Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners

13Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. 15While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus Questioned About Fasting

18Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?” 19Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. 21“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

23One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” 25He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 27Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” 4Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. 5He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

The error:
Pharisees divide people between right and wrong.
Jesus’ correction:
It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick.

________

The error:
Religious practices were self-oriented and seen as the way to earn the favor of God.
Jesus' correction:
How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them.

________

The error:
The Pharisees placed religious practice over people.
Jesus’ correction:
Sabbath is made for man, not man for the sabbath.

If you feel like you are far from Jesus, good. The doctor is in!

If you think you're fine and healthy, it may be time to go in for a checkup.

This week, as we exercise our faith in practical ways, think of the people in your life and how you can serve them.

Because relationship with one another is at the core of being a disciple of Christ, we invite you to find community and experience spiritual transformation through LCC’s groups, classes, events, and service opportunities.

CLICK HERE to see what's happening with the Lighthouse family.

BRUNCH & BELONGING
This community group is for newer attendees who desire community and are looking for their place of belonging within the LCC church family. Come form lasting relationships with others who are also new to Lighthouse. We meet on Sundays at 10:30am in Room 321 (Building 2). No need to register. CLICK HERE for more ways to find community at LCC.

COMING UP
• Men’s Breakfast at 8:00am on Saturday, May 25.
• Prayer for Global Outreach Partners at 10:15am on Sunday, May 26.
• Child Dedication Class at 9:00am on Sunday, June 2. Please register by May 30.

SUMMER CAMPS
• For high school students: July 8-13
• For middle school students: July 15-20
• For 4th-6th graders: July 22-27
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