Lost! The Parables of Luke 15نموونە

Our first two verses today, Luke 15:1-2, explain why Jesus told these stories about lostness. We know from other verses that Jesus happily 'hung out' with notorious sinners like traitorous tax collectors for the Roman occupiers and scandalous prostitutes. He didn't always keep polite company. 

In Luke 7:34, the religious people accuse Jesus of being a glutton and a drunkard for enjoying the hospitality of such disreputable people. However, there's not a hint of sexual impropriety for even Jesus' fiercest critics to pin on Him. If they're going to frame Him, it has to be on different kinds of trumped up charges. 

We might assume that good religious people like Jesus shouldn't associate with greedy, drunk, and immoral people. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5:11, if someone claiming to follow Christ is like that, we shouldn't associate with them. If they're overtly unbelieving, however, it's fine to eat with the ‘worst of sinners’ if the object is to lead them and love them into the Kingdom of God. 

Hopefully we're starting to see how unreasonable the religious people's outrage was toward dodgy characters darkening the doors of synagogues to hear Jesus. As His stories unfold, we will start to see more of how wrong the upstanding citizens of First Century Roman Judea were about Him. 

'Dear Lord, please forgive our favoritism when it comes to church attendees. May we welcome all to hear Christ's words of life, and seek to awaken the lost to what they can find in Him. In His name we pray, amen.' 

Are you guilty of judging Jesus for accepting 'sinners'? Or, do you admit your own sin, gladly receive His acceptance and seek to share His forgiveness with those who are lost?