Our scripture this week is Luke 19:1-10.
All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
Luke 19:7
This is not the first time this charge has been leveled at Jesus. Matthew 9:11 and Mark 2:16 both record the Pharisees question to the disciples “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus was doing what He taught by seeking out those who are shunned by society because of their position or behavior.
In both cases, Jesus answered them by saying “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” That statement should shame us all because He came to call us all, and if we are honest with ourselves, we see we are the lost sinners He seeks.
Perhaps this is one label in which we can all place ourselves together. Paul writes in Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fallen short of the grace of God”. But, thanks be to God, like those “sinners and tax collectors” we point to shamefully, Jesus has come for us as well.
Gracious God, we often look at others and think how much they need saving, without realizing we are in the same situation. Bless us to see our own issues and help us turn from sin to a life in You. Amen.