March 16
2019
Tax Collectors and Sinners
Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Luke 5:29-32
The scribes and Pharisees were the “church” of the day.
When Jesus came he broke a lot of the “rules” by hanging out with those who were living outside the law.
Because the scribes and Pharisees didn’t understand Jesus’ mission while on the earth, they questioned his actions and his motives.
Why was He hanging out with sinners?
Jesus came to free people from the rigors of the law, a law that they were unable to keep on their own.
The Messiah had come, but many in the “church” of the day didn’t recognize Him because they weren’t expecting what He came to offer and because they were caught up in following the rules which they believed made them righteous all on their own.
Jesus was much more freely accepted by those who understood that they were unable to keep that law on their own. Jesus came to be sacrificed on the cross, once and for all, to atone for our sins, so that we would be seen as righteous through His perfect work, not our imperfect efforts.
We need to follow the lead of Jesus.
Are we spending all our time only with those in the Church?
Are we wondering why Jesus is showing up among “the sinners”?
Perhaps it is time for us to be reminded of why Jesus came.
Jesus came to offer salvation, freedom and joy.
It is our responsibility to share this freedom that Jesus brings into our lives, with those around us who don’t yet understand who Jesus is or why He came.
Will you choose to share today?
Question for Discussion Group:
What has your experience been of sharing Jesus’ work in your life with others?