Why Do You Eat and Drink?

Few things raise the ire of the religious leaders in Jerusalem as much as the way that Jesus operates around the table. When he and his disciples gather for dinner at the home of a tax collector, they demand to know, "Why do you eat and drink with sinners like this?" The insinuation in their question is that Jesus will be tainted by his proximity - that in sharing his table with them, he will be guilty by association. But Jesus has just demonstrated in the healing of the leper that he isn't subject to contracting our fallen condition by drawing near to us. In fact, the opposite is true. Jesus makes the unclean clean by his proximity. In addition to this, the immediate context also has just concluded with Jesus' authority over sin and ability to forgive it being demonstrated. The points of the previous two pericopes now meet here in Levi's house as Jesus makes it clear that he has come to call sinners to repentance.

The Pharisees counter this response by wanting to know why Jesus' disciples eat and drink at all! While others demonstrated their devotion and piety through fasting, Jesus' followers are found regularly around the table eating and drinking. Jesus doesn't diminish fasting; he actually says that there is a day coming when his people will regularly fast as well. But he flips the conversation and reframes our perspective, reminding us of the celebratory nature of the gospel - the good news that the Bridegroom has come to purchase his Bride! Surely as the recipients of that good news, it is right to be a feasting people!

How about us? Do we use our tables like Jesus? Do we regularly share it with sinners - using our table to bring those far from Jesus near and invite them to repentance? When you eat, do you eat in celebration of the bridegroom?