The Archives Devotional Magazine June 2015 | Page 21

DAY 7
Jesus left that place, and as he walked along, he saw a tax collector, named Matthew, sitting
in his office. He said to him, “Follow me.”
Matthew got up and followed him.
While Jesus was having a meal in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and other
outcasts came and joined Jesus and his disciples at the table. Some Pharisees saw this and
asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such people?”
Jesus heard them and answered, “People who are well do not need a doctor, but only
those who are sick. Go and find out what is meant by the scripture that says: ‘It is kindness
that I want, not animal sacrifices.’ I have not come to call respectable people, but outcasts.”
Then the followers of John the Baptist came to Jesus, asking, “Why is it that we and the
Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast at all?”
Jesus answered, “Do you expect the guests at a wedding party to be sad as long as the
bridegroom is with them? Of course not! But the day will come when the bridegroom will
be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
“No one patches up an old coat with a piece of new cloth, for the new patch will shrink
and make an even bigger hole in the coat. Nor does anyone pour new wine into used
wineskins, for the skins will burst, the wine will pour out, and the skins will be ruined. Instead,
new wine is poured into fresh wineskins, and both will keep in good condition.”
While Jesus was saying this, a Jewish official came to him, knelt down before him, and
said, “My daughter has just died; but come and place your hands on her, and she will live.”
So Jesus got up and followed him, and his disciples went along with him.
A woman who had suffered from severe bleeding for twelve years came up behind
Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I touch his cloak, I will
get well.”
Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, my daughter! Your faith has made
you well.” At that very moment the woman became well.
Then Jesus went into the official's house. When he saw the musicians for the funeral and
the people all stirred up, he said, “Get out, everybody! The little girl is not dead—she is only
sleeping!” Then they all started making fun of him. But as soon as the people had been put
out, Jesus went into the girl's room and took hold of her hand, and she got up. The news
about this spread all over that part of the country.

GOD DOESN'T CALL US TO BE COMFORTABLE. HE CALLS US TO TRUST HIM SO
COMPLETELY THAT WE ARE UNAFRAID TO PUT OURSELVES IN SITUATIONS WHERE
WE WILL BE IN TROUBLE IF HE DOESN'T COME THROUGH.” ―FRANCIS CHAN

Commentary
In Jewish culture, sharing a meal with
someone was a way of experiencing
religious fellowship and social intimacy.
After the meal, an extended conversation
or music would be shared. Because these
gatherings created a closeness between
attendees, Jews were taught not to have
fellowship with the wicked, lest the
relationships lead them away from God.
In this passage, Jesus is hanging out
with some corrupted people; think shady
IRS agents, loan sharks, and embezzlers.
Now think about the church gossips
walking in on that meal. They would ask
the same question the Pharisees asked:
“What are you doing with them?”
And we would hopefully answer the
same way Jesus did: “These people need
my help.” Jesus knew that his Word
needed to spread not just in the local
churches, but outside of them as well.
Sometimes it makes us feel better or
safer or less likely to sin when we only
hang out with the youth group, or a small
group, or with church members. And that
might be true, but telling people about
God is much more important than feeling
safe.