Luke 15:1-10
“Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees
and the scribes began to grumble, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’” (1-2) Jesus
attracted sinners, not with compromise or a diluted message, but with a message of repentance and
hope [kingdom of God]. These religious leaders came to defend positions of comfort, privilege and
power. Jesus spoke of the joy in heaven over just one who repents. The Pharisees and scribes could
not see this being blinded by their religious and critical spirit. What is our attitude toward the lost? Do
we attract sinners because of our message of hope, or do we attract religious people who grumble
about the world Jesus came to save?