God Has Mercy For The Most Despised | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series)

I greet you in the name of Lord. Jesus Christ.

The resurrected Lord, in the soon.

Returning King, if you can meet me in your copy of God's word in

the Book of Mark chapter 2. If you're visiting with us,

Mark 2 · chapter mention

we've been going together as a family Through The Book of Mark

and week after week. As we hear from this word, we

never cease to be amazed at just How Majestic and wonderful he

is. And that will only continue to

be true as we come to this text in verse 13 of Mark chapter 2

Mark 2 · chapter mention

and a very familiar passage. But we trust that the Holy

Spirit would Enlighten us to see fresh revelation.

That would benefit us in our sanctification and even benefit,

perhaps somebody in here who doesn't know Jesus.

And Mark 2 13. We read.

He went out again beside the sea and all the crowd was coming to

him and he was teaching them. And as you pass by, he saw Levi,

the son of alphaeus. Sitting at the tax booth and he

said to him, follow me and he rose and followed him.

And as you reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors

and sinners were reclining with Jesus.

And his disciples for there are many, who followed him.

And the scribes of the Pharisees when they saw that, he was

eating with, Sinners and tax collectors said to his

disciples. Why does he eat with tax

collectors, and Sinners? And when Jesus heard it, he said

to them. Those who are, well, have no

need of a physician but those who are sick, I came not to call

the righteous but sinners. Lord, we come before you with

this text in front of us. And Lord, you know the hearts of

all men. You know, the condition of our

hearts in this place, you know, exactly what we need to hear.

We trust Lord as this text. As this service has been prayed

over that you will indeed move in an obvious way.

Lord, we realize our weakness, our Frailty are inconsistent

habits below There is something in us because of your spirit

that desires to know you and be like you.

So, we ask father through this text would you Empower us to

obey? And would you draw us to Worship

You? Lord you see our generation, the

flood of distractions, the death, the destruction, the the

confusion Lord, we need an extra measure of your power.

Would you supply it in this place for the name of Jesus?

Christ's sake? And In his name we pray.

Amen. After declaring and

demonstrating his authority to forgive sins, the Holy Spirit

takes us by the hand, and he brings us before the Lord,

Jesus, as he demonstrates that Grace, that ability to extend,

pardon to the undeserving in a very, very moving scene.

And this is accomplished as Mark, introduces us to a man by

the name of Levi, who was known as a collector of taxes in Jesus

day. Now, the significance of Levi's

occupation will be explained in a moment, but it's good for us

to know that the very same man that we are witnessing about

today is in fact, believed by the majority that he is the same

person as Matthew the tax collector that we read of, in

the Book of Matthew which is the Book in our new testament

library. And the reason why that is the

consensus is, because there is an exact almost word-for-word

account of this conversion story, in the Book of Matthew,

and instead of the name, Levi being used, it's Matthew.

Now, you might be wondering why two names for the same person.

Culturally speaking, that was very common in Jesus day where

you would have somebody who was labeled or identify by more than

one name. One of the disciples actually

has three names in our Bibles. His name is Peter and in some

places Simon and another's cephas.

So there's nothing to be confused about that and there's

nothing contradictory about it. What's more important is that

the story of Levi's conversion is strategically placed right

after Jesus. Gibbs and heals a paralyzed man

and that is a spiritual thing because this emphasis is to tell

us that there is a greater Reach In Jesus forgiveness.

It goes to places that you would not fathom it touches, the

hearts that you would not believe.

And that is the case when we come here with Levi, but more

than that, the fact that it's told right after a miracle,

Indicates that this conversion in itself is a miracle.

It's even a greater Miracle than the one who had lifeless legs

was told to pick up his bed and go home.

And so we come here to see that Levi story is a miraculous

story. An old preacher said something

that I love to repeat from time to time.

He said the greatest Miss miracle that God can do today is

to take an Unholy man from an Unholy world and make them.

Holy then put them back in that Unholy world and keep him.

Holy and that is what we are going to witness today.

