Having Sinners For Dinner?

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them. (Luke 15:1-3)

During this past Sunday’s sermon Pastor Sam noted that the Pharisees and scribes were not complaining to Jesus directly, but Jesus heard their complaint. Perhaps some of us are in the same crisis: we see people drawing near to God that are not like us (or that we don’t like), we complain to our contemporaries, and in the act of our complaining we are heard by the LORD.

Our pastor asked a question that we would do well to reflect on today: Have we made a hierarchy of sins while we try to pursue holiness?

What is the response of the Pharisee? “Well yes, I sin, but at least I’m not as bad as that person over there.”

Sometimes we forget that God does not rank-order sinfulness. Scripture reminds us that “all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. We are justified by His grace” (see Romans 3:23-24), not by any thing we have done in our own strength.

In considering this, we don’t want to condemn the devotions of Pharisees and scribes. It’s wonderful to memorize Scripture, to be devoted to God and to godliness, and to be positive influences in the community. But it is never a good thing to seek to exclude others from the opportunity to learn about Jesus. The Pharisees and scribes made a particular judgement call: “Those tax collectors and sinners don’t deserve to get any attention from Jesus. They’re beyond redemption.” Wrong. On the contrary, everyone is welcome to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from Him.

What does Bronx Bethany say? We are a Spirit-filled community of love with a place for everyone. People from all walks of life are coming to hear the wonderful words of life from our Lord. Don’t despise His grace in drawing them near to hear… after all, “they” are we.

Have we made a hierarchy of sins while we try to pursue holiness?