Luke 5:27-3927And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. 28And he left all, rose up, and followed him. 29And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. 30But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? 31And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. 32I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 33And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? 34And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? 35But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. 36And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. 37And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. 38But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. 39No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better. (Luke 5:27‑39)
In all the large towns of Palestine there were men at the gates or in the market places to collect the customs (tax) for the Roman government, which then ruled the land. These men were called publicans, they were Jews, but were despised by the leaders of their nation, who felt they were helping the Romans.
As Jesus walked through a town He came to the place where a publican, named Levi, sat. This man had no doubt heard Jesus’ words, as He had taught in all the places, and believed Him from God; and although he was despised by his nation, Jesus gave him the privilege to go with Him, saying, “Follow Me.”
Levi seems not to have hesitated to leave the work for the Roman ruler, although it meant his income; “he left all ... . and followed Him.” Then he wanted to honor Jesus, and to have others hear His words, so he made a feast at his house and invited many to come and Jesus and the disciples were there.
The scribes and Pharisees thought it was wrong to eat and be friends with publicans, and found fault to the disciples. This was Jesus’ answer to their objection,
“They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.”
That meant Jesus was as a physician to those who knew they were sinners, and not fit for God, but those who thought they were “whole,” or fit for God, did not know they needed Him to save, or “cure” them.
The Pharisees also found fault that Jesus’ disciples did not fast often, and make public prayers. To go without food was a sign of sorrow; Jesus showed them His disciples were not then in sorrow, for He, as a Bridegroom, was with them; but He said the time would come when “the Bridegroom” would be gone, then His followers would “fast” with sorrow.
It is often told that Jesus prayed, and His disciples must have prayed, but not repeating long prayers in puic as these men expected.
Perhaps if you think of what Jesus said, that the “children”, or family, of the Bridegroom would “fast” when He was gone, it will help you to undetand why Christians do not enter all the pleasures of those who do not believe the Lord. While He is gone is not the time of great pleasure to them, although they joy in His love and care; their great joy will be in Heaven. When He comes to reign over the earth all here will rejoice, as the Psalms tell, (see Psa. 150).
“No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old ... and no man putteth new wine into old bottles.”
The law was the old torn garment, but the Lord Jesus was teaching them the new ways of grace and truth, which were to trust the person of the Son of God.
Wine spoke of joy, but the joys in Christ could not be put back in the “old bottles” of the law, for that could not hold the wonderful new joy in Him.
ML 01/21/1945