1. ICEL Levi throws a party! Luke 5:27-30 Luke 5:27-30 27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, 27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. 29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

2. ICEL Story 3 times told Luke 5 27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Mark 2 14 As 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.

3. ICEL Matthew 9 Matthew 9 9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. A man named: “Matthew” ( Maththaion legomenon) A man named: “Matthew” ( Maththaion legomenon) Matthew: “Gift of the Lord” alias of Levi 5 times in the Bible (Math 9:9, 4 times as apostle)

4. ICEL Gospel of Matthew specifically to the Jews: 9 times Jesus is referred to as the “Son of David” 50 times and more the word “Kingdom” is mentioned 33 times specifically “Kingdom of heaven” and only in Matthew The gospel of Matthew carries the proclamation: “Jesus is the Messiah, the promised Kingdom has come!”

5. ICEL Characteristics of tax collectors: They were rich Zaccheus Luke 19. …he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. They were despised When the Pharisees saw this they asked his disciples: “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

6. ICEL The party Matthew 9:10 Matthew 9:10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. Luke 5:29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

7. ICEL The guests Luke: A “great” banquet for Jesus! The invited: tax collectors and “sinners” …nice to meet you, sinner is my (middle) name… The host: “ Hey guys and girls… May I introduce to you Jesus, you know…the one who “talked” to me…? Well meet the King of David, Messiah! And he is glad to talk to you also!”

8. ICEL People to avoid: The “not done” things: The Jews did not meet with: Those with infectious diseases: Lepers Those who are not pure Jews (Samaritans) Publicans, tax collectors and “sinners” of all sorts. Who are you avoiding to meet?

9. ICEL What do I learn from this story? With Jesus there is no partiality Colossians 3:11 Colossians 3:11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. When I want to follow Jesus, I must be radical “Follow me” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.

10. ICEL What do I learn from the “place” where Matthew puts the story of his calling? Big question: What made this man move? The Sermon on the mount, the beatitudes, the new order in the Kingdom of Heaven, illustrated by a whole series of miracles. (scattered and incomplete or shortened in the other gospels) The sermon of the mount contains 109 verses. A little more than half of these verses are peculiar Matthew's Gospel.

11. ICEL This is more that just recording what happened: It is a careful argumentation why Matthew stood up and followed Jesus. (he wrote it down years after it happened) Luke 19 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. What makes you move?