OBJECTIONS OF PHARISEES

LUKE 5.27-39

 

Levi, the tax collector, was despised by the Jewish leaders, and maybe all the people, as one stealing from them and in cooperation with the hated Romans.

 

In violation of every prejudice, social standard, and unwritten law, Christ went to Levi's home.  A large crowd of tax collectors and others joined with Levi. Eating with these people violated every expectation of the culture.

 

To the Pharisees and their teachers who complained about this, Jesus said,

 

"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Luke 5.31-32

 

A second objection was raised at this time:  Jesus did not fast.

Even John's disciples fasted, but Jesus and His disciples never stopped eating or drinking.

 

Jesus' response: 

          Everyone celebrates as long as the bridegroom is present. 

          When the bridegroom leaves, there would be plenty of

              time for fasting as much as anyone wanted.             

 

Then come the two parables of the old and new: 

New patch doesn't fit on old garment. 

Old will tear the new.

 

New wine will tear the old wineskin.

People will complain about the new, preferring the old rather than new.

 

People don't like change!  No matter how much better the new may be, people don't want to change and they will criticize and complain about the new.

 

Christ came to fulfill the Law as the Father intended.

This was very different from the Pharisees and their teachers "interpretive systems."

They did not like Jesus' new interpretations and the new  behavior that accompanied His teachings.

 

 

There was endless opposition from the Pharisees and Teachers "intellectual" interpretations that allowed people to redefine statements that conflicted with their plans and purposes, willfulness and selfishness, pride and self-exaltation.

 

 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: 

The old has gone, the new is here.

2 Corinthians 5.17