December 10, 2014 Mk. 2:13-17 Exegesis: 2, 13: He taught them: see the note on 1, 21-45 2, 14: As he passed by: see the note on 1, 16-20. Levi, son of Alphaeus: see the note on Mt. 9, 9. Customs post: such tax collectors paid a fix sum for the right to collect customs duties within their districts. Since whatever they could collect above this amount constituted their profit, the abuse of extortion was widespread among them. Hence, Jewish customs officals were regarded as sinners (16), outcasts of society, and disgraced along with their families. He got up and followed him: i.e., became a disciple of Jesus. 2, 15: In his house: cf v1; Mt. 9, 10. Lk. 5, 29 clearly calls it Levis house. 2, 16-17: This and the following conflict stories reflect a similar pattern: a statement of fact, a question of protest, and a reply by Jesus. 2, 17: Do not need a physician: this maxim of Jesus with its implied irony was uttered to silence his adversaries who objected that he ate with tax collectors and sinners (16). Because the Scribes and Pharisees were self-righteous, they were not capable of responding to Jesus call to repentance and faith in the Gospel. Eisegesis: It is okay to eat with sinners as long as we know how to bring them back to God. Seeing their full repentance that they have sinned, we can get along well with them as we, too, are sinners in our own ways.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 14:24:46 +0000
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