Mark 2:13-17
In
every society there are those individuals that are not liked. Right now in the
United States, politicians are near the bottom of the list, specifically our
federal representatives. Right now we don’t like our Senators or
Representatives in the House. We generally aren’t fond of lawyers or used car
salesmen either. The common factor is that they live off other people’s money
through saying whatever they need to say in order to keep their power or make a
profit.
There
was a similar class of people in Biblical times. The tax collector was someone
hated for their lifestyle that lived off other people’s money through
deception. Tax collectors were usually local people who worked for the Roman
government. Rome would impose a percentage tax on all transactions. Usually
this involved transportation of goods through an area along the well
established trade routes. We call them tolls today. When these taxes were
collected the local collector would add on a percentage or two for his own
pocket. He was already paid for his services by Rome, so the extra money was
just to support his lifestyle, which was usually much better than the
surrounding people.
This
alliance with Rome, being seen as a traitor to the local peoples, caused a
great deal of anger and hatred toward these collectors. The locals didn’t see
why Rome should get a cut of their trade business. And the people passing
through along the trade routes would be repeatedly taxed as they transported
their goods through an area. And with each tax paid, the local collector added
their slice to it. You can see how these fees would add up.
Capernaum
was on the main trade route between Damascus and the Mediterranean Sea. So Levi
would have been a wealthy individual living off other’s hard work. He was a
Jewish man, so he was seen as a betrayer of Jewish interests. No matter how you
looked at Levi, he failed at the justice test. His life was one of looks of
disgust and rejection by those who lived near him.
So
here comes Jesus, and who does Jesus choose to associate with, Levi, the man
sitting at his tax collecting booth. What a slap in the face for all the religious
leaders in that area. Here is Jesus, an extraordinary teacher, and he picks the
worst person to call as a follower. Then Jesus ends up eating at his house.
Eating in someone’s house was a sign of acceptance and intimacy. Families eat
together, not strangers. We accept people we eat with. We don’t eat with our
enemies, or those with whom we are fighting.
Jesus
accepts the worst people if they are willing to follow Him. He didn’t come
after those who didn’t need acceptance. He went after those who knew they were
sick. And we are all sick.