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Jesus Eats With Sinners - Luke 19
Jesus Eats With Sinners - Luke 19
As Jesus approaches Jericho, he meets the chief tax collector, Zacchaeus. Jesus not only spoke with this 'sinner', he went to his house and ATE with Him. Such eating with people was of interest to Luke's telling of the story of Jesus as he mentions this several other times.
“And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”” (Luke 5:30, ESV)
“And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”” (Luke 15:2, ESV)
Such seems to have been a regular concept concerning such eating with people (Acts 11:3; Gal. 2:12; 1 Cor. 5:11).
In eating with them, Jesus did not join them in their sinful behavior or practices, yet he was willing to associate with them in order to call them to repentance. The religious leaders of the time refused to eat with them OR call them to repentance. They were more concerned with maintaining their appearance of righteousness. Even if one of these 'sinners' should repent, it is doubtful that the religious leaders would have acknowledged, accepted, or associated with him. Jesus did.
So it is with us. We who were sinners have been called to repentance. We have been forgiven and now we have the privilege of eating the Lord's supper. Even has He accepted the sinners then, so He accepts us sinners now.
Yet, it is difficult for religious people to follow Jesus in this. Often people act much more like the Pharisees who grumbled rather than like the Lord who forgives. Who are you 'willing to eat with'?
Hugh DeLong
