The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 102

of a people whose he,ad was faint and whose heart was sick is followed by tho invitation, "Come now, and let us reason together,'' etc., and this is intensified by the gracious words of Christ, "Come unto me, all ye that labour," eto. Facts suggest the same truth, e.g. God's dee.ling with Adam, the call of idolatrous .Abram, and the pardon of Manasseh; and all such evidences are concentrated in Christ. Descended throu"h Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba, and David, he chose no spotless ancestry according to tho flesh, but was from the first "numbered with the transgressors." His life-work touched the sinful-the woman who was a sinner, the adulteress of Samaria, the thief on the cross, etc. No wonder that his gospel was received by publicans and by sinners, in th~ house o! H~rod, in the court of Nero, among the idolatrous Ephesians and the profhgate Connth1ans. He came "not to call the rio-hteous but sinners to repentance." Levi the publican was an example of these. Let"'us con~ider- L THE POSITION LEVI OOCUPIED. " Levi " was the original name borne by the evangelist and apostle who was known in the Church as II Matthew," equivalent to II God's gift," he being so named because in him the.Lord had a fulfilment of his own words, 11 All that the Father hath given me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." Levi was a tax-gatherer, a rate collector, employed by the richer publicans (of whom Zacchams was an exatnple) to collect dues levied on the lake fishery or on the traffic passing through the district to Damascus; and consideration of what that involved may encourage the despondent. 1. He wa., low in the social scale. As a standing emblem of the authority of Roman tyranny, the tax-gatherer, especially when, like Levi, he was a renegade Jew, wa.:i. intensely hated and despised; none of his fellow-countrymen would speak or eat with him. From the first Christ set himself against this prejudice and social distinction. AB the "Son of man," as the King of men, he would have no narrow circle from which to draw his followers, His blessings were for the most despised and poor, as a.re God's e.ir and sunshine. 2. He was an outcast from religious men. As patriots, the Jews hated him; as upholders of the ancient faith, they excommunicated him. Hence Matthew the apostle would seem to be a marvel of grace. The excommunicated man was to build up the communion of the Christian Church, the apostle was to become a pillar of Divine truth, the instru- ment of oppression was to proclaim true liberty, the byword was to become a burning and & shining light. God chose despised things to bring to nought those which were great and honoured. The Church's judgment is not always right, therefore "judge not, that ye be not judged." Christ saw in Levi one who was seeking higher things, and he said to him, " Follow me." 3. He was subject to grievous temptations. The bad renutation of the publicans was doubtless, to a large extent, deserved. The vicious system of raising revenue adopted by Rome, and still practised in 'furkey, would tend to make men avaricious, hard, and unscrupulous. Large sums of money passed through their hands, and were loosely collected and accounted for; bribes were frequently offered and universally accepted, in order to obtain exemptions and privileges; and a publican, from the mere fact of being one, had no reputation to lose, so that if he had been more scrupulous than others he would get no credit for it. In that position Christ saw Levi and pitied him, and thence in his love he called him, teaching us that none are so low, or have circumstances so adverse, as to be beyond the reach of his pity and salvation. II. THE SERVICE LEVI ATTEMPTED. 1. He freely gave up all to follow Jesus. It was a lucrative position, but he felt called to something nobler, for the sake of which any sacrifice should be made. Suggest certain trades and occupations which are now such a hindrance to the Divine life that for Christ's sake they ought to be abandoned by his followers. Indicate the call which sometimes comes to Christians to give up even innocent employments, for the higher work of preaching Christ. 2. He invited others to see and hear his Master. Luke (v. 27) speaks of this as a "great feast" which Levi ma.de in honour of his Lord; to which he invited his old comrades, who like himself would be popularly ranked among "the publicans and sinners." The feast was an occasion for speaking his farewell, and giving reasons for the change in his life. He wished to show that he was about to serve One greater than Cmsar, and to do a nobler work. At his request Jesus became his guest. May that gracious Lord appear in our homes, at all our festive gatherings, and so show himself through us to those around us, that they too may find joy in bis service !-A. R. '(]R, 1L 1-28.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDI.NG TO ST. MARK. 99