Let me preface this by saying one thing. Anybody who does not think they are a sinner will not understand this.
I love that Jesus Christ used to feed the Pharisees the Truth in a way they would not see it as being about them. They would think He was saying that those who didn't behave like them were sinners and they were righteous, then He would zing them with the Truth that they too were guilty. They would basically be choking to death on their bread and think they did not need Him or the Bread He gives.
Now the Pharisees were a very religious group of Jews who thought they upheld the laws of God and were above reproach from any person. They truly believed they were the way people should behave, because God was pleased with them but hated the sinners who weren't like them.
In Matthew 9:10-13
We see this as Jesus Christ rebukes them, while saying they believe they are righteous.
10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
From the Nelsons Bible study:
9:13 Jesus quoted Hos. 6:6 (and again in 12:7) to make the point that God is more interested in a person's loyal love than in the observance of external rituals. Jesus refers ironically to the Pharisees as the righteous. They were not righteous; that was only how they perceived themselves because of their pious and scrupulous law-keeping (see Phil. 3:6). But Jesus explained, quoting from the familiar words of an Old Testament prophet, that God had already judged sacrifices without mercy as worthless.
Isn't it funny that some 2000 years later we still have the same problems going on ??
This isn't about judgement people. It is about rightly dividing His word and living by the Spirit through the flesh, instead of living in the flesh without the Spirit.
That is what Jesus Christ came to reveal with His teachings that upholding the law without His Love is empty for the Law is not to justify the flesh, but reveal the need of The Holy Spirt to guide us to The Law Perfected in Jesus Christ. He fulfilled the law and is now the only way to be accepted as being perfect through His perfection. The Holy Spirit guides us to Him. The law convicts us because we are not perfect and able to uphold it outside of Him.
So getting back to the Title. We disciples eat with sinners, Hmmmmmm ?? I wonder why that is ?? There is not one of us who is not a sinner in need of Him. So even if we eat alone, we are eating with a sinner.
Isn't it funny how each political party thinks it is the other party who is the only sinner ?? When in reality the devil uses politics to divide us so we cannot see the sameness within us and the same needs that need to be met.
I'm more of a moderate/liberal because of my beliefs I get from reading The Holy Bible. It is not the politicians who have me convinced of their way. It is Jesus Christ who has me convinced of His Way.
Verses 12 and 13 to me show the need of compassion to those in need, as well as realizing we all have sin issues that need to be dealt with.
I'm in no way bettter than anyone else. But I'm saved by Him, because I listened to The Holy Spirit and not the flesh.
The flesh will control us because it is greedy, we are in need of Him and His healing to be able to allow Him to change us into what He will have us be.
Comments are welcome, attacks will be deleted. Do not try to derail the dicussion, if I feel you are I will delete the comment.
I'm going to continue to work for Him as I called, as long as He allows me too.
