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“But the Pharisees and their experts in the law complained to his disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’Jesus answered them, ‘Those who are well don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'”
Luke 5:30-32
Into the Text
Jesus never seemed to fit the expectations of the religious leaders around Him. He didn’t keep His distance from sinners like they did. Instead, He drew near to them. He didn’t just tolerate the outcasts; He went to them.
One day, Levi, a tax collector and social outcast, was sitting at his booth when Jesus walked by. One simple invitation changed everything: “Follow Me.” And just like that, Levi left his old life behind. He responded to Jesus with faith and joy and threw a banquet to celebrate.
But not everyone was celebrating. The Pharisees questioned Jesus’ choice to eat with “those kinds of people.” In their eyes, holiness meant separation from impurity. But Jesus came with the heart of a physician.
Jesus reminded them, and us, that He came for the broken, the struggling, and the messy who need help. And the beautiful truth? That includes all of us.
If you’ve ever felt like your past disqualifies you or wondered if Jesus could truly love someone like you, look at who He chose to sit with.
He knows exactly who you are, and He draws near anyway. That’s the power of grace. It doesn’t turn away. It comes close, lifts us up, and invites us into a greater story.
Jesus is a friend of sinners, and that is very good news for all of us.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for not turning away from brokenness but entering into it with a heart of compassion. Help me never to forget how much I need you. Amen.