The Pharisees and their companions often gave Jesus good reasons to launch into a teaching or a parable of some kind. In Luke 15 their complaints about his close association with “sinners” led to three parables in a row about being lost and being found.
Let’s just take the first of the three, “The Parable of the Lost Sheep” (Luke 15:1-7). When one sheep goes astray, the shepherd is not content to let it happen. Even though there are ninety-nine others, the one that is lost is not disposable. There’s no thought of just going out and replacing it with another, more “obedient” sheep.
The appeal of keeping our churches “neat” and “tidy” is strong. It makes things easier for us. A self-righteous church is also overly . . . . concerned about protecting its image and feels some pride in whispering judgment on others. That in no way reflects the church Jesus set up, though. Are we a welcoming church ready to throw a party of grace for wanderers who are brought home by the Holy Spirit?
There’s also an implication there in the Pharisees’ complaints that the people they looked down on were in the category of “sinners,” while the Pharisees and others were not. This attitude made these self-righteous religious leaders more lost than anyone, because they did not even recognize their own “lostness” or look to the Messiah for salvation.
We have been welcomed in God’s grace. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Despite our own sins, Jesus has sought us out and has given us the blessings of forgiveness and the resurrection through faith in him.
The Pharisees meant their words to be a criticism: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Without knowing it they were proclaiming God’s love and the heart of the gospel for us and for all.
Jesus welcomed sinners. We are a church that does too!
2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” … 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:2,7)