September 1, 2013 · Luke 5:31–32 (NIV)

Jesus at the Tax Office

Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
— Luke 5:31–32 (NIV)
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

“He's redefining what the disciple of a rabbi is, because at this point all the rabbi's disciples, they're characterized by separation. Jesus is saying my disciples will be defined by association. They're going to be associating with the tax collectors, not separating themselves. They're going to be in amongst, getting to know, loving on the sinners, not separating and building a wall between them. … Jesus was showing the religious teachers that God doesn't wait for us to get holy before he loves us. He loves us. He shows us grace. And then we can become holy. It frees us.”
— Rev. Dr. Cyril Guerette, "Jesus at the Tax Office (Luke 5)"

His charge, that Sunday

“Let's call people to repentance. That's true. I'm going to say we should. Ultimately at some point people are going to say, oh, God, I'm sorry, and turn the hearts over to God. But before we call them to repentance, let's call them over to dinner. And not a bait and switch type of dinner.”

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Jesus at the Tax Office

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