The Standard November 2, 2024
At churches we say, “all are welcome to the table.” This is because we follow the example of Jesus who loved having all kinds of people dine and talk with him. The Pharisees and Jewish leaders did not approve of him spending time with those they considered to be liars, thieves or sexually immoral people. Of course, the truth is that the religious leaders were just as guilty of sin, although it might have looked different.
Matthew, also known as Levi, reports, “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe in him.’” Matthew 21:31-32
Matthew, although a Jew, worked as a tax collector for the Roman Empire before he was called by Jesus. He had been seen as a traitor in the eyes of his fellow Jews.
“Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 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. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” Mark 2:13-17
Luke describes Jesus inviting himself to stay at the house of Zacchaeus, a wealthy chief tax collector. When the people see this, they mutter about Jesus going “to be the guest of a sinner.” Luke 19:7 As it turns out, Zacchaeus turns away from cheating others and decides to pay back four times what he has stolen.
A personal invitation truly makes someone feel included. We should welcome all kinds of folks to worship, church meals and into our homes. No one is outside God’s love and grace.
Finally, a very special table is set in worship for all who believe and call on Jesus. Paul describes its significance and weight. “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood: do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.” 1 Corinthians 11: 23-29
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