A very Unholy man who is then made holy and then giving us the

inspiration that he can do the same today.

Levi's testimony. Is given to tell us that

Redemption and healing in the soul is available to the most

repugnant and repulsive of all. And that is certainly true of

our world today. There are, if you're honest with

yourself there is a category of Sinners perhaps in your heart

that you perhaps deem as hopeless.

And two ugly in terms of sin and to horrendous in terms of

actions and belief that you almost write them off as

reprobates to the degree, that they will never have a chance to

be saved. May I present to you, Levi, to

give you the hope that perhaps somebody that you dearly love,

that is so far out can actually come into contact with the grace

of Jesus Christ and be saved because of it.

Consider three things with me this afternoon the calling of

Levi The conversion of Levi and the conflict around Levi, the

calling of Levi, after being, told that Jesus was fulfilling

what he was called to do, what he was sent to do at this point

in his ministry to teach and preach the good news.

We now see Jesus very briefly in motion.

There is a transition, a physical one, because we read

in, verse 14 as he passed by. So, here's Christ walking from

one direction to the next we made, just right.

Cut off as unimportant but it is extremely significant because in

those brief seconds is a person on that same path who will

forever have his life, altered because of Jesus Christ.

Don't get distracted now. They're just people And so, what

we see here is Jesus, passing by and in passing by meditate to

realize what that means he passed by and he saw Levi

sitting at the tax Booth, no, random detail.

There is Matthew, and I'm going to use Levi, Matthew

interchangeably. Same person.

There is Matthew sitting in a tax Booth while Jesus is

crossing him in that path. And this is important because

you and I have to understand We how deplorable Tax Collectors

were those of you who grew up in church?

This is like common. You understand that?

But just realized just how much they were hated as I explained.

Who Tax Collectors were to the Jews, they were traitors, they

worked for the Romans, the Romans oppressed the Jews of

this time. And for you to volunteer to work

for the Romans in the eyes of the Jews was disgusting.

How dare you? You already seen that we are

burdened by this. As people you already seen that,

we don't have the freedom that we desire and here you are only

strengthening their caused over us, but more than the fact that

their position declared, a lack of faithfulness of fidelity to

their people and even to their God, these Tax Collectors

couldn't help it. They're a position of authority

and power tempted him and they would give in to that temptation

to make a profit for themselves. So they would cheat with the

numbers. They wouldn't manipulate they

would press and whatever extra they would get out of there

oppressed brother. They would put it right into

their pockets. Ancient Jewish commentaries and

writings tell us that to the general public Tax.

Collectors were no different than thieves and murderers.

They were illegitimate Witnesses in a court setting.

They were shunned to participate in the worship service at

synagogues. And we even read here at one

point in the mishnah, which is the oral traditions of the Jews

in ancient times that a tax collector.

Was so deplorable that even if he entered into someone's house,

that house would be deemed as unclean. if they understand what

they felt about these people, And that's amazing because in

other words to the Jews that tax collectors were just as

Despicable and worthy of social isolation as the leper.

And you can almost say that these men were even more to be

despised and the leper, because a leopard didn't have a choice

in the matter, concerning his condition, but the tax collector

did, You were so unfeeling about your reputation that you were

willing to be a part of something that you knew would

cause people to despise you. But they could care less and

here's the beautiful thing. That this is where and when

Jesus calls Matthew to himself, while he is sitting at the tax

Booth, Levi wasn't attending the service and verse 13 by the Sea.

He was an eagerly hearing the teachings of Jesus.

He was right in the middle of his sin.

He was sitting there, he was comfortable there and it was

there where you heard the voice of the shepherd, calling him to

himself, wanting him to himself, not even the Detailed word here

in verse 14 as she passed by, he saw Levi.

What did those eyes communicate? What I see there is that when

Jesus saw Levi, he knew exactly who Levi was.

He knew that he had a corrupt character.

He knew that he was part of something that was dishonoring.

He knew the burden that Levi placed on the fellow citizens

who are innocent and already struggling.

