Become a Sinner

“Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear him.”

Luke 15:1

This is a stark picture and offers insight into the thoughts of the day. Only in the Gospels do we see such a label as “sinners” put on ordinary citizens who are not in favor with leadership. It is likely it was not just the ungodly such as prostitutes but any occupation not approved by the Teachers and Pharisees. Tax collectors were seen as sinners yet they are always mentioned on their own which means they were lower than the rest and despised. This would have made it shocking for the times that one of Jesus’ own disciple was a tax collector. Jesus didn’t have to mingle with these types for the Pharisees to reject him, his own disciples were among these!

The Pharisees said he not only welcomes them, but eats with them as well. The Pharisees had welcomed Jesus to eat with them, which, of course, did not go so well for they were rebuked by Jesus twice during a meal. And now, Jesus not only rejected the Pharisees, but welcomed those they rejected. The Pharisees did reject Jesus but it is also important to note Jesus rejected them because of their teaching. Not directly, and he also welcomed the Pharisees but he would not accept their ways or teaching. This world rejects us but we also reject the world and it teachings, yet as Jesus, we reach out in love to the hopeless.

Jesus then tells a parable of a sheep who was lost. The shepherd and friends rejoice over the lost but not in those that are already found. There is no rejoicing in the 99 that remained who do not need to repent who are deemed righteous. These 99, of course, were in reference to the Pharisees who were there accusing Jesus of not following their rules. The Pharisees were themselves feeling rejected by Jesus. We know from other conversations that Jesus did not find the Pharisees righteous yet he made this parable to prove a point in that the shepherd should actively seek the lost, something the Pharisees did not do and in fact, rejected. Once again, Jesus challenged their ideals.

Do we reject those that are not “Christian”, or Sneer at the less fortunate? We should accept and welcome all as Jesus did. The fact is that the 99 righteous did need to examine their life to see if there was any wicked way in them. This is something we should do on a daily basis. The Pharisees were unwilling but the “sinners” were. Why? because the sinners were rejected and needed to hear acceptance from God. Jesus was this messenger. Pride clouded the Pharisees but the sinners were willing to hear and change. Are you pliable? will you change if God asks? Is God speaking but you are not hearing because pride is in the way? We should be more like the sinners than the Pharisees because God can work with a sinner but not a Pharisee. Mold me and make me, that is what this sinner prays.