Bible Reading #182 - Friend of 'Sinners'

Friend of 'Sinners'

Luke 7

I pray blessings on you as you read.

(v. 34-35) "The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look at him!He's a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' 'Yet, wisdom is proved right by all its results.' " (v. 39) "The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and thought, 'If this man really were a prophet, he would know what sort of woman is touching him. She's a sinner.' "

My Thoughts

Jesus was a friend of sinners. What exactly is a 'sinner'? Well in that time, of course, the Pharisees and Sadducees were the religious leaders. They were seen as righteous and proclaimed themselves as such. Anyone who was not well versed in the book of the law was not righteous, and anyone who's sin was known was a sinner.

Simon, the Pharisee, invited Jesus for dinner at his house and a woman who was a 'sinner' came to see Jesus and pour perfume on His feet. Simon said in his thoughts that she was a sinner. Because I'm sure Simon had never committed any sin in his life before... Every one of us is a sinner. Not a single one of us is righteous, except through Jesus. Jesus is righteous in us.

What is the job of a doctor? A doctor is supposed to help heal people. Who are the ones who need healing? Those who are sick, of course. A doctor can't heal someone who is healthy because they are healthy. In the same way, Jesus came for sinners, to save them. Those who call themselves righteous have decided that they do not need Jesus because they think they are healthy.

All of us have sinned and Jesus came for all of us. Simon felt that a righteous man would be defiling himself by associating in any way with a 'sinner'. How can they possibly become 'righteous' if no one who is helps them? So my question to you is this: Is it wrong for us to befriend so-called 'bad' people? You know, anyone who has murdered, stolen, lied, had an affair--the list goes on.

I say no. Most of my friends are unbelievers. Simon the Pharisee would call them sinners. I also have friends of different religion, and others who are simply against what I believe. How can we possibly share the love of Jesus if we avoid making friends with non-believers? We can't. Plain and simple. Jesus came for you and me, whether through a person or anything else. Should we not be Jesus to someone else?

Even if you never preach to your friends, if you live your life centered on Jesus and show love to others, they will see it. They will see how you act and see your life. They may never care. They may care enough to ask questions. When they do, be honest. Look to God for the answers. Just showing love and kindness to others is showing Jesus to them.

I say we should go and make as many friends as we can! Not just meet people, but make friends with people. And show love and kindness to as many people as we can. Leave the preaching to the churches and make friends with people. Talk to them and don't hide your faith from them. You don't have to talk about Jesus to show His love, but don't hide it either.

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Prayer Time

Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.

Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.

Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!