He knew of the of the stigma around his occupation, he saw

all of it and yet still out of the same lips, he says, follow

me. I want you while understanding

full, well who lie, Levi was an agent of pain.

And someone who lost all feeling concerning his own reputation, a

spiritual leper, the Lord wanted him, and that same Mercy that he

is displaying towards Levi's the same Mercy that is so

powerfully. Drying Sinners today.

Christ doesn't want you to meet him halfway listen, if you're a

doubtful person concerning the grace of Jesus Christ, As you're

there swimming in your sin? Yes, with Filthy Hands and even

perhaps a perverted mind while you're listening to the sermon.

Your mind is Twisted. Hear what I have to say.

Jesus, doesn't want you to prove yourself to be worthy to come to

him. He wants to rescue you exactly

where you are. And he calls from the shore.

For you to reach out your hand. And his arm is long enough and

strong enough to pull you out of muck and mire.

And that's exactly what he is doing and wanting to do.

Even in this place. Today, there is an invitation,

ringing out loud because the very essence of that invitation

is, it has the power to change you.

You don't change yourself so you can come to Christ, you come to

Christ, so he can change you. And he longs to change a, he

longs to receive all glory and changing you.

And he here is seeing Levi in his sin and he says, I want you

now. Right there, you'd be amazed to

know the skepticism. You'd be amazed to know that

hesitation of people coming. Oh I just don't know if I'm if

I'm worthy. I don't know if I'm a candidate

know. You are a candidate.

You are exactly the person that Jesus is looking for, as we re

later on that, he comes for the sick of physician is drawn to

those who need the physician not to those who think they have no

need of him. I want to, I want you to see

something quickly, turn your Bibles quickly with me, Romans

Romans 5 · chapter mention

chapter 5. and look at these amazing statements about, Who

Jesus comes for. Three verses.

Romans 5:6. First.

Romans 5:6

Look at these words. For while we were still weak at

the right time Christ died for the ungodly weak, unable to

fulfill the law. Unable to prove yourself unable

to be obedient and remain obedient while we were still

weak, Romans 5:8, but God shows his love for us in that while we

Romans 5:8

were still sinners. So, not just even attempting a

righteousness, but being weak at it.

But while you are sinning and comfortably doing it, disobeying

living for your passions and your pleasures while we were

still sinners. Christ died for us.

It doesn't end there. Yeah, while you were a week

while you're still Sinners, Romans 5:10 for while we were

Romans 5:10

enemies. For while we were still weak

verse 6 for y, we were still Sinners verse a verse 10.

For while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the

death of his son. Much more that we are

reconciled. Shall we be saved by his life

enemies? Open Rebellion to God.

Sticking your nose to the heavens and raising your fist

and saying, I know what I'm doing and I'm gonna do it.

Gladly, it's one thing for one man to die for a friend or for a

child, but it's another thing to die for an enemy.

It's one thing to die for somebody who's trying to get,

right? But they don't have the power to

get, right? But for somebody who turns their

back, And knows exactly the kind of blasphemy.

They are performing. And yet still Christ, says I

still want you. I'm coming for the blasphemer.

I'm coming for the one who hates me.

I'm coming for the one who despises my law and Mike are G

coming for them too. For while we were weak while we

were still Sinners, while we were enemies while he was

sitting at the tax booth. Jesus says, I want you, I want

you to follow me. And Levi was called.

Yes, while sitting there. But Levi was called for a

limited time frame verse 14. And as he passed by, As glorious

as this grace is, you have to understand that it has a window

of time and leave. I only had so much time to work

with. Jesus did not rent a room across

from the tax poles, so that he can have a few weeks of a

one-on-one campaign to convince Levi that he needed to surrender

his life. He was passing by, It was a

short opportunity. And Eve, I had to leave.

I had to respond to that because the physical picture here

provides a Biblical illustration of the urgency of salvation You

don't really hear the word hell anymore in church, right?

It's kind of a rare word. I remember somebody told me once

after I preached on it, I don't believe that you should use hell

to try to convince Sinners to come to Christ.

Oh, really? So, what do you tell Jesus?

