“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Mark 2:14-17, And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

We can rejoice that Jesus came to seek and save the lost, for indeed “such were some of you.” The truth of scripture is that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” but many are blinded by self-righteousness. And even more amazing than calling fishermen to follow him, he called Levi, known to us as Matthew, who became an Apostle and one of the four gospel writers! How amazing is his grace, that he has not abandoned us to the grave, and that he relentlessly seeks those who are his own. His love transcends our own behavior, as it did when he called Paul on the road to Damascus! How then should we who are so blessed live?

Give us this same compassion, that loves the unlovable and brings those most in need to the great physician to be healed!

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