“The Just Shall Live By Faith”
New King James Version Written by: David Hicks
Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
“Articles of Faith”
An Orderly Account
Of The Greatest Story Ever Told
(A Study in Luke)
Chapter 5:27-39:
Since the first portion in the close of chapter five begins with the recruitment of Matthew, we should start with a biography and a description of his occupation.
Matthew: The son of Alphaeus ( Mark 2:14 ), he was a tax collector, and was also called Levi ( Mark 2:14 ; Luke 5:27 ). We will see that Jesus will meet him in the tax office and then call him to be a disciple.
The readiness of Matthew to accept Jesus' call might indicate that he was predisposed to a life dedicated to God. As John The Baptist preached in the third chapter; tax collectors would come to John and were baptized and asked what they should do. John responded by telling them not to collect more than what is appointed. This indicates that there were both good and bad tax collectors ( 3:12 -13 ). There is every indication that Matthew was a good one.
However, it is remarkable that Jesus should choose a Jewish tax collector under the employ of the hated Roman government.
Apart from the mentions in our account of his recruitment and his name in the lists of the Apostles ( Matthew 10:3 ; Mark 3:18 ; Luke 6:15 ; Acts 1:13 ), there is no other mention of him by name in the New Testament. However, he would author the Gospel that bears his name, to the Jews.
Publican: This was the name used for a collector of Roman revenue. There were two classes of publicans:
- Chief Publican: This designation is given to Zacchaeus – Luke 19:1-10 .
- Publican: The standard class of tax collector of which Matthew is categorized.
The publicans as a whole, regardless of whether or not they were honest men, were bitterly hated by the Jews. They were all looked upon as extortionists and traitors (the later because they used their knowledge of Jewish commerce as a tool in their work). This led them to be categorized with sinners, harlots, and the heathens.
Now, with this basic information, let's take a look into our lesson!
Text #1:
Luke 5:27-32 “After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." 28 So he left all, rose up, and followed Him. 29 Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. 30 And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" 31 Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
Follow Me: This simple statement has a tremendous implication, not just to Matthew, but to everyone who will come to God through Christ Jesus our Lord (this discipleship of Matthew may have taken place prior to the kingdom; however, in principle this same answer to the Lord's call is necessary in the kingdom).
In the Gospel of John; Jesus had just entered Jerusalem on the donkey fulfilling the prophecies concerning this triumphant entry, when some Gentiles approached Philip to inquire to see Jesus. Philip then went and to Andrew and then they approached Jesus together, to tell Him of the Gentiles. Jesus would take this moment to talk about the fact that the hour had come for Him to be glorified (crucified and then resurrected). In this discourse, we are given a beautiful description of discipleship, note:
John 12:25-26 “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”
I have always found that the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible! In this description we see exactly what Jesus was calling Matthew to do (regardless of the fact that he was to be an Apostle of the Lord, the application is the same). This is exactly what Matthew did ( Vs. 28 ).
Tax Collectors and Others: Since Matthew was a publican by occupation, it was natural that many guests at the feast would be of this class.
Pharisees: Although we have mentioned the Pharisees before, it is best at this time if we make sure we understand just who they are!
They are one of the three prominent groups of religious sects at this time (Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes – In addition to these we will familiarize ourselves with scribes and zealots in future lessons). The Pharisees were by far the most influential and we may be able to trace their roots all the way back to the Babylonian captivity.
They were known as the most strict sect of the Jews, and their very name means “the separated ones”. In it's most basic form, we can discern the primary differences between the Pharisees and Sadducees in Acts 23:7-8 .
Although they claimed to be the strictest sect and the most dedicated in their service to God, we find that this was only in their own minds. They were at the time of Christ the most hypocritical servants of God (right alongside the Sadducees and scribes – a good read for a full description of their hypocrisy can be found in the oral indictment that Jesus gives in Matthew 23 ). This hypocrisy is also evident in the murmuring against Jesus' disciples for eating with tax collectors and sinners ( Vs.30 ). Had they been truly interested in the will of God, they would have been equally involved in calling sinners to repentance.
Text #2:
Luke 5:33-35 “Then they said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?" 34 And He said to them, "Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days."
It is important to know for the sake of this particular passage that John the Baptist was in prison and about to be killed. His disciples were fasting and mourning his situation. The disciples of Jesus still had Him with them, thus they had no occasion for mourning or fasting for that purpose.
Fasting: This simply meant the abstinence from food or drink for a period of time (long or short). In most cases it corresponded with a religious observance, but was also practiced when grieving, taking an oath, or giving oneself to extended prayer or humiliation (see: Psalms 35:13 ).
In the observance of the “Day of Atonement” ( Leviticus 16:29 -31 ; 23:27 -32 ; Numbers 29:7 ), Moses commanded that all the people should “afflict their souls”. This would be described as a fast ( Isaiah 58:5 ). This is the only place in the Old Testament that we find this practice commanded or required. Virtually all other accounts of fasting were individually motivated or circumstance initiated (see: I Samuel 7:6 ; Ezra 8:21-23 ).
At the time of Jesus; however, frequent fasts were practiced and customary with the Jews who wished to practice a specially religious life. However, what we find is that the practice of fasting particularly among the religious leaders was simply a parade of piety (to be seen of men – see: Matthew 6:16-18 ; Luke 18:9-14 ).
The fast mentioned in our text was associated specifically for the purpose of mourning the death of someone. Thus the specific teaching to follow, which would answer why Jesus' disciples did not fast like the disciples of John (who were only fasting often at this point because of the death of John), or the Pharisees; who fasted often just to be seen!
Text #3:
Luke 5:36-39 “Then He spoke a parable to them: "No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. 39 And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, 'The old is better.' "
As will often be the case, the challenge of the Pharisees initiated a direct response ( Vs.34-35 ), then a parable.
Parable: The word is derived from the Greek word, “ paraballo ” which means, “to cast beside”. A parable then, was the comparison of objects for the purpose of teaching.
When fabric is old it is shrunk, and also weakened with age and easily torn. If a hole in it is repaired with new cloth, it will pull loose in shrinking and tear the old cloth again. Nor, would the new cloth match the appearance of the old, and in either case be inappropriate for the need.
Bottles at this time were made the skins of animals, being closed tightly around the mouth somewhat like a pouch. While these pouches are new they are moist and capable of expanding without bursting. New wine has to expand as it ages, and if put into old pouches that have become dry, the expansion of the liquid will burst the vessel.
This illustration was given in context to simply teach a lesson on appropriateness . It was appropriate for the disciples of John to mourn at this time having lost their teacher. Appropriate practices should be conducted at the appropriate time, for the appropriate reasons.
However, for Jesus disciples to mourn while He is still with them; would be like trying to repair old cloth with new, or it would be like putting new wine in an old skin. The wrong practice at the wrong time!
This would constitute the first parable to be recorded in Luke. We will elaborate on parables in more detail in future lessons.