Luke Suggests Hanging Out With Sinners More Often

There are many lost sinners in this world, but some will be given ears to hear and will repent and believe, becoming “found sinners.”  Luke would have the Church imitate Jesus in pursuing sinners for joy--their, ours, and heaven’s.  Many sinners will be attracted to Jesus and the Gospel. 

A World Wide Movement of Sinners

Luke 15:1 ESV “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.”

The sinners of the world are uniting in flocking to Jesus.  With great irony Luke says that “all” the despised dishonest unpatriotic Jewish tax-collectors and “all” the ignored flagrant sexually immoral sinners were streaming to Jesus--even at the moment, even after the demanding call of 14:25-35!  Maybe some were from that crowd, heard the speech, and were inspired by His demand that He must occupy first place in the lives of His disciples with everything else in distant second.

Luke desires to impress upon us that this is what sinners often do, even in our day--they flock to Jesus.  Why?  Because many want to repent before God and receive His forgiveness and new life.  He is further implying that such sinners who are hated by religious hypocrites are quite often attracted to Jesus; although Jesus should be more frightening because of His holiness.  So, when this actually happens, we know that God is at work in them--to cause them to come in spite of fear.

Pushback by the Self-Righteous

Luke 15:2 ESV “And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.””

But the self-righteous religious (who are the not-so-righteous-after-all) despise such a movement of sinners.  The Pharisees and Scribes grumbled among themselves yet again.  To them, it is disgusting that a rabbi would have such a following of these types of people.  To them, it is repulsive that a rabbi would have such fellowship with them--sharing meals, even.  We don’t know for certain but if Jesus was involved in hosting such meals, then all the worse!

Most religious leaders of the day didn’t understand what the Bible teaches us about separation from sinners.  They missed the fact that Jesus is not participating in their sinful activities, nor is He even accepting their lifestyles, not even tacitly.  He would speak against such things to their faces, even while socializing with them.  However, this association with sinners is just too close of an association for those religious leaders to accept.

Jesus was looking for the responsive among the sinners.  Surely, there were many more who loved their sin, hated Him, and avoided or left Him.  But, these are not the focus here, rather the other kind of sinners--those humbled by their sin.  Such sinners were the ones Jesus was seeking out--those who would repent and put their faith in Him, and so bring God and heaven great joy.

Three Parables of Joy

The Pharisees and Scribes didn’t know who Jesus was, nor why He came, because they were not listening.  Jesus proceeded to tell them two parables of joy:  finding the lost sheep (vv.4-7) and the lost coin (vv.8-10), explaining again exactly who He is and why He came.  In fact “joy” is mentioned five times in these brief stories.  Then, He described this joy in the lengthy and famous parable of the lost son (vv.11-32).

These parables teach us that we share in God’s joy by using His Gospel to search for and find sinners who repent.  There is great joy when sinners return to God their Creator as God their Redeemer.  Luke assumes this is a great joy that we live for too! 

Build a Reputation like Jesus

Matthew 11:19 ESV “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.””

Many sinners will be attracted to Jesus and the Gospel.  So, befriend sinners.  You know who they are and where to find them.  They live in your neighborhood.  Their kids play with your kids.  You work with many of them.  They are all around the world.  Many have never ever been befriended by a Christian before.  Would you be their friend?  Don’t run or hide from them.  Don’t keep them at arm’s length because of what others may think. 

Truly righteous spirituality searches out the lost, looking to find sinners who repent when hearing  the Gospel of forgiveness, freedom, cleansing and restoration.  Keep getting to know more and more of them and spend quality time with them.  Let your holiness of life and integrity of teaching attract them.  Make the Gospel clear for them.  And may the day of clarity be the day of the great joy spoken all throughout Luke 15!