Sermon Cloud

A New Beginning Luke 5:27-39

I. (27-29) Demonstrated In Matthew

Luke introduces us in this book two tax collectors who trusted Christ—Levi  and Zaccheus (Luke 19:1–10).

This is not a story of a miracle of healing or a miracle of nature, but it is an account of the miracle of his grace in the life of a hardened sinner.

A. (27) Starts With The Call To Follow

Luke 9:23  … “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

1. Comes Directly From Christ

This is not a call to religion, or social status, but a call to follow Jesus Christ!

2. Comes to you Right Where you Are

B. (28) Continues With Real Repentance         Luke adds "Left Everything" to clarify what it means to follow Jesus.

1. Luke Points Out Left All

Tax Collectors Were Often Cheating The People

Remember the warning of John the Baptist to Tax Collectors in 3:13 “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”, which assumes their dishonesty, and Zacchaeus’s behavior in 19:8–9.

2. Rose Up    There will always be times as Christians when we will be asked to stand up for Jesus.

3. Followed Him

Literally “and he began to  follow him.” It emphasizes the start and continuation of Levi’s discipleship. The banquet that follows is one of the ways Levi was following Jesus.

C. (29) Includes Complete Identification

Levi not only followed Jesus, but he invited many of his “sinner friends” to meet Jesus.

Matthew 10:32-33 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

1. That Includes His Identification With Us

II. (30-35) Explained By Jesus                   THE THEME OF LUKE

A. (30-32) As The Reason He Came

Those who are well have no need of a physician; the physician’s waiting room is filled with those who are sick. They recognize their need and come to the one who can make them well.

1. For Those Who Are Sick

In light of the biblical teaching that there is none righteous (Rom 3:10–23) and that the call to repentance is for all (Luke 3:3; 13:3, 5; 24:47; Acts 2:38; 17:30), “righteous” here should be understood as those who falsely think themselves righteous , i.e., the Pharisees.

2. For Those Who Are In Sin

Finally Luke reminded us that the call of Jesus was addressed to the outcasts. Jesus came for sinners (5:32) and for the lost.

Luke 15:7 ⁷ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Luke 19:8-10  Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” ⁹ And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; ¹⁰ for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

3. To Come To Repentance

B. (33-35) As The Relationship We Have

1. As Bridegroom And Bride

2. As Together Or Apart

III. (36-39) Illustrated By Parables

A. (36) The Old Clothe And New Garment

B. (37-38) The New Wine And Old Wineskins

He compared Himself to a joyful bridegroom who invited hungry and unhappy people to His feast. To the scribes and Pharisees, religion was a funeral; but to Jesus, it was a wedding feast!

C. (39) The Old Wine

1. Being Stuck In The Traditions Of Men