Small Group Discussion Guide
Jesus Questioned for Eating with Sinners
Season 1 · Episode 8 - 2:10
How to introduce this clip
“Tax collectors were despised by Jews at the time of Jesus, so you can imagine the shock—and the anger—when Jesus invited a tax collector named Matthew to be one of his disciples. And as if that wasn’t enough, imagine the shock—and the anger—over what Jesus did next: he went to Matthew’s house for a meal with even more tax collectors and other assorted sinners. In this clip from The Chosen, let’s watch together what happens when some religious leaders find out about the meal ...”
*If your church does not know about The Chosen, before you show the clip, you might also want to tell them the following: “The Chosen is a television show that tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of the people who knew him.”
Discussion Questions
The people who had gathered for dinner with Jesus had varying backgrounds. What is beautiful about this picture?
Let’s be honest and answer a second question: what do you find difficult about this picture?
When is the last time you sat down with someone whose ethnicity, experience, or religious beliefs were different than yours—and how did it go? (Follow-up question: where did you find common ground with someone so different from you?)
Why do you think all of this was particularly difficult for the religious leaders?
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” If we’re all sinners, what do you think the point is that Jesus is trying to make to the religious leaders?
What do you think Jesus would say to today’s church leaders about welcoming those who are often unwelcomed—about creating space at the table for those who have often been turned away?