Mark 2:13-17, Matthew 9:9-13, Luke 5:27-32

13He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

15And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Mark 2:13-17

9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

10And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 9:9-13

27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

29And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 30And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Luke 5:27-32

In these passages Jesus invites Levi/Matthew to follow Him.  On the surface why would anyone question whom Jesus might ask to follow Him?  After all Jesus came to save people from sin and no one is sinless. (Matt.9:13, Luke 19:10, Rom. 3:10) 

Exposed in these texts are attitudes and mindsets we are all subjected to.  All men and women are prone to classify varying degrees of sin.  We naturally rationalize that some sins are worse than others and therefore make ourselves the judge and jury on these matters.  For example a little lie to make a situation easier verses taking something that is not ours from another verses murder don’t seem equal in any sense.  However, it is crucial we reason and see life not from the perspective of our own judgment but God’s.  Now let me be clear in John 19:11 Jesus teaches us that all sins are not equal.  I will not get into these details here however I will say that regardless of the degree of sin every and all sin separates us from God and demands eternal punishment and He is the only completely rightly judge. (Gen. 2:15-17;3:1-6, Rom. 6:23)   

Jesus’ offer to a tax collector is offensive to the religious of His day, why?  In the culture of Jesus’ day the Romans were the leading power.  Romans would conquer people groups and then recruit people from these people groups to collect taxes for Rome.  Obviously no one is a fan of paying dues to a conquering body and especially not fond of those whom collect.  When Jesus freely extends grace and then associates with someone whom the society at large despised a clear point of intersecting world view occurs.     

The same is true today.  Many both inside and outside of the church find grace toward some as offensive.  While I do believe the Bible is clear that we are to use common sense toward someone who has a questionable past history we also should equally trust that Jesus can change individuals.  

I am sure you have an opinion on this subject however I challenge you to simply consider the three texts we have considered today.  Do you believe Jesus can truly change individuals?  How might God be or in the future use you to reflect Christ’s love to another others have rejected?  Let us never be at fault or have the heart and attitude toward another as these Pharisees did.