Mark 2:13 - Meaning and Application

Here we see Christ preaching by the seashore (Mark 2:13). He went there because he needed more space, since even a house or street was too small for the crowd. By the water’s edge, as many people as wanted to hear could come near him. This suggests that our Lord Jesus had a strong voice and spoke clearly and loudly, for wisdom “cries out” in public places. Wherever he went, even to the sea, crowds gathered. The same should be true of Christ’s teaching, whenever it is faithfully preached, even if it is pushed into corners or deserts, we should still follow it.

We also see him calling Levi, the same man called Matthew, who worked in the customs office at Capernaum and was therefore known as a tax collector. His work kept him by the water, and Christ went there to meet him and give him an effective call. Levi is said to be the son of Alphaeus, or Cleophas, and if so, he was likely the brother of James the Less, Jude, and Simon the Canaanite. That would mean four brothers from the same family became apostles. Matthew may have been a loose and wasteful young man, or else, as a Jew, he would never have taken such a job. Even so, Christ called him to follow. Paul, though a Pharisee, had once been one of the worst sinners, and yet he was called to be an apostle. In Christ, God shows mercy to pardon the greatest sins and grace to change the worst sinners.

Matthew, who had once been a tax collector, became an evangelist, the first to write down an account of Christ’s life, and one of the fullest. Great sin and shame before conversion are no barrier to great gifts, grace, and honor afterward. In fact, God may be glorified even more. Christ called Matthew before Matthew sought him. In bodily healings, people usually came asking for help, but in spiritual healing, Christ finds those who are not looking for him. That is one of the great dangers of sin, those under it do not even desire to be made well.

Next we see Christ eating with tax collectors and sinners in Levi’s house (Mark 2:15). Levi had invited Jesus and his disciples to a farewell meal for his friends when he left everything to follow Christ. It was much like the feast Elisha made when he left his old work (1 Kings 19:21). Levi wanted to show how gladly he gave up everything in response to Christ’s call, and how thankful he was to God. He properly made the day of his new union with Christ a day of celebration. He also wanted to show respect to Christ and gratitude for rescuing him, like a brand pulled out of the fire.

Many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus in Levi’s house, for many people worked in that customs office. They followed Levi, some say, because he was a leading tax collector and likely rich, so the others came hoping for favors. I think it is more likely that they followed Jesus because they had heard about him. They did not come out of obedience or repentance, but perhaps out of curiosity, to see him at Levi’s feast. Whatever brought them there, they were sitting with Jesus and his disciples. Tax collectors are often placed with sinners, the worst sort of sinners. This was partly because many of them truly were corrupt, since the office often led to oppression, cheating, taking bribes or extra fees, and false accusations (Luke 3:13-14). A tax collector who dealt fairly was so rare, even in Rome, that one honest man in that role was praised after his death with the words, “Here lies an honest tax collector.” It was also because the Jews strongly disliked tax collectors and saw their office as a sign of their nation’s slavery. So they gave them a bad name and thought it shameful to be seen with them. Yet our blessed Lord was willing to spend time with such people when he came in the likeness of sinful flesh.

The scribes and Pharisees were offended by this (Mark 2:16). They would not come to hear him preach, though they might have been helped by it. But they did come to watch and criticize him for eating with tax collectors and sinners, which only gave them more reason to reject him. They tried to turn the disciples against their Master, as if he were not holy enough or strict enough for his own claim. So they asked, “Why does he eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” It is nothing new for something well done and well meant to be misunderstood and turned into blame against the wisest and best of people.

Christ defended what he had done (Mark 2:17). He stood by it and would not back away, even though the Pharisees were offended, unlike Peter later did when he yielded to pressure (Galatians 2:12). Those are too concerned with their own reputation who will avoid a good work just to keep the approval of a few careful critics. Christ would not do that. The Pharisees thought tax collectors were people to hate. Christ said they were people to pity, because they were sick and needed a physician. They were sinners and needed a Savior. The Pharisees thought Christ’s holiness should keep him away from such people. Christ said his mission led him to them. He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. If the world had been righteous, there would have been no need for him to come, either to preach repentance or to obtain forgiveness. He was sent to a sinful world, so his work was most concerned with the greatest sinners in it.

Or this may be understood another way. Christ was not calling the righteous Pharisees, who were proud and thought themselves righteous, who asked, “What have we done wrong?” and “What do we need to repent of?” Instead, he was calling poor tax collectors who knew they were sinners and were glad to be invited and helped toward repentance. It is wise to deal with people who still have hope. There is more hope for a fool than for someone wise in his own eyes (Proverbs 26:12).