The Gospel is for Sinners

Studying: Matthew 19-21
Thoughts: Good

"For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe in him." Matthew 21:32

Okay, I've started a post on this verse four times, and each time I have to stop and start over again. Every time I start writing I get off on a tangent, so let me just ramble for a moment and see what happens.

I've been thinking about this verse today, and it shakes me a bit. Jesus sat down and ate with tax collectors and prostitutes. When was the last time I did that? Yes, I know, "be careful." Exactly, I understand that, but what I'm struck with here over and over again is just how dirty Jesus "got his hands" in his work and ministry. I can say that if presented with two witnessing options, one a stinky homeless man and the other a nicely dressed banker, my natural inclination is towards the guy in the suit.

I mean, take a moment and evaluate scripture. Look at some of the kinds of people gathering around Jesus. There were, of course as it says here, tax collectors and prostitutes, but there were also adulterers, lepers, beggars, even criminals. And he spoke kindly but firmly to them. As a little rhyme I once heard goes, "Jesus ate with sinners on the floor but he told them to 'go and sin no more.'"

Okay, again, I'm just rambling.