Levi and Zacchaeus the Money Men. Luke Luke

Transcription

1 Levi and Zacchaeus the Money Men Luke Luke

2 The Feast in the House of Levi Veronese 1573

3 The Feast in the House of Levi Veronese 1573

4 The Calling of St Matthew Caravaggio 1599

5 The Calling of Matthew Caravaggio 1599

6 The Conversion of Zacchaeus Bernado Strozzi 1640

7 Zacchaeus in the Sycamore Tree Tissot 1896

8 Zacchaeus in the Sycamore Tree Tissot 1896

9 A very old Sycamore Tree in Jericho 2015

10 Levi and Zacchaeus 1. Do our Literary Homework using the resources of Narrative Reading 2. Do our Cultural Studies Homework using historical studies 3. Explore Jesus and Levi in the presentation and then explore Jesus and Zacchaeus in group discussion 4. Share what we have noticed

11 Narrative Reading of the Gospels Remember to work with one narrative 1A Look at the structure of the whole gospel where the passage is located. 1B Look at the distribution of themes across the whole of the gospel. 1C Look at the language used: the narrative descriptions and associations

12 1A. Luke s Gospel and the narrative structure TOP TIP Start with the Big Picture and then zoom in to the passage The Arrival of Jesus The Ministry of Jesus in and around Galilee The Journey to Jerusalem The Passion Narrative in Jerusalem The Resurrection Lk 1-4 Lk 4-9 Lk 9-19 Lk Lk 24

13 The Holy Land in the time of Jesus

14 1A. Luke s Gospel and the narrative structure Call of Levi the tax collector in his tax booth Lk Call of Zacchaeus the chief tax collector up a tree Lk The Arrival of Jesus The Ministry of Jesus in and around Galilee The Journey to Jerusalem The Passion Narrative in Jerusalem The Resurrection Lk 1-4 Lk 4-9 Lk 9-19 Lk Lk 24

15 1A. Luke s Gospel and the narrative structure Note the position of the call of Levi at the beginning of Jesus public ministry Jesus calls disciples: Peter, James & Jon Levi, tax collector Lk 5 Jesus chooses the Twelve Apostles to be with him Lk 6 Jesus heals a servant and a widow s son; John the Baptist s disciples Simon Pharisee Lk 7 Jesus teaches and heals. Parables of the Sower and lamp on stand Calms the Storm Lk 8

16 1A. Luke s Gospel and the narrative structure Note the position of the meeting with Zacchaeus and the end of Jesus public ministry Jesus teaches in parables; Rich young ruler; predicts his death; heals a blind beggar near Jericho Jesus invites himself to Zacchaeus home. Zacchaeus comes down and throws a feast. Parable of the King who gave money (minas) to his servants and went away; when he returned he judged their achievements Jesus enters Jerusalem on a colt Jesus goes to the temple and drives out the traders Lk 18 Lk Lk Lk

17 1B. Luke s Gospel and the theme: tax collectors Tax Collectors come to John the Baptist Lk 3.12 Jesus calls Tax Collector Levi to follow him Lk Tax Collectors baptised by John; friends of Jesus 7.29,34 Tax Collectors came to hear Jesus Lk 15.1 Parable: Pharisee and Tax Collector at prayer Lk 18.9 Call of Zacchaeus the Chief Tax Collector up a tree Lk The Arrival of Jesus The Ministry of Jesus in and around Galilee The Journey to Jerusalem Lk 1-4 Lk 4-9 Lk 9-19

18 1C. The Gospel of Luke narrative descriptions Tax Collectors in the Lukan Narrative 1. First mention: even Tax Collectors came to be baptised Lk 3.12; even Tax Collectors acknowledged that God s way was right Lk When Tax Collectors are mentioned as a group they are often paired with sinners Lk 5.30, 7.34, Tax Collectors often described as aware of their sin Lk 3.12, 5.32, 7.29, 18.13

19 2. Cultural Studies Historical Studies of 2.A Tax Collectors in the Roman Administration 2.B Tax Collectors in First Century Judaism

20 2A Tax Collectors in the Roman Administration 1. Provincial Administration (a) Judea Imperial Province Prefect Pilate (b) Galilee Client State Tetrarch Herod Antipas 2 Operation auctioned off to senior Roman citizens who than hired local Jews 3 Local Tax collectors inspect; value; calculate tax; add their mark up ; prosecute failure to pay. 4 Tax Collectors serve the occupier Emperor

21 2B Tax Collectors and the Rabbis 1. Tax Collectors are greedy and extortionate. 2. Tax Collectors are traitors to Israel; unfaithful to God 3. Tax collectors are excluded from Jewish Society; banned from Temple and Synagogue; not trusted and so cannot be a court witness. 4. Money they possess is defiled and is refused by the faithful 5. Rabbis describe Tax Collectors as Licensed Robbers and Beasts in Human Shape. In society, they are the Lowest of the Low.

22 3. A Narrative Reading of Jesus and Levi Lk Levi the tax collector the despised, the unfaithful, the traitor, the sinner, the collaborator. 2. Very Important - one of two disciples called to start the Christian movement. Hence very significant for Gospel. 3. And Levi was chosen he did not apply

23 3. A Narrative Reading of Jesus and Levi Lk Jesus - takes initiative; comes to Levi - Follow Me means stay with me - accepts invitation to supper in Levi s house - come to call sinners to repentance (turn to a new life)

24 3. A Narrative Reading of Jesus and Levi Lk Jesus - takes initiative; comes to Levi - Follow Me means stay with me - accepts invitation to supper in Levi s house - come to call sinners to repentance (turn to a new life) Levi - Surprised that Jesus comes to his tax booth - Surprised that he is invited to be with Jesus - Calculates this is an unmissable opportunity - wants to express his thanks - great banquet and share this new start with others

25 3. A Narrative Reading of Jesus and Levi Lk Jesus - takes initiative; comes to Levi - Follow Me means stay with me - accepts invitation to supper in Levi s house - come to call sinners to repentance (turn to a new life) Levi - Surprised that Jesus comes to his tax booth - Surprised that he is invited to be with Jesus - Calculates this is an unmissable opportunity - wants to express his thanks - great banquet and share this new start with others Pharisees - Do you not know these are very great sinners - God wants us to keep away such people

26 Jesus and Zacchaeus what have they to say to us? Please join a discussion group. Please read through the passage Luke and work through it from the point of view of Zacchaeus, the people and Jesus. To end this evening we will meet back together to see what the Lord has said to us through this encounter

27 Jesus and the Tax Collectors What does this say about discipleship? Jesus overturns the expectations of what God s community is to be like; The call to discipleship is made to people of every background no-one is ever excluded; What holds together this group of very different disciples Jesus as he proclaims the Kingdom of God; The identity of the church (who we are) is found in Jesus as Lord and not in who are church members.