Unfathomable Grace

The Crook

His name is Levi or Matthew. He is a Jewish fellow. His occupation is tax collector. His reputation is dirt, and this is because he has proven to be a partner of Rome, a betrayer of nation, a lover of self, and a swindling hater of his brothers and sisters. Yes, this Jewish crook is thoroughly deprave, and he is getting worse.

The Christ

His name is Jesus, and he is on a search. He is gathering twelve men to be his disciples, and Matthew is on his list. Jesus desires to show unfathomable grace to the chief of sinners.

The Call

Jesus approaches the tax collector, while he sits at his tax booth, in the very practice of his debauchery, and issues forth his invitation, “Follow me.”

The Change

The Holy Spirit is not mentioned by name, but one can see his mysterious work.

Immediately, Matthew leaves his table, leaves his occupation, leaves everything and follows Jesus.

Matthew then throws a great feast at his house. There he assembles a large company of other thoroughly deprave and debaucherous tax-collecting crooks – “sick” people just like him. He also invites his new rabbi. It is time to share Jesus with his friends.

The Christ

Jesus accepts the invitation. Intentionally, and easily, he reclines at table with them. And why not? He has been born for this. He is the good physician completely comfortable in the midst of sick people.

The Clergy

However, some people are greatly discomforted by Jesus’ association with these notorious and unrepentant sinners. Talking to Jesus’ disciples behind his back, they say, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” The scribes and Pharisees, they think they are better than they are; they think they are better than others. Pathetically, they think they are better than Jesus.

The Christ

At this point, Jesus declares his heart. Tenderly, and seriously, he says, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I desire mercy and not sacrifice. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Matthew 9:12-13; Mark 9:2:17; Luke 5:32)

The Conclusion

I am no different than Matthew. I am a thoroughly deprave, debaucherous, sick, practicing sinner who hates his neighbor and loves himself more than God. (You are too.)

I am no different than the clergy. I am a hypercritical judgmental fool who consider myself more honorable than other sinners. I imagine Jesus is more pleased with me than those with other labels. I believe myself to be less-sick or more-healthy than most. And if you hear what I am thinking, you will hear me question Jesus’ free grace given to the worst of practicing crooks. (This is your condition as well.)

However, I am saved. I have been targeted by the Great Physician. I have been operated on by the Holy Spirit. I have heard Jesus calling, and I too have become a table-leaving, money-spending, feast-throwing, sinner-inviting, Christ follower. All glory and all boasting goes to Christ alone! (This is your story too – at least for many of you.)

And now, as the Holy Spirit continues his work in my heart, I continue to repent. I hate it when I and other Christians prove to be fundamentalistic fathers, separating saints, prudish priests, or conceited clergymen. Like Jesus, when I am at my best, I want to be the friend of tax collectors and sinners. (Luke 7:34; 15:1-2)

Therefore friends, let’s separate ourselves from sinful practices. Let’s separate ourselves from sinful temptations. Let’s even separate ourselves from those who call themselves “brothers” but are apostate, heretical, and dangerous to our sons and daughters. However, as we follow Christ, let us not separate ourselves from people – like us – who are unholy, unchaste, unrighteous, and thoroughly deprave. Let’s follow Matthew who follows Jesus, and as we do, we should expect to find ourselves comfortably sitting around tables surrounded by sick people, all being introduced to the Good Physician – the glorious Savior and Friend of sinners.