Then? You have a problem with Jesus

evangelism. If you have a problem with me.

There is no doubt in my mind that many will be in Hell who

knew exactly how to be saved. They can even tell you how that

what the gospel is. The problem is not their lack of

the knowledge of the Gospel. The problem is their hesitation

or unwillingness to surrender to the call of the Gospel.

Let me take it further. I believe there will be many in

Hell, who would even say in admit, that they were even at

one point interested or eager to repent and believe.

But as they reflect on their life at on Earth, they remember

they push it off until tomorrow and wants tomorrow came, They

delayed it until next week and then once next week came that

conviction that once. So sharply cut their hearts and

brought an Awakening to their conscience was ultimately dulled

until it essentially disappeared until they wished away into

eternity. Many will understand that their

place in judgment was not because they didn't hear was

because they didn't say yes when they had the chance to.

And there are so many sobering illustrations of this in the

Bible. And one of the strongest

illustrations is with a man named Felix and acts 24 who had

Paul as a prisoner before him and Felix was hearing his case

because the Jews accused them of all these weird things,

including treason. And so Felix was going to hear

him, but Felix was Interested in more than just what the Jews had

to say in Acts 24, 24, Felix, and his wife, Drusilla, we read

after Sunday's Felix came with his wife, Drusilla, who is a

Jewish and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in

Christ Jesus, we don't know if it was Felix or his wife, who is

Jewish. That wanted to hear what Paul

had to say concerning Jesus Christ.

Despite the fact Paul gladly with those chains came before

and says, let me tell you about the law.

Jesus Christ. And so he preaches and so he

teaches and Felix's there, I'm sure on some kind of a throne

with his hand on his chin, listening intently and then

something happens in verse 25. And as he reason Paul about

righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix

was alarmed. And said go away for the

present. When I get an opportunity, I

will summon you. Here's the sad part.

Felix says, I will fetch for you when I'm ready.

And there is never a recorded moment where he ever asked for

that opportunity again. And I am just so impressed by

Paul's gospel presentation, because the way he spoke and

what he spoke about clearly Disturbed Felix, not that we

intend to disturb or offend, but the Bible tells us.

So clearly what he said that shook Felix, he mentioned

righteousness, he mentioned self-control, he mentioned

judgment to come. Now, let's just be honest today.

How much do we hear of that in our gospel presentation?

How much do we hear of God's holiness?

How much do we hear of the repentance that is needed to

self-control? They're speaking of the

repentance that is needed to say, yes.

How much do we hear of the judgment to come if you refuse

to surrender, to Jesus Christ, who delivers you from the

righteous standard of God? If we want to know how to

preach, let's go to the preachers and the Bible.

And we see here that he presents these things and it clearly had

this man shook because the guilty condition of his soul was

brought before him and he wanted to Shake It Off.

And so he says depart from me I will come for you in a more

convenient time, but listen to me there is never more of a

convenient time to surrender than Christ then today because

the more you resist and maybe you're in this place and you

have resisted you've heard week after week the gospel.

Listen to what I have to say. The more you resist today, the

harder it is to say yes, tomorrow.

You don't believe me, do you? Well, look at Felix and acts

Acts 24:27

24:27. Do you want to know how long

Felix had Paul in his presence and at his disposal and acts

Acts 24:27

24:27 we read when two years had elapsed?

Two years, two years, Felix was succeeded by pork is Festus, and

designed to do the Jews of favor, Felix left Paul in prison

to Ole years. And he wasn't saved, then it

call for Paul to explain the gospel.

Again, didn't ask, for more details than ask him, to be led

to the, to the Jesus that say, Paul two years.

And that's why the holy spirit says.

Today as the holy spirit, says, if you hear his voice, do not

Harden your hearts, you have an ability to harden your own

heart. And you can make it much more

callous than it was yesterday. And it can come to the point

where you were so hardened that now, you were just coming week

after week, and nothing moves. You nothing.

Listen to me, I'm being very, very serious.

