Matthew 9:10-11
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
Reflection
While Jesus was focused on sinners and reaching out to them with his forgiveness and love, there were those who felt they were righteous and they were offended at Jesus’ willingness to associate with people who the righteous thought were not deserving of God’s love and attention. After all, these people, which included the Pharisees, reasoned, Jesus should be focusing on them not sinners; they were the righteous ones.
Isn’t it interesting how that same attitude seems to always crop up in the church from time to time? Often times it comes forward in this attitude: “Shouldn’t the church and the leaders of the church be more focused on the good people of the church rather than those ‘sinners’ on the outside in the world?” When we have this kind of attitude we have allowed ourselves to adopt the attitude of the Pharisees.
The way to avoid this attitude is to always remind ourselves that there is truly no righteous person. We are all sinners and we all need the love and forgiveness of Jesus. We are redeemed sinners but it is good to remind ourselves, from time to time, that we have yet to achieve perfection.
