Expository Thoughts
benefit from Him who will confess that they are ruined, bankrupt, hopeless, miserable sinners.
Let us use this mighty truth, if we never used it before. Are we sensible of our own wickedness and sinfulness? Do we feel that we are unworthy of anything but wrath and condemnation? Then let us understand that we are the very people for whose sake Jesus came into the world. If we feel ourselves righteous, Christ has nothing to say to us. But if we feel ourselves sinners, Christ calls us to repentance. Let not the call be made in vain.
Let us go on using this mighty truth, if we have used it in time past. Do we find our own hearts weak and deceitful? Do we often feel that "when we would do good, evil is present with us?" (Rom. 7:21.)
It may be all true, but it must not prevent our resting on Christ. He "came in to the world to save sinners," and if we feel ourselves such, we have warrant for applying to, and trusting in Him to our life's end. One thing only let us never forget—Christ came to call us to repentance, and not to sanction our continuing in sin.
Notes on 5:27-32
27. A tax collector by the name of Levi. The person called Levi here is called Matthew in St. Matthew's Gospel and Levi in St. Mark's. It is almost universally agreed that it is one and the same person— Matthew the apostle. Like some others in the Bible, he had two names.
29. A great banquet. The word translated banquet is only used here and in Luke 14:13. It means a kind of large reception banquet, such