1 Kings 21-22 | Luke 23:26-56

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering round to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.’” Luke 15:1-2

It is easy sometimes to think that we are a better Christian than someone else because “we follow the law and do not sin,” but is this the correct measurement for us to judge whether or not we are closer to God? As Jesus shares three parables in Luke 15, He speaks to two categories of audiences: the tax collectors and sinners listening on one side and the Pharisees and scribes grumbling on the other.

If we go to both of these groups and ask them, “Who are the spiritual ones here?” The tax collectors and sinners would say the Pharisees and scribes; and the Pharisees and scribes would say, “we are.” Every Jew knows that the Pharisees are the benchmark of righteousness. They are very disciplined and careful about the company they keep, food they eat, places they go, clothes they wear and how they tithe their money. Even Jesus acknowledges, “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).

If we ask both groups again, “Who are the spiritual outcasts here?” The Pharisees and scribes would obviously answer the tax collectors and sinners; and the tax collectors and sinners would admit, “That’s us.” If we are to ask, “Who are the friends of God here?” both would say, “the Pharisees and scribes.” And if we ask, “Who is the furthest from God?” they would both answer, “the tax collectors and the sinners.”

Both groups are in complete agreement regarding themselves. They all believed that “God cannot look on sin because He is so pure.” That is a slogan tossed around in some circles that we may be familiar with, and fortunately, is not true. Paul tells us, “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Romans 5:20).

God is closest to those who know their sin and furthest from those who do not know their sin. In this case, the ones who did not know their sin are the Pharisees and scribes, and the ones who did know are the tax collectors and sinners. Every measurement they had as to who are the outcasts and the spiritual ones was completely wrong, because only those in sin know their need. As we consider our closeness to God, may we not measure it according to our works, but in humility rest in the grace of God.

PRAYER

Dear God, thank You for giving me grace to cover all my sins. Lead me to walk in Your righteousness and humility in this world. In Jesus’s name.