You can come to the point where God can warn you once just once

and you will never feel the urgency of that warning again

after one time and God is completely justified in all of

that. We have this strange concept as

though, we're doing Jesus a favor and he has to wait on our

terms. And when we're ready, we'll come

to him today. And if it comes today and you

don't answer today, who says you're going to answer tomorrow?

Felix didn't Owen, Moses told Pharaoh about the plague to

stop, you know what Pharaoh said?

Concerning the frogs Moses is one.

Do you want at? And he goes tomorrow tomorrow,

you can have it today. Yeah.

But for some reason I want to wait till tomorrow.

We are strange creatures Sons and Daughters of Adam confused

in. So many ways.

We see here, that Felix waited till tomorrow.

So what was holding him back? Would you like to know verse 26?

It says you're at the same time he hoped that money would be

given him by Paul so he sent for him often and conversed with

him. Money.

Rich's the only reason why he kept Paul closes because he

thought that there would be some bribe to have him released.

And so he kept them close and so he was hoping that one day Paul

would even say look the high really want to get out of here.

Have a missionary in a journey to fulfill here take some money

or his friends would come and provide some kind of extra cash.

The thing that was weighing down Felix, at least one thing was

the love of the world, the love for things, the love for gain.

it's very possible that there are some who have been sitting

here for weeks and months and your heart is only getting

harder and harder because you refuse to say, yes, for what

money Your little Empire. Your cute boyfriend.

Girlfriend. Fear for your family.

Whatever the case may be, would you sense the warning from

Felix's life? And if you have that feeling of

warning be encouraged by Matthew.

When the Lord asked him to leave, when he asks him to

follow him, he did not reply. What saying can you just let me

finish my shift? I'm in the middle of my work

here. I got a couple more hours, maybe

I'll talk to you in my break time.

Not say Lord. I mean I'm a I'm a very affluent

man. I have high position here.

I would like to retire in a respectable way.

Can you just give me a couple weeks while I put in my notice?

And then I can follow you. Nothing of the sort.

He sensed the urgency of the moment.

It's either now or never. And I'm going to say, yes, now.

And he did, and to the human understanding, this might have

been an inconvenient time. Jesus, why did you call him

while he was sitting at the tax Booth.

But let me tell you something, over the ways of the Lord, the

call to Salvation. And even after you're saved the

call to obedience is oftentimes unfavorable to the flesh.

It's very rare, your flesh is going to say.

Yeah, let's do it. I'm in agreement.

I think this is the perfect time.

Oh, you can find a man broken enough, who's desperate enough,

but it is rarely the case. In America, you have people

here. Who tend to give Jesus terms,

can I tell you my own growing up?

In a Christian home, I actually gave Jesus an age.

Lord. When I'm 30 years old, I will

follow you and that nice. 19 18 years old knowing knowing full

well that this Jesus fellow is real.

He is indeed God. But I have a life to live, man.

I got things to do Jesus. You might get in the way.

So, Lord, when I'm 30, hopefully, I'll be married.

I'll bring my wife to even if she doesn't believe in you, 30

years old. How does that sound?

What kind of agreement are you making with Jesus?

Want to wait till you finish school till you get serious with

Jesus. You want to explore a little bit

of the world. A dangerous dangerous game to

play Russian roulette with your soul.

So what is your excuse? There is no better time to serve

Jesus than today. There's no better time to be

saved by Jesus than today, because anything else that is

delayed as only wasted time when it could have been invested into

Eternal reward and joy at this present moment, leave I heard.

He realized that even in his physical predicament, you're

actually calling me a tax collector to come and follow

you. I will do it.

And perhaps, the reason why people do not sense their

urgencies, because they don't realize how horrendous their sin

is. I'm telling you, I've talked to

enough people to come to this conclusion.

Many, many people think that God is just a little bit better than

us just a little bit. Many, many people in America,

which is like, the Disneyland of the world.

Think that heaven is a little bit better than where we're at

today. That's why are people saying you

know, I don't know. I want to do this and do that

before he comes and brings his kingdom.

