Jesus owned a house?


(Mark 2:15 KJV) And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

On p 133 of EBE Dennis McKinsey complains that in Mat 19:21, Mark 10:21, and Luke 3:11, 11:41, 12:33, 14:33 and 18:22 Jesus told his followers to dispose of all their possessions; yet, he himself owned a house, according to Mark 2:15, which says, "And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house." Here we have another example of Do as I say, not as I do. Jesus not only owned a house but was bold enough to say in Mat 8:20, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head" (RSV). What prevarication! Some apologists have tried to allege the home referred to in Mark 2:15 is owned by Levi, but one need only read the comment in context to see that this defense won't stand the light of scrutiny.

Here is the passage in full using the same KJV that McKinsey used.

(Mark 2:14-17 KJV) And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. {15} And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. {16} And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? {17} When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Now it is not clear whether "his house" refers to that of Levi or Jesus. However the parallel passage in Luke 5:27 makes it quite clear that the house belonged to Levi, because it states in verse 29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house.

(Luke 5:27-32 KJV) And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. {28} And he left all, rose up, and followed him. {29} And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. {30} But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? {31} And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. {32} I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

See Tekton's comments:

"And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house..." Skeptic Dennis McKinsey clams that this verse indicates "prevarication" in that Jesus has his own house, while later telling others to give up their possessions. He is aware that the answer is that the house is Levi's, but only says that "one need only read the comment in context to see that this defense won't stand the light of scrutiny." What this context is, we are not told, but the parallel stories in Matthew and Luke indicate that the house is Levi's. This critique is merely borrowed uncritically from Remsburg.

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