Luke 5:29-35
5:29 a with Jesus as the guest of honor: Matthew introduced Jesus to his friends and colleagues to honor Jesus for calling him as a disciple. It was common in the ancient world to repay honor with honor.5:30 b Meals were rituals of social status in the ancient world, and eating with someone meant social acceptance of that person. The Pharisees refused to eat with tax collectors and other sinners, or to enter their homes, believing that this would defile them. They expected Jesus, as a rabbi, to do the same. Jesus shattered social norms by dining with sinners and allowing sinful people to touch him (5:29 c; 7:39 d; 15:1 e). The religious leaders severely criticized him for this and derisively called him “a friend of tax collectors and other sinners” (7:34 f).
Summary for Luke 5:31-32: 5:31-32 g Jesus responded that, like a doctor, his mission was to work with sick people, not the healthy. Jesus was not called to minister to self-righteous people, but to those who recognized their spiritual need for God’s grace and healing.
5:33 h John the Baptist’s disciples: Most rabbis had students who learned from them and served them (see also Acts 19:1-7 i).
• fast and pray regularly: Many pious Jews fasted two days a week (Luke 18:12 j). Fasting was associated with spiritual preparation (Esth 4:16 k) and repentance (2 Sam 12:22 l; Joel 1:14 m; Jon 3:5 n). Fasting is not a means of righteousness (Isa 58:4-5 o; Jer 14:12 p) but a spiritual discipline for cultivating intimacy with God. Fasting is often linked with prayer and spiritual retreat.
• Why are your disciples always eating and drinking? The point was that they did not fast regularly.
Summary for Luke 5:34-35: 5:34-35 q Do wedding guests fast? Just as it would be inappropriate for anyone to fast at a wedding celebration, it was inappropriate for people to fast while the Messiah was with them. God’s final salvation is a great wedding feast that God prepares for his people (Isa 25:6-8 r; Luke 14:15-24 s).
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