Levi (a Jew who became known as Matthew) was a tax collector for the Romans – and therefore disliked by the Jews (in their minds tax collectors and sinners were synonymous, v16); he was possibly a very lonely man. He may also have been quite dishonest, but when Jesus called him the Holy Spirit stirred him to respond. Q. How does it make us feel when someone gives us a chance and has faith in us? Read verses 18-22 Q. How did Jesus view fasting? See also Luke 18v9-14 Fasting doesn’t win us any “Brownie points” nor is it a way of twisting God’s arm. So what does it accomplish? Acts 13v2&3: While the early Christians were whorshipping and fasting, God gave them guidance. Fasting and prayer can focus our minds and can help us to hear clearer from God. Matthew 6v16-18: Fasting should be done in private. Q. What are the new patch (v21) and the new wine (v22) referring to? The Old Covenant would soon be replaced by a New Covenant – a Covenant of grace where people would be reconciled to God through Jesus and then filled and led by the Holy Spirit. Righteousness would no longer be a case of strictly obeying all of the Pharisees’ 600+ laws. People would have to prepare and renew their hearts to receive the life of Jesus in the person of the Holy Spirit. Read verses 23-28 Jesus always dumbfounded the Pharisees. He knew they would not condemn David, so therefore they couldn’t condemn him. The Sabbath was made as a Day of Rest – not a day of rules. We should however note that Jesus was to found in the Synagogue on the Sabbath. The Scriptures still encourage us to meet together week by week for purposes of worship, prayer, teaching and fellowship.
Mark chapter 3 Read verses 1-6 It is possible that the Pharisees had planted the man in the synagogue in order to trap Jesus, and then they “watched him closely” to see what he would do. Would he heal on the Sabbath (and break their law)? Jesus cleverly asks them to decide (v4). This is one of the rare occasions that we see Jesus’ anger. Q. What was Jesus angry about, and why? (v5) Read verses 7-12 People were now coming to Jesus from the far corners of Israel and many were getting healed; so Jesus often preached from a boat (v9). Jesus to the demons was like a “cat among the pigeons”. Demons which perhaps would normally just manifest themselves in destructive and deceitful behaviour were now fully 4