I'm telling you, the people and living in huts and communist,

China are not thinking the same thing.

They're desperate for the return of Jesus Christ, because they

don't have this concept that it's a little bit better than

what we have going on here. I'll tell you that very soon.

We're not going to be thinking that anymore here in America,

the call for Levi to be saved, but concern, the conversion of

Levi, we can easily expand in great detail.

What was proven in his change with Jesus, despite the fact

that he left something that was profitable, something that

secured his future and just threw it all away to say.

Lord, I will go wherever you want me to go consider the

celebration that Levi has, because of this occurrence.

As you reclined at table in his house, many Tax collectors and

sinners were reclining with Jesus.

And his disciples for there are many who followed him.

This is not just Matthew trying to honor Jesus.

This is Matthew trying to introduce Jesus in this man who

could not comprehend, how someone like him can actually be

called by someone like him could not keep that Grace to himself.

But goes to Great Lengths to make sure that others can have

the same chance that he had. And so it is with the person who

has been truly, transformed by Jesus.

You cannot keep Keep it to yourself.

You want to do what you can and you have here.

Levi opening his home Lord come over and I will bring as many

people as possible. How true is that Zeal?

When we first come to know? Jesus Christ, Luke tells us

something more detailed. Luke says, in 529 of his book

and Levi, made him a great feast, made him a great feast in

his house and there was a large company of tax collectors and

others reclining at table with him.

So he celebrates Jesus, reclines.

He's comfortable and people are coming to converse with them and

hear him and perhaps be saved from him.

And by him. We see here that Levi, had a

great change immediately Evangelistic Zeal, but it's even

greater than that. I want you to see how Levi, we

see his actions, but we don't see his words.

There's not one moment in any of the gospels where you have a

recorded speech given by this disciple, but I want to prove to

you in a subtle way, how Levi, actually proves the depth of his

salvation and what he doesn't say, Remember how Mark describes

the celebration? We are told clearly and verse

15. And as he Jesus, reclined at

table in his house, being the house of Levi.

You heard it from Luke 529 that Levi held a great feast in his

house and a large company was there that tells me that this

man was wealthy. He could host a great feasts and

he can host a great number of people in his home.

This guy had money. This guy was wealthy But have

you ever considered how Matthew himself writes of his own

testimony? Have you ever looked at Matthews

version of his conversion? And what he says, he does for

Jesus, after he was saved, would you like to see it and Matthew

Matthew 9:9

9:9, you will see it and it is very, very revealing of the

character of this man though inspired by the spirit.

In Matthew 9. Verse 9.

As Jesus passed on from there. He saw a man called Matthew

sitting at the tax booth and he said to him, follow me and he

rose and followed him. Pause.

Matthew is writing this. So you can imagine what's going

through his mind as he's coming to this point in the gospel

writing about his own story, about how Jesus met him and

saved him and change them. And so he says it almost word

for word. As Mark does almost word for

word as Luke does, and then you come to verse 10 and as Jesus,

reclined at table in the house, behold many tax collectors and

sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples

Mark, they all went to Levis house, Luke Levi, had a great

feasts, and he had a large company of people there.

Matthew Jesus was reclining at table at the house.

What are you doing there? Matthew.

I'm trying to conceal myself. I want to Avail my hospitality

and my generosity. I'm not really interested in

making my works for Jesus known. And so with some kind of

subtleness and with a strategic uncleanness, he wants to he

wants to teach people through his writings.

Yes Jesus sits and dines with Sinners and tax collectors but I

don't really want to mention how big the party was.

I don't really want to mention that it was my house and that I

held a great feast. I'm not sure how far along

Matthews life. Was when he wrote this gospel.

Surely after the Resurrection, the Ascension of Jesus But one

thing I can assess by this observation, he was mature in

his faith. And he had a wisdom and

humility. And the Holy Spirit.

Honored that and translated that in the scriptures.

So that when you compare Mark and Luke and Matthew writing

himself, you would see. Wow, Matthew What are you trying

to do there? I wonder if this verse ran

through Matthews mind, and Proverbs 27, to let another

praise you and not your own mouth.

