When God Says …
“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).
In this passage, we watch the conspicuous display of religious arrogance and hypocrisy. The religious Pharisees and scribes grumble and are flagrantly pronouncing outright judgement upon these party attendees at Levi's home. Calling them sinners, these people are judging themselves too. Scriptures reveal that no one is righteous every person is born in sin on this planet (Psalm 51:5). There is only one person who is not a sinner here, though. He is not among the religious Pharisees, nor the scribes. He is in the midst of "tax collectors and sinners". He is the Lord Jesus Christ, whom the priests and scribes grumbled about for dining and drinking with those they declared sinners by the standards of their religion.
Yes, the only SINLESS Person in this event and of course the only One not tainted by sin that ever lived on this planet is partying with people cast out by religion. The Lord is with them who religion labeled as publicans, tax collectors and sinners. That is religion at work, at its best. They make it impossible for people and themselves to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The Lord Jesus said unto them: ““What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.” (Matthew 23:13 NLT). Sadly, these type of religious characters are still operating in the world today, deceiving many.
Our Lord Jesus Christ came down from heaven to hang out with us and be in our party. He came, full of grace and truth (John 1:7), to embrace and receive us as we believe. By faith in Him, He makes us righteous through His grace. It is not by our works and not by way of religion. It is a gift. His sacrifice made us right with God, that we shall enter into His rest (Hebrews 4:11). He who is sinless transforms us by His presence. It is written: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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