Dinner Companions                                                                                                                    B - 6

 

Later Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house.  Many tax collectors and “sinners” came.  They ate with Jesus and his disciples. 

Matthew 9:10 (NIV) 

 

There is a certain teaching throughout Christianity today, and for millennia before today, that we have to be “right” before we can hear, be touched by, and spend time with our Father.  We hear too often that we have to shape up first, repent first, get our act together first, then maybe God will look in our direction. 

But when you read the Gospels, you’ll soon discover that this teaching is exactly the reverse side of the truth!

Have you ever read a story in which Jesus asked to see the guest list before he went to dinner?  Was He ever concerned about who might show up?  Was He particular about His dinner companions?  Or, on the other hand, was He so full of love and compassion that He was compelled to talk to everyone and anyone, but especially those still in darkness? 

Here’s some Good News for you today … you can come to dinner just as you are.  And when you go to dinner, you’ll experience compassion and love, and lots of encouragement!  Come and meet and listen to Him; you’ll never be the same again. 

 

1) Tax Collectors were the scum of the earth in the days of Jesus, and “sinners” could have been nearly anyone.  There was no shortage of sinners.  Same as our society these days.  Matthew was one of the apostles, so why would he open his house to the trash of that town? 

2) Why did townspeople question the guest list? 

3) What do you think Jesus was thinking about as he approached Matthew’s house?  Was he anxious, wondering what to say?  Or was He looking forward to freeing people from self-imposed misery? 

4) We can assume that Matthew took a hit on the society pages of the local newspapers.  Do you think he cared?  Whose idea might this lunch have been? 

5) If you lived next door, would you be outraged, or wanting to be included at the lunch table? 

6) Since Jesus went to that particular lunch, would He still come today? 

7) Since Jesus went to that particular lunch, would He still come today to your house?