Luke 5:30 “And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
As we come to our verse, the context is an invitation from Jesus to Matthew to follow Him, has in turn resulted in an invitation from Matthew to Jesus. Matthew invites Jesus and the disciples to come and enjoy a meal with him and HIS friends. It is worth noting that Matthew had lots of friends in “low places.” Luke 7:29 says, “Then Matthew hosted a grand banquet for Jesus at his house.” A “grand banquet!!” Picture that! Now the rest of verse 29: “There was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were guests with them.” Can you picture the scene, this grand party? And amid the party is Jesus.
While I encouraged you to picture this scene, there were some people seeing it firsthand. They were the religious leaders called scribes and Pharisees. And seeing Jesus and His disciples spending time with these sinners offended them. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Yep. They were offended. From their standpoint, WHY would good religious people spend any time with these people? So, they presented their question that Luke provided commentary, saying they complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” WHY?
Let’s explore this question. Why did Jesus spend time with sinners? Why? Because the “sinners” needed a SAVIOR!! Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. He came to save sinners.
Friends, we who are now saved have to “connect” with those who are lost (SINNERS) to share the saving message of Jesus Christ!! Sinners need saints sharing the story of the Savior so sinners can accept the Savior and become saints.
Some of you reading this only know me as saved and as a pastor. 46 years ago, I could have been part of this story as one at the party as a SINNER. Matter of fact, the first time I met Dr. Jerry Falwell (the Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church, the founder of the Moral Majority, and Liberty University), I had a case of beer in my hand. I met him because we passed each other in an aisle in a small convenience store. Surprisingly, he spoke to me and even stuck out his hand to shake mine, asking how I was doing. I can still hear him say, “How are you doing, young man?” While he did not witness to me, he did acknowledge me, and that made an impact on me. A couple of years later, I would get saved through other encounters where those who were saved reached out to this sinner. And then I would be led by the Lord to attend Liberty University, where I would become one of the Campus Pastors.
Continue Strong being found where the lost are, so the lost can be found,
And remember to daily DATE the Word