Lent 2019: Thursday, March 21 - Eating

In Matthew 9:9-13, Jesus calls a tax collector to follow him as a disciple (his name is Matthew!)  When it turns out that Jesus spent the evening having a meal with Matthew and other "tax collectors and sinners," Pharisees ask why.

Pharisees believed that it was key to program of national redemption that their food not be defiled by the presence of uncleanliness.  Tax collectors aided and abetted the primary Gentile enemy - the Roman Empire, both in their daily dealings, and in their livelihood.  All of this served to make tax collectors in particular a constellation of uncleanliness for Pharisees.

When Jesus responds, he describes himself as a physician who needs contact with the sick to be able to heal them.  He also quotes a passage that says, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice."  The quote is from the prophet Hosea, who condemns Ephraim and Judah for their faithfulness being as fleeting and temporary as morning dew.  Hosea says he desires "hesed" or loyalty, rather than sacrifices.  Interestingly, right before Hosea says this, he makes reference to his prophetic words, which cut in pieces and kill.  What does this mean?  Hosea's words serve a priestly function, to make the unfaithful people into a pleasing sacrifice who are loyal, merciful, and compassionate.  The Pharisees problem is not that they focus on sacrifice, but that it doesn't lead to loyalty, mercy, and compassion.  In other words, it doesn't lead to table fellowship between God and sinners.

In an earlier post, we described the levitical sacrificial sequence: an animal represents the sinner.  The animal representing the sinner is killed.  It's blood is displayed.  The animal is turned into smoke.  The priests eat a meal.  We see here that the sacrifice all leads to the end that God can have renewed fellowship with sinners over a meal.  Sacrifice allows them real but limited access back into the garden so that they can eat with God at his house and at his table. 

That Jesus eats with sinners is a sign of Eden.  In Jesus' presence, it is as though we have already passed through the veil of the holy of holies and get to sit in the presence of God.  Of course, we haven't crossed that threshold.  God has crossed over to us in Jesus.  Food is never just fuel.  Meal times are communion times.  The tables in our homes are micro versions of the table fellowship we celebrate in worship as the body of Christ.  Nourishment there can't be measured strictly in calories or vitamins.  Just as food shapes the strength of our bodies, so table fellowship shapes the strength of our identity, that who I am is shaped by my communal memberships, and not the other way around.  To eat with Christ is not only to be fed by food, but to be fed by him.