A stranger and not your own lips.

Can I tell you something about the power of this gospel?

It really changes you in a fine-tuned way, doesn't just

give you some confidence that you're going to go to heaven.

It chisels you And the Holy Spirit, after you say yes to the

Lord Jesus enters into your life.

We sang it. He's alive in me and he commits

himself to conforming you into the image of the very one who

saved you. And so we see here, even with

Matthew don't know. Recorded word is given and his

own writing. He is silent about his own

Works. He would not dare to try to put

any Spotlight on himself, but on Christ and Christ Alone. and I

think that is so encouraging because I look at this day today

and I can't think of Of a more self, loving self centered, self

praising self, advertising generation.

The good thing about our generation is that anybody can

have a platform. The bad thing about this

generation is that anybody can have a platform People who do

not deserve a platform are getting platform.

And here's the worst thing, they're the most viral some of

the things I look at. This is viral and I get money

for it on top of it. But I will tell you a cure to

the sickness of this culture. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ

because when you realize the humility of Jesus Christ, and

when you let his power enter into your life, the same

fragrance of Christ is adorned upon you.

And Jesus now comes in and he will do things in you that you

never thought he would be able to do.

Not only will he change the way you think and speak about

others? He will change the way you think

and speak about yourself. This is the power of the gospel

and it's available to you. It can break shackles break

habits, and it can transform you to such a degree that you will

not even be able to recognize yourself.

And so we see here that the conversion of Matthews so sweet.

And so obviously working in him even ways that we might have not

immediately perceived, look at the conflict around Levi.

Let me briefly mention about the issues.

We see here in verse 16, the scribes of the Pharisees when

they saw that, he was eating with Sinners and tax collectors

said to his disciples. Why does he eat with tax

collectors and sinners? Why would this bother you?

Why is this offending you so much?

Because this religious group We're known to separate

themselves from Common People. The very word Pharisee means

separate one Pharisees. We are separated where the

separate ones. And the idea of being associated

or coming into contact with a sinner, Was completely foreign

to the school of thought. These men would have nothing to

do with somebody that did not hold to their Traditions or

their impeccable, observance of those Traditions.

They were repulsed they were disgusted.

They would show that just even by their associations and the

sight of these Pharisees looking upon a holy man, who obviously

perform miracles to have dinner and to express one of the most

intimate ways of being related to somebody Was jarring.

And so they asked in a subtle accusatory way, what is he

doing? Having dinner with these kind of

people And he says it to the disciples, but Jesus hears and I

love that he hears everything. So Jesus answers and he says in

a paraphrase fashion. I'm a spiritual doctor.

I go to the spiritually sick. That's what I do.

That's who I go for. That's who I associate with.

That is my mission. That is my heart.

Amazingly, these men. Couldn't understand it.

These are the type of doctors who avoid sick people and

distance himself from the diseased.

You know what, kind of a doctor that is a useless one.

And that's what legalism is. It is useless religion.

Legalism that says we are pure and holy by not associate or not

believing that God can change or not going to Great Lengths to

show compassion and understanding the people who are

warped and their mind, you are just like a doctor who.

When they see a sick people run, the other direction useless But

Jesus is the great physician. He's drawn to the broken, even

the broken in the mind, broken and heartbroken in their

actions, broken in their vocabulary and he wants to heal

them. And so he comes to do just that

Now, I am fully aware that this Fair say Urkel.

Commentary has been turned into license for unwarranted Liberty.

So you have people, usually Christians.

I try to be cool, and they want to hang out with Sinners, and

they're not just hanging out with Sinners, their sinning with

the sinners. Jesus ate with Sinners, Jesus,

ate with tax collectors. Yeah, he ate with them.

Not to be like them, but to heal them.

That's all I'm gonna say about it.

That's it. He came to them to heal them,

not to enjoy their company and their sin.

And so we see here, that as much as Jesus is rebuking them, it

goes even further and Matthews version.

