The Word

Theme: The Dining Table Text: Mark 2:16 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” In yesterday's devotion, we learned that Levi had dinner with Christ inviting his friends. Today's text is about the reactions of the Scribes and Pharisees seeing Jesus dine with tax collectors and sinners. Tax collectors worked for the Roman government to collect taxes from their fellow Jews. They are often tagged as traitors because the Jews were not pleased paying taxes to the Romans. Moreover, these tax collectors raise the tax rates to their advantage. They are usually referred to as sinners. The Scribes and Pharisees on the other hand are viewed to be highly religious. Therefore, for Jesus to be dining with sinners, they see it as unreligious on His part. Developing the perspective of the Scribes and Pharisees is not worth it as at the dining table...