Growing in HopeSample

Jesus Loves the Outcasts

Because we are now God’s children, we are called to imitate Him. The best way to imitate God is to look at the person and life of Jesus. Remember, Jesus and the Father are one (John 10:30).

The more we know Jesus, the more we know God. And the more we know God, the better we are able to imitate Him. We will not be able to cover everything about who He is and what He did (and does). This is why it is so important that you read the Bible for yourself! 

“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.” Luke 15:1-2

When the Bible talks about tax collectors and sinners, it is referring to people who were looked down upon in their society. Associating with a tax collector or a sinner was unacceptable in the religious leader's eyes. 

It is also important to know who the Pharisees and scribes were. The Pharisees and scribes were an elite group of religious people who studied and taught the Scriptures (the Old Testament, because the New Testament had not yet been written). In the Jewish culture, they were the “best of the best”. They were considered to be more holy and righteous than the average person, and held positions of authority in the community. 

In the people’s eyes, the Pharisees and the religious leaders were “better” or more righteous.  But, in God’s eyes, they were not more righteous or holy than anyone else because everyone has committed sin. 

Romans 3:10 says: “There is none righteous, not even one.” 

We see in Luke 15:1-2 that the tax collectors and sinners, “the worst of the worst”, gathered around Jesus to listen to Him teach. Jesus allowed and welcomed all people to come to Him, even those who were known as “sinners”.

Jesus not only allowed them to come to Him, but we see that He pursued the sinners and the outcasts. One example of this is found in Luke 19:1-10. 

“He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man called by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. Zacchaeus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. So, he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly. When they saw it, they all began to grumble saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

So, what does this mean for you and me?

It’s simple. Following the example Jesus set, we are to pursue relationships with people, regardless of their social status.

Let’s be like Jesus and restore dignity and value to people who are outcasts, looked down on, and known as “sinners”. Let’s imitate Jesus by pursuing and loving all people.

Prayer:
Father, thank You for pursuing me and bringing me into relationship with You! I love You, and I love being Your child! Teach me how to see and love others, as You do! I want to be like You. Help me to see the “outcasts” and give me the courage and love to befriend them like You do! I want to be like You, Jesus!!! Teach me! Amen.