Luke 15:1-7
Sometimes, it seems hard to understand the mindset of the Pharisees and scribes, here they are complaining about Jesus associating with tax collectors, and "sinners". They being the spiritual leaders of the day should have compassion for them, instead they are disgusted by them. I read that in their culture if you ate at the same table with someone it meant that you approved of them, I guess they saw Jesus as approving of their lifestyle rather than just loving them for who they were. Jesus replied to the Jewish leaders with a series of beautiful and famous parables which all have the same theme...being lost and then found. In each one the lesson is the same, Jesus came to save sinners which should bring praise to God. He begins with one lost sheep being found and compares the joy of finding that one sheep to heavens rejoicing over one sinner who repents. It is the hope of a changed heart that Jesus associated with the undesirable. Jesus came to seek and save those who where lost, I couldn't be more grateful that He did. He spoke at the end of the parable about those who need no repentance...who is that...haven't we all sinned and come short? Yes, the scriptures speak to that fact but I believe His statement was a rehtorical way of describing the attitude of the Jewish teachers of the day, they believed they didn't need to repent because they weren't lost, an attitude any of us are capable of I'm afraid and one we all need to guard ourselves against.
