Pharisee judged Jesus in his heart for allowing the woman to touch Him. He questioned Jesus’ validity as a prophet, never realising He was the Son of God.
46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – FOR SHE LOVED MUCH. BUT WHOEVER HAS BEEN FORGIVEN LITTLE LOVES LITTLE.’
48 Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Luke 7
No such Forgiveness was extended to Simon or his household.
Jesus, while passing through Jericho stopped and spoke to a rich tax collector called Zacchaeus.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” (This time it was the people who were critical of Jesus, going to the house of yet another outcast.)
But Zacchaeus demonstrated an immediate change of heart, or repentance, when he was in the Lord’s presence.
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” (The stronghold of Mammon over him was broken)
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19
Sometimes we can learn more in an informal setting than a formal one and the Lord speaks in both. Lord, please give us eyes to see and ears to hear in our everyday lives.
God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us!