And we're going to end here in this Evangelistic message this

afternoon to understand, Jesus has wisdom, and designed for his

people, and for any person who engages with this word, and I

pray, that's every single one of you Matthew chapter 9 And verse

Matthew 9 · chapter mention

12 and 13. Matthew chapter 9, verse 12 and

Matthew 9:12

13. but when he heard it, when Jesus heard the criticism of

This crowd. He said those who are well, have

no need of a physician but those who are sick, Go and learn what

this means. I desire mercy and not sacrifice

for. I came not to call the

righteous, but Sinners. Do you see the added phrase?

Go and learn any quotes from Hosea 6:6.

Hosea 6:6

I desire mercy and not sacrifice.

You know, it's so amazing here. Jesus tells the religious Elite

who are known for their apparent expertise in the law to go and

learn. Talk about a sting.

Hey you you Seminary professors, come over here, go and learn

what this verse says, excuse me. Talking to men who have

memorized large portions, even books of the law.

And Jesus has the boldness to looking them in the eye and says

you clearly have an honor Sir with this verse means.

So go back into your little office, pull out the book and

look at this verse and understand what I mean by it, Go

and learn, and that's, that's very instructive insightful,

isn't it? Because what I see from this is

that God's word was designed so that it would be learned in a

way that would transform your perception and your practice.

That's what true learning is when it comes to your

involvement in the scriptures. When knowledge of the word of

God is acquired but not applied. Our relationship with the word

of God is extremely flawed. As in Need for reform, it needs

to be totally altered because the very Pharisees who knew

these scriptures clearly did not learn be scriptures even though

it was stuffed in their brains and that they could quote it

offhand. Jesus still looks at them as

unlearned men go back and learn that tells me what true learning

is of the When I come to, this is to truly learn so I can truly

change. And in this case, the lack of

compassion of the Pharisees and the coldness and their hearts

towards other people was a clear sign that you did not allow the

word of God to have its way in you the way it was designed to

have its way in you and so when I look at people who are

extremely sophisticated and well taught and well-spoken but then

I look at the character and how they treat others.

I know one thing despite the knowledge they have not learned

they haven't They have not learned the way Jesus said

you're supposed to learn, may God help us to truly learn.

He says, those who are sick down, those are the ones I've

come for and those who call themselves righteous.

I did not come for, you know what that means?

Jesus cannot save a person who does not see their need to be

saved. Jesus cannot heal.

Anybody who does not see their sickness when he says I came not

to call the righteous. He's talking about those who

believe they are righteous when they are not.

So do you want to know how you can disqualify yourself from

salvation? Believe that you don't need

salvation? We had a question.

What is the unforgivable sin? What is the blasphemy of the

Holy Spirit on Friday? And we tried to explain it.

But, let me tell you the unforgivable sin today, it's a

sin. That's not repented of The sin

that Jesus will not forgive his ass in that you will not choose

to acknowledge, and say no to and embrace the forgiveness for

that sin. So the worst kind of people to

evangelize to, and to convince of the Gospel, are people who

think they are good. The most difficult man.

Because like a person who doesn't see the cancer and

refuses to acknowledge that they are in fact affected by some

illness and doesn't go to a doctor, it's the same way for a

person who does not need salvation.

They look at themselves and they go, I'm fine.

I'm very limited on my vocabulary.

I'm very limited and my thought process I can only really say so

much before. Some of you start falling asleep

and maybe some of you already on your way there.

But what I've said, I hope will touch the heart of the person

who came in here thinking they were good.

But came to the realization that they are not good.

And Jesus is willing to save you exactly where you are.

Lord, we thank you for this brief message.

And we ask Lord that as we reflect at your table of what

you've done for us. That the saint.

Would have a renewing joy, and their Salvation, And The Sinner

would be broken. Broken, but they would recognize

it as a blessed Brokenness, because you were right here,

waiting to heal them. Thank you for being the one who

came for us while we were weak, while we were Sinners while we

were enemies. If we become numb to that truth,

awaken Us by the spirit, to see how good that is in Jesus name,

amen.