The Gospel lesson for Sunday 6/5/05 was:
Matt. 9:9-13 (ESV)
9As 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."
The problem with the Pharisees was that they did not recognize there own need of a physician. Later, a Pharisee did recognize his need and wrote these words found in 1 Tim. 1:15: The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. The writer of course, was the Apostle Paul. He also wrote: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Rom 3:23. The point is clear. Jesus came to save sinners, of which we all are. Yes, including me and you.
What is often missed in this story are the words of Jesus to the tax collector, "follow me". And the reaction to those words, "and he rose and followed him". Jesus calls sinners to repent and follow Him. I read nowhere that Jesus overlooks, condones, or excuses the sin. That would be like a current day doctor telling a patient with lung cancer that it is OK to smoke. A physician would not do that. Jesus calls us to be healed.
As the old hymn goes, "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back."
1 comment:
Cal,
As usual, you have hit the nail on the head. The physician treats one and all. No one is turned away. No one is excluded for any reason, be it race, nationality, past history, beliefs or orientation. The point is, yes I will treat you, now go forth and follow my prescription. Take your medicine, follow the treatment schedule, go to rehab. Try and sin no more.
The modern theologians have confused healing with acceptance. When we accept God's covenant we commit to follow His commandments. We aim for holiness, not worldliness. Each and every day we must renew our efforts, respond to His call and consecrate our lives to conform with His Word.
This is not the easy way, it is the hard way, but it is the true way, and He has pledged to help us along the pilgrim path.
Peace,
Bob
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