The Servant Messiah 9
A Friend of Publicans - Luke 5:27-32
Messiah must invade another area of life where attitudes were strong and misoriented. Taxation was a thoroughly entrenched part of the empire’s culture. Through this means the non-Roman was kept poor and the Emperor’s army, building projects, and circuses were supported. Many natives were employed by the conquorer and used as instruments of the government’s arm. Naturally tax-collectors were despised by their fellow countrymen and had been relegated to the position of outcasts. They were barred from the local synagogue and rejected by local society. In return for this treatment received, the tax collector had become more oppressive and dishonest. The situation was indeed serious and explosive, but a new attitude needed to be developed if this condition could ever be improved.
Messiah did more than befriend a certain tax- collector. He invited him to become a disciple. The publican was so appreciative of this recognition, so moved by this demonstration of friendship, so enthusiastic about the opportunity to join the discipleship of the great prophet, so enthralled by the possibility of even participating in the Messianic kingdom that he immediately accepted. Moreover, he planned a celebration, a farewell feast which Messiah attended.
This demonstration of compassion was treated as condoning dishonesty and honoring traitors. How can God’s servant manifest friendship to those who trample God’s laws? The righteous were disturbed and could not understand this type of conduct. It was not in keeping with the character of the God they knew.
Messiah was concerned also. He senses the difficulty and would make an effort to penetrate their understanding with an analogy from the physical world. The sick need the physician, not the healthy. You have rightly diagnosed the spirituasl condition of the publican and sinner. He needs a doctor, he needs spiritual help. Messiah had not come to invite the righteous but the sinsick to repentance. Could they understand the love of God for all his people. The publican and sinner understood. Perhaps some day the Pharisees would understand. In Messiah was a new spirit, a compassion, an understanding, a forgiving spirit seeking to save the lost.
Messiah must invade another area of life where attitudes were strong and misoriented. Taxation was a thoroughly entrenched part of the empire’s culture. Through this means the non-Roman was kept poor and the Emperor’s army, building projects, and circuses were supported. Many natives were employed by the conquorer and used as instruments of the government’s arm. Naturally tax-collectors were despised by their fellow countrymen and had been relegated to the position of outcasts. They were barred from the local synagogue and rejected by local society. In return for this treatment received, the tax collector had become more oppressive and dishonest. The situation was indeed serious and explosive, but a new attitude needed to be developed if this condition could ever be improved.
Messiah did more than befriend a certain tax- collector. He invited him to become a disciple. The publican was so appreciative of this recognition, so moved by this demonstration of friendship, so enthusiastic about the opportunity to join the discipleship of the great prophet, so enthralled by the possibility of even participating in the Messianic kingdom that he immediately accepted. Moreover, he planned a celebration, a farewell feast which Messiah attended.
This demonstration of compassion was treated as condoning dishonesty and honoring traitors. How can God’s servant manifest friendship to those who trample God’s laws? The righteous were disturbed and could not understand this type of conduct. It was not in keeping with the character of the God they knew.
Messiah was concerned also. He senses the difficulty and would make an effort to penetrate their understanding with an analogy from the physical world. The sick need the physician, not the healthy. You have rightly diagnosed the spirituasl condition of the publican and sinner. He needs a doctor, he needs spiritual help. Messiah had not come to invite the righteous but the sinsick to repentance. Could they understand the love of God for all his people. The publican and sinner understood. Perhaps some day the Pharisees would understand. In Messiah was a new spirit, a compassion, an understanding, a forgiving spirit seeking to save the lost.
posted by Dr. James F. Hubbard at 3:08 PM
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