Friend of Tax Collectors and Sinners

This week I’m going to upset someone. Hopefully, that’s not because I’m trying to be shocking or controversial, but because I’m trying to answer the question, What would Jesus do?

After all, Jesus upset people.

In fact, a lot of people seemed to find him downright scandalous. After Christ called Levi (Matthew) the tax collector to join the disciples, Levi threw a big party at his place to celebrate:

… and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others reclining at the table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick; I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:29-32)

In that time, tax collectors were viewed as collaborators with the pagan Romans who’d conquered the Promised Land, and they were despised by most of their neighbors. Seeing Jesus fellowship with them (and some other, unspecified “sinners”) around a meal—a pretty intimate setting in their culture—shocked the Pharisees and scribes.

And this wasn’t just a one-time complaint. Later, in chapter 7, Jesus reveals what some people have been saying about him: “Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” (7:34) Clearly this was meant as a criticism. ‘He’s a drunk. He’s a glutton. And he keeps shameful company!’

Jesus’s devout observers were scandalized.

Now, I’m sure no one’s upset yet.

But. Have you ever wondered: If Jesus were walking the Earth today, who could he spend time with that would scandalize devout observers? You know, observers like you and me. Which “tax collectors and sinners” would be over the line and upset you?

Jesus grabbing lunch with some pro-choice advocates who just finished demonstrating at the court house?

Maybe if he was joking with an anti-vax crusader, someone who ridicules others on social media for getting their COVID shots?

Or Jesus hanging out with some fellows from the Pride Parade?

What if Christ had a pen pal on death row? Say, a mom who’d killed her kids?

Are you scandalized yet?

But if Jesus did that in his day, wouldn’t he today?

All of that doesn’t tell you the first thing about Jesus’s views of abortion or same-sex relationships or vaccines. But it says everything about his views of people who advocate for abortions, or are in same-sex relationships, or condemn vaccines: he loves them, and he wants them. That’s Jesus’s view of anyone you can think of: he loves them, and he wants them. Everyone. Always.

And it’s precisely the people whom we might consider most spiritually sick and lost—whoever that is to you—those are the people Jesus sees as most deserving of his time and attention.

But he doesn’t come at them like John the Baptist, berating and warning and “scaring the hell out of” sinners, like an old-time revival preacher. Jesus comes offering friendship—a relationship that’ll change your life, if you let it.

And shouldn’t we go and do likewise?

Shouldn’t we go after the people whom we are sure God wouldn't associate with? People who may be sure themselves that God wouldn’t associate with them? Shouldn’t we go after them and show them just how wrong we all were and just how much Jesus loves them and wants them?

Because the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).

Listen to this week's devotional right here: