And when the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with tax collectors and sinners, they told his disciples, "Heeats with tax collectors and sinners." And when Jesus heard it, he told them, "Those who are well do not need a physi- cian, rather those who are sick.
It was a warning, a stern rebuke… “Blessed is the man who walks NOT in the counsel of the ungodly, NOR stands in the path of sinners, NOR sits in the seat of the scornful, But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law, he meditates day and night.” This passage was the reminder that we (as Godly and Holy ...
Matthew 9:10-13 King James Version (KJV)
And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
Jesus was a friend of sinners in that he came to save sinners and was very pleased to welcome sinners who were open to the gospel, sorry for their sins, and on their way to putting their faith in Him.
Luke 15:2 NIV
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
“Do not be bound together with unbelievers,” says Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:14, “for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” Believers can and should relate to unbelievers' situations, but we must never emulate their lifestyles of separation from God.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 — Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. This verse commands Christians to continue to encourage and lift up fellow followers of Jesus. The church of Thessalonians was already doing this and Paul reminds them to not stop, but keep on encouraging each other.
“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answers that he does so on purpose—because he has come to help those who need help, and to call them to repentance.
God wants us to be merciful to sinners, the lawless. Don't be self-righteous by looking down at them! Remember, Jesus reclined at the table with these lawless people to heal and help them have an entrance into His everlasting Kingdom one day.
Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:17-18, 20).
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
In Luke 15 Jesus is eating with tax-gatherers and sinners. Pharisees and scribes are grumbling about it. What is he doing eating with the outcasts?
The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:21-25) Church is for sinners like AA is for alcoholics. If you can't admit you're a sinner, you don't belong in church. If you're a sinner; church is exactly where you belong! That's where we go to help each other get into and stay in recovery — One day at a time!
Our recognition of God's sovereign initiative and rich mercy in saving undeserved sinners brings Him glory. Also, we should see that God desires His people to be workers of righteousness. Although we aren't saved by our works, we are saved in order that we will work for God. This is the point taught in Ephesians 2:10.
Scripture tells us that silence can help us avoid sinning (Proverbs 10:19), gain respect (Proverbs 11:12), and is deemed wise and intelligent (Proverbs 17:28). In other words, you may be blessed by holding your tongue. Ultimately, refraining from speaking in certain situations means we are practicing self-control.
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law 2 of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Our sins prevent us from being able to return home to live with God. Jesus Christ provided a way for us to be forgiven. He suffered for our sins so that if we repent, we can become clean again and be free from regret.
We are all sinful by nature, from the time of our birth to the time of our death. Sin will be part of our world until Jesus' 2nd coming. This may seem discouraging, but the truth is that God loves us anyway. He's knows who we are because he created us.
We confess together that sinners are justified by faith in the saving action of God in Christ. Such a faith is active in love and thus the Christian cannot and should not remain without works. But whatever in the justified precedes or follows the free gift of faith is neither the basis of justification nor merits it.
John 6:10 in Other Translations
10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 10 “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said.
In Matthew 11:19 Jesus is called “a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” He wasn't afraid to be known for keeping company with heathens and turncoats, because it was heathens and turncoats He came to save.
The Pharisee prayed about how good he was, but the tax collector asked for God's mercy as he was a sinner. Jesus said that it was the tax collector who went home justified before God. He concluded, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
Galatians 6:1-2
1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Instructions From Jesus on Helping Others. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. ...