[When accused of being a friend of sinners,] Jesus answered [his critics], "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Jesus' religious adversaries frequently criticized him for deliberately associating with people who were suspect in their eyes. Jesus, however, had a reason for this behavior. He wasn't associating with sinners to be popular, weird, bizarre, or hip. The Lord associated with all kinds of people because he loved all types of people! He came to redeem the enslaved, find the lost, mend the broken, and reclaim the sinner. So, Jesus associated with all sorts of people! As Jesus' bodily presence today in the church, can we strive for anything less than following Jesus' example of seeking to save all people?
Video Commentary...
We've included Phil's ToGather video from four years ago as an added blessing to our verse today:
Forgive me, Father, when I choose security in my acquaintances and avoid potentially messy entanglements in my relationships. Change my heart to be different in those ways and be open toward those around me. Please open my eyes to see the lost, the lonely, the forgotten, and the needy. Use me to lead them to your grace and to help them find their family with your people as they turn their lives around to honor you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
"We should follow our Lord as unhesitatingly as sheep follow their shepherd, for he has a right to lead us wherever he pleases. We are not our own, we...."
"Dear Disciple,
Paul is coming to the end of his letter to the Christians in Rome. We will look at the messages in the last part of his letter today....."
![Illustration of Luke 5:31-32 — [When accused of being a friend of sinners,] Jesus answered [his critics], "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."](https://img.heartlight.org/overlazy/creations/1189.jpg "Illustration of Luke 5:31-32 — [When accused of being a friend of sinners,] Jesus answered [his critics], \"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.\"")
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