This sermon covers the healing of a lame man and the calling of Levi who was a tax collector. In both cases, the Pharisees and teachers of the law are critical of Jesus. When Jesus pronounced "release" (forgiveness) of sins to the lame man, they accuse Jesus of blasphemy because only God forgives sin.
We show from OT scripture that indeed God forgives sin; but Jesus is God incarnate and does have the authority on earth to forgive sins and proved it by healing the lame man. God also knows the secrets of the heart and this section shows that Jesus knows their unspoken reasonings. Healed, the lame man "glorified God."
Throughout Luke-Acts, glorifying God is evidence of faith and having been made right with God. Levi was a tax farmer and was thus someone hated by the Jews. Even the Romans considered such persons to have low status. Levi gave a great banquet where Jesus dines with tax collectors and others. This caused the Pharisees and Scribes to "grumble."
We trace that word back to Exodus and Numbers where the Israelites grumbled against God's provision. By grumbling that Jesus dined with sinners, these religious leaders show that are at odds with God's saving purposes. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. Such banquets are a foreshadow of the great eschatological banquet where the redeemed will dine with the King.
SERMON ACTIVITY
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