Follow Me! 

Luke 5:27-32

Key Verse 5:27

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him,

This passage shows Jesus' wisdom to lead many sin-sick people like Levi to repentance.

1. Think about what Jesus did in verse 27a, particularly the way in which Levi came to meet Jesus. How is Levi's encounter with Jesus different from the way in which the paralytic in Luke 5:18 came to meet Jesus? What can we learn from Jesus in reaching out for the people like Levi? (Luke 15:4)

** It was the opposite in that in case of the paralytic people brought him to Jesus, but in case of Levi, Jesus brought himself to Levi. This is strange, because in case of Levi, he was all "able" in terms of his physical ability to come to Jesus, but because he was spiritually dead, and had no friends to help him out, Jesus had to come to him, whereas in case of the paralytic, because he was physically incapable of bringing himself to Jesus, it seemed as though Jesus had to bring himself to the man, but oddly enough, despite this man's total incapacity to come to Jesus on his own, thanks to the friendship demonstrated by this friends, this man could come to Jesus and secure help from the Lord. 

** We are reminded of the old saying, "Where there is will, there is a way." Jesus had the burning desire to save a soul like Levi, so he "made" a way for him to come to Levi and recover him back to his sheep pen. So where there is no way, make a way. 

2. Compare (1) Levi sitting at his tax booth and (2) Jesus who said to him, "Follow me." What does Levi sitting at his tax booth tell us about Levi? What does "Follow me" mean? What do you think Jesus' words of invitation must have meant to Levi at that particular moment of his life?  

** 1) He was following money.

2) He was faithful to his job.

 

** It means to go to the place Jesus is going (or leading people), that is, God's kingdom where one can find his true security of life, and have his life to the full. John 14:6. 

** It was the words of "invitation" to God's kingdom. He never got invited to the fellowship among the righteous. But Jesus "invited" (or "welcomed") him. People did not invite him for they "classified" him, and "wrote him off", meaning they did not have any "hope" on him, but Jesus had "hope" on him, the hope to recover him back to the fellowship among the righteous.

3. Look at what Levi did in verse 29. Why do you think he responded to Jesus' call this way? (John 10:3,14) What wisdom is there for us to learn in serving people like Levi in our generation? (1Co 11:1) 

** He heard a shepherd's voice, the voice of a good shepherd. It looked as if he had known this Jesus for a long period of time. 

** We learn from this episode that we ourselves must first be "in" the Lord, and follow Jesus. Then, as we follow Jesus, we too can invite friends like Levi to following Jesus. 

4. Verse 39 says that Levi held a great banquet "for Jesus". What does the phrase "for Jesus" tell us about: {1) Jesus; and (2) Levi? Why do you think Levi invited such a large crowd of "tax collectors" and "others"? 

** Jesus "knew" Levi (his agony, his loneliness, his inner cry, his desire to live a righteous life, but inability to do so, etc. and so forth.) 

** 1) Levi deeply "appreciated" Jesus who did not classify him, but rather invited him to the fellowship of light, love, and life. He knew what it is to express one's thankfulness to God. 

2) In deep appreciation of Jesus' love for him, he held a great banquet, indicating that he made a great sacrifice all in honor of Jesus! Everyone thought that he was "selfish", but what he did shows that he too has the image of God (i.e., the sacrificial love). 

** He wanted all other peoples on earth who were similarly situated come to know Jesus and have a fellowship with him, so they too would find the same hope (of being included in the fellowship of the righteous in God's kingdom) as the hope he found in Jesus. 

5. In verse 30 the Pharisees and the teachers of law complained to Jesus' disciples. What does their title, "Pharisees" or "teachers of law" tell us about them? Why do you think they complained to his disciples like this? (Ezr 6:21; Psa 1:1-3; Isa 52:11) 

** Pharisees - Pharisee means "set apart" or "separated" (from the wicked). 

Teachers of law - The word "law" indicates that they were disciples of "Moses" who gave them the law. So we can say that they tried to do what is good, that is, promote what    the law of Moses teaches. 

** They wanted to adhere to what Moses' taught them.

6. Memorize verses 31-32. What does this passage show us about Jesus' purpose of calling Levi saying, "Follow me"? What wisdom is there for us to learn in leading people like Levi to repentance? 

** It is to call to promote not the wicked ways of life, but the way of the righteous through repentance and following Jesus. 

** Do not write them off, but rather understand their limitations, and invite them to following Jesus. 

The end 

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