Messy Made New by Pete BriscoeSample

The Shortfall of Pharisees

If Jesus feared guilt by association, he would have stayed in heaven. — Andy Stanley

Jesus isn’t repelled by our messiness. In fact, He has a habit of throwing open the doors of love to messy people. He does it all the time.

When the Pharisees and their scribes—also known as the tidy people—heard that Jesus was dining with tax collectors, they confronted the disciples and asked them, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” (Luke 5:30).

Stated another way, “Why do you hang out with messy people?”

To the Pharisees, messy people included any Jew who didn’t uphold the Law, its moral precepts, or keep themselves ceremonially clean. Those people had given up and weren’t even pretending to be tidy anymore. They were sinners and unclean, and the tidy people couldn’t figure out why Jesus, a rabbi, would hang out with such messy people.

Why were they so bothered by Jesus’ company?

• Pharisees define people by their sin. They label you with the name of it.


• Pharisees like to punish people for their sin. You can never do enough.


• Finally, Pharisees are blind to their own sin. They rely on self-righteous acts.

Put it all together and we’re looking at some tidy, difficult people. When the tidy Pharisees questioned Jesus’ disciples, it’s Jesus who answers, “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).

Jesus isn’t telling the Pharisees that they are righteous. He’s telling them they’re so convinced of their self-righteousness that they have no need for Him.

That’s the sad deception of a proud, tidy life apart from Jesus.

Jesus, in what ways do I carry with me self-righteousness? Name them for me, Lord. Don’t let my ears be closed to Your gentle rebuke! As I acknowledge these parts of me and set them before You, I am undone by Your grace. You do not call me by the name of my illness, but You call me “son” or “daughter.” It is good to be accepted. Amen.