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CALLING SINNERS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12
Mark 2:13-17

Luke 19:1-10

 

“I came not to call the righteous,

but sinners to repentance.”

 

CALLING SINNERS
 
Jesus was criticised by the scribes and Pharisees for eating with publicans and sinners (Mark 2:16). Did they have a case against Him? Absolutely not! For Jesus came to save sinners (1 Tim 1:15), and how can He do so unless He reaches out to them? That was why Jesus said, “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17).
 
Who were the publicans and sinners? The publicans were tax collectors. They were running dogs of the Roman government. The Jews considered them traitors. They sat at the gates of the cities collecting taxes. More often than not, they overtaxed the people to line their own pockets. Sinners were all who transgressed God’s Law—the murderers, harlots, robbers—the dregs of society.
 
The scribes and Pharisees on the other hand were the religious leaders of the Jews—pastors and teachers of the Law. As such, they were highly respected by the people. However, they were a self-righteous, conceited bunch. They considered themselves as holy ones and all others as sinners. In fact, in the eyes of the Lord Jesus, they were no better than the publicans and sinners, and might be even worse than them because they were so full of themselves, so full of pride, so blind to their own sins and yet claimed to be spiritual guides. They thought they were well when they were actually very sick. As such they could find no help from Jesus. Those who know they are sick will see the doctor for help, and if they go to Jesus, they will find help for sure.
 
Matthew (Levi), a publican, saw his sinfulness, and was only too ready to follow the Lord Jesus when He called (Mark 2:14). Another publican who repented was Zacchaeus and he showed his faith at work by giving half of his goods to the poor and to those he cheated, he paid back four times (Luke 19:8).
 
THOUGHT: Do you see yourself as a sinner?

PRAYER: (Pray the Lord to forgive you of your sins.)

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