Mark 2:13-17

6. THE CALL OF MATTHEW AND HIS FEAST 2:13-17

TEXT 2:13-17

And he went forth again by the seaside; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the place of toll, and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. And it came to pass, that he was sitting at meat in his house, and many publicans and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and publicans, said unto his disciples, He eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners. And when Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 2:13-17

82.

Why did Jesus do most of His teaching outside?

83.

Isn-'t it rather strange to read of a tax collector working by the Sea of Galilee? Explain.

84.

Was this the first meeting of Jesus with Matthew? How account for the immediate response?

85.

Why did Jesus go to eat at the home of Matthew? Be specific.

86.

Are we to conclude that the publicans and sinners were at the feast only because they followed Jesus?; or did they come by invitation?

87.

What was wrong with eating and drinking with publicans and sinners?

88.

Why ask the discipleswhy not ask Jesus?

89.

In the answer of Jesus was He being ironical in His reference to the well and the sick?

COMMENT 2:13-17

TIMEEarly Summer A.D. 28.
PLACENear the northern shore of Galileeon the road from Damascus as it entered Capernaum.

PARALLEL ACCOUNTSMatthew 9:9;Luke 5:27-28.

OUTLINE1. Teaching the multitude by the seaside, Mark 2:13. Mark 2:2. Matthew called from his work to follow Jesus, Mark 2:14. Mark 2:3. The feast in the home of Levi, Mark 2:15. Mark 2:4. The criticism of eating with sinners; the answer of Jesus, Mark 2:16-17.

ANALYSIS

I.

TEACHING THE MULTITUDE BY THE SEASIDE, Mark 2:13.

1.

The place where He had taught before.

2.

A great crowd present because of previous miracles.

II.

MATTHEW CALLED FROM HIS WORK TO FOLLOW JESUS. Mark 2:14-17

1.

The place of toll was noticed by our Lord.

2.

Immediate response.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

I.

TEACHING THE MULTITUDES BY THE SEASIDE, Mark 2:13.

Mark 2:13. By the seaside. Our Lord often is found in the open air preaching to the multitudesespecially was this true beside the Sea of Galilee. There were many villages from which came the many people to hear Him.

II.

MATTHEW CALLED FROM HIS WORK TO FOLLOW JESUS. Mark 2:14-17

Mark 2:14. He saw LeviThere were many who fished in the lakeThere were many more who came in and out of the cityfrom all of these would Levi collect taxes. Jesus had already healed one leperhe is about to heal anothera social leper of the society of His day, Here was a Jew hired to collect taxes of his own people for the despised Romans. If such tax collectors were paid a common wage for their work it would have been scorned as an occupationbut when all knew they assessed beyond the amount prescribed and kept the overcharge for themselves it became a position of utter contempt. By Mark alone is he called the son of Alphaeus. There is no reason to suppose that this was any other Alphaeus than the one referred to in all the lists of the apostles where we have James, the son of Alphaeus. In three of the lists he stands next to Matthew and Thomas. Matthew and James are thus presumably brothers; and if, as is almost certain, Thomas was the twin brother of Matthew, Alphaeus was the father of three of the twelve. If the word brother is rightly supplied before of James in Luke 6:16 (Judas the brother of James), he may have been the father of four.

We have no record of a previous acquaintance of Jesus on the part of Levi. We can assume the following: (1) He could have heard the preaching of Mark 2:13. (2) One of his brothers could have introduced Jesus to him. (3) He could have been among the other publicans who were baptized by John (Luke 3:12-13; Luke 7:29). (4) Peter said the apostles were followers of Jesus from the baptismor baptizing of John (Acts 1:21-22).

We must conclude that when the words of Jesus Follow Me fell on his heart it was one prepared to receive them. Here was a hungry soul in the most unlikely of circumstancesbut then our Lord found several of thesewe think immediately of the woman at the well (John 4:7-38).

Mark 2:15. Jesus (he) sat at meat in his houseLuke tells us the feast was prepared by Matthew for Jesus (Luke 5:29). We are not to conclude this event happened immediately after the calling of Levino time element is indicated. We ought to mark the difference in the readings of the King James Version and the American Standard. The name Jesus is supplied by the translatorsit is much more natural to refer this to Leviwho here in his own house is reclining at the table in the presence of Jesus and many others. Evidently Matthew wanted all publicans to hear and see what he had heard and seen. The publicans were at the feast by invitation as were undoubtedly the disciples of Jesus.

Mark 2:16. The scribes and Phariseesa better translation would read the scribes of the Pharisees. This is the first mention of the Pharisees in Mark's Gospel. They were a sect of separatists. The group began in the Maccabean period, in the second century before Christ. The Pharisees were trying to withstand the rising tide of Hellenism in Palestine. They stood strongly for close adherence to the law, including strict observance of all the ceremonial requirements. But like all such groups, the sect became more and more legalistic in its emphasis. (Earle) These scribes stood outside the house to ask this question of the disciples.

Mark 2:17. They that are whole (strong). This was used ironically by Jesus to describe the Pharisees-' attitude about himselfsince he felt self sufficienthe need not concern himself over the work of the great physician.

They that are sicksurely even at the risk of contagion the physician must minister to the sick, If the Pharisees felt these publicans and sinners so much in need they could not object if someone attempted to help them.

not to call the righteous but sinners. Jesus plainly states His purposeHis work, His concern would be among sinnersHis callHis healing would be for themif this offended the Pharisees so be it!

FACT QUESTIONS 2:13-17

107.

Who would hear Jesus by the Sea of Galilee i.e. besides a few fishermen?

108.

Why did Levi have his place of toll by the Seaside? Why was he hated?

109.

Who were the brothers of Matthew?

110.

What are the possibilities of previous contact of Matthew with Jesus?

111.

Why was Levi so ready to follow?

112.

Who prepared the feastin whose house?

113.

Why did the Pharisees criticize Him?

114.

How did Jesus attempt to show the Pharisees their sin?

115.

Did Jesus infer there were some men who could not be helped?