“And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and His disciples.” (Matthew 9:10)
In Jesus’ day, tax collectors were known for their greed and deceitfulness. They were often excluded from the synagogues (the Jewish ‘churches’). So, when some religious leaders noticed that Jesus was sharing a meal with “many tax collectors and sinners,” they openly voiced their disapproval. In their eyes, spending time with such people was a clear sign that Jesus was not nearly as ‘holy’ as they considered themselves to be.
Jesus thinks differently. He does not wait for people to live a holy life before inviting them into fellowship with Him. He picks them up in their failure and misery. For, He says, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13) He does not make people feel unworthy, but shows them mercy.
Jesus is uncompromising when it comes to how a Christian lives. But He knows we can’t do that on our own. He wants us to come to Him as we are, and to let Him change us.
Do you dare to come to Jesus as you are? Do you also dare to let Him heal and change you?
Jesus’ kindness to sinners also challenges us in a different way. Do we welcome others — who do not live according to our standards — into our lives, into our social circles, and into our churches? How can we follow Jesus’ example here?