The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States - "Jesus invited Matthew, then Matthew invited..."

The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States - "Jesus invited Matthew, then Matthew invited..."
Daily Scripture: Matthew 9:9 As Yeshua passed on from there he spotted a tax-collector named Mattityahu sitting in his collection booth. He said to him, “Follow me!” and he got up and followed him.

10 While Yeshua was in the house eating, many tax-collectors and sinners came and joined him and his talmidim at the meal. 11 When the P’rushim saw this, they said to his talmidim, “Why does your rabbi eat with tax-collectors and sinners?” 12 But Yeshua heard the question and answered, “The ones who need a doctor aren’t the healthy but the sick. 13 As for you, go and learn what this means: ‘I want compassion rather than animal-sacrifices.’[Matthew 9:13 Hosea 6:6] For I didn’t come to call the ‘righteous,’ but sinners!”

Reflection Questions:
Tax collectors like Matthew worked with Israel’s Roman occupiers, collecting taxes (usually excessive) from their fellow citizens. Jesus clearly, even shockingly, welcomed and loved people like that, individuals the “righteous” people of his day called “sinners.” (For another example of his behavior, cf. Luke 7:36-50.) Jesus refused to neatly separate the human family into “good” and “bad” members—he aimed to extend love to all.

• Matthew was an outcast from respectable society. So imagine the type of friends he had, who came to his house to eat with Jesus! (The Message paraphrased “tax collectors and sinners” with vivid precision as “crooks and riffraff.”) Is there anyone in your neighborhood who might be seen as “tax collectors and sinners” in 2016? If so, how do you believe Jesus would treat (and have you treat) such people?
• When Jesus said, “I didn’t come to call righteous people,” who were the people he had in mind? Was he saying he actually considered those people “righteous,” or was he saying ironically that THEY thought they were “righteous”? Is anyone, including you, so righteous that you do not need Jesus’ loving, merciful acceptance?

Today’s Prayer:
Loving Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. Help me to see others, especially my neighbors, through your eyes, which lit with love and compassion at the sight of a “sinner.” Amen.-------
Insights from Dr. Amy Oden

Dr. Amy Oden is Professor of Early Church History and Spirituality at Saint Paul School of Theology at OCU. Teaching is her calling, and she looks forward to every day with students. For 25 years, Amy has taught theology and history, pursuing scholarship in service of the church.
When I read these stories about Jesus hanging out with those who weren’t welcome in religious circles, I wonder if I spend too much time at church? Or with my Christian friends? Basically, Jesus didn’t spend a lot of time going to church or hanging out with church people. Indeed, he did go to church, or, in his case, synagogue, at some key moments in his ministry. But mostly his time and energy wasn’t there. His life and good news was focused on all those who never showed up, mostly because they weren’t welcome in the church/synagogue.
Too often I’m caught up in thinking that my job is to build the church and focus my energy there. I get excited about new home groups and powerful worship. All of that is good because it helps the body of Christ stay healthy. Yet Jesus’ story stops me cold. It reminds me that the church is the means, not the end. The church exists not for itself but so that we share God’s love in Jesus’ name–especially with those who are hurting. Jesus calls them “the sick” who need him most.
The Church of the Resurrection is committed to this ministry of Jesus. You can plug into Jesus’ ministry in lots of ways here. There are hurting people both inside and outside the church. It’s not an either/or, but a matter of paying attention to both. Start exploring by clicking here and see where Jesus takes you. (You may choose the campus where you worship most often, or see all Resurrection opportunities by clicking the “Dismiss” button when asked to choose a campus.)

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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue

Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States

913.897.0120
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