One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, He was being carefully watched. (Luke 14:1)
Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear Him. (Luke 15:1)
Some of us are watchers. In Luke chapter 14, we are told that Pharisees and teachers of the law were watching to see whether Jesus would heal a sick man who was at the Pharisee's house. Rather than having compassion on the sick man, and rather than rejoicing at the man's being healed, they harbored contempt in their hearts.
Jesus asked them a question: “If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?” (Luke 15:5) Amazingly, no one answered. They remained silent in the face of being asked to consider two things highly valued in their culture: legacy (having sons) and property (having cattle).
You see this lame man? He's part of My property and part of My legacy. And I have chosen to free him.
Some of us are hearers. Luke chapter 15 begins by showing us Jesus's audience: religious experts, and religious novices. The people classified as “sinners” were positioning themselves to hear from God, and those who were experts complained in their hearts.
To the hearers, Jesus spoke about the kingdom of God. And though He spoke in parables, each parable reinforced a concept that the “sinner” can grasp. Lost things can be searched for and found. Wanderers can be brought back home. Prodigals can be restored.
You see this lost soul? He is important to Me. And I have chosen to seek him out and claim Him for My kingdom.
And here we are. Jesus is present, and He has some things to tell us. Will we listen? Or will we just watch?
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