Did you ever consider the occasions on which the Lord is seen at different tables? We see Him at the Pharisee’s, at Levi’s, at Zaccheus’s, with the two disciples going to Emmaus, and at the table at Bethany—occupying each table differently.
With the two Pharisees (Luke 7 and Luke 14), He goes to be a teacher—a rebuker. He does so because that was the character in which He was invited to them.
Then we see Him at the house of Levi, who had been called and had left all and followed Him. So full with the mind of the One he had invited was Levi that he puts publicans and sinners at the table with Him! The Lord sits there, not as a teacher but as a Saviour. He says to those who complain, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Next we see Zacchaeus, who had been moved by a desire to see Him. He calls him by name and went into his house as One desired. Jesus says to him, as it were, “You have looked for a passing sight at Me, and I will abide all day with you.”
Then we come to the disciples journeying to Emmaus. Here we get two—I will not call them backsliders—who had got under the power of unbelief. “O fools, and slow of heart,” He calls them. But He does not leave them till He leaves them with kindled hearts. “Abide with us” is the expression of a kindled heart.
Last we see Him at Bethany, not here as a teacher or a Saviour, but as a familiar friend, One who adopts completely the sweet and gracious truth of the Christian home. Yet He would have left the family scene as He found it, if Martha had not stepped out of her place. She might have been a housekeeper still, but the moment she leaves her place and becomes a teacher, He will rebuke her.
We return to the Pharisee’s house (Luke 7:3636And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. (Luke 7:36)). Here we find the most complete expression in the gospels of a consciously accepted sinner. She came knowing that her sins were forgiven and bringing everything she had with her—her heart, her person and her wealth. This is a beautiful witness of what we would be, if the sense of salvation were simple with us.
The Lord entered into Simon’s reasonings, but they were lost on the woman. One loves the soul that is resting peacefully in the conclusion, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.” If the reasonings of a doubtful mind are lost on you, happy are you! So happily have thousands reached this blessed conclusion that they cannot understand the reasonings of others. She is occupied with her joy.
J. G. Bellett (Notes on the Gospel of Luke, adapted)