After being called into discipleship by Jesus, Matthew had a farewell dinner with his friends, and Jesus was in attendance. As one might imagine, many of Matthew’s friends were also tax collectors—despised social and religious outcasts. It was an opportunity to introduce them to Jesus.
As the scribes of the Pharisees passed by, they saw the scene, and they were aghast that Jesus was socializing with these men—sitting among them, eating and drinking. The scribes challenged the disciples, asking, “What kind of example is this, acting cozy with the riffraff?”
Jesus’ answer revealing. He agrees that these are sick, hurting, troubled men. Their style of life has damaged them deeply. They don't see life rightly; they are covering up many evils; they are false in many ways. But where else would a doctor be? His argument is, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the sin-sick, not the spiritually-fit.”
Jesus makes two things emphatically clear by this reply. First, when people think they have no need of help from God, they are in no position to be helped. There is nothing to say to them. We meet people often who are “self-sufficient;” who think they don’t need God at all. The best way to treat them is to smile, be friendly, and let them go their way. Life itself will teach them they are wrong. Then is the time to talk to them; then they will be listening.
Second, people are more important than prejudice. Prejudice involves preconceptions formed before we have knowledge, usually mistaken or distorted ideas we have grown up with. When prejudice is in opposition to the needs of people, they should be put aside without hesitation.
The Church has been justifiably criticized because of the prejudices it still holds in terms of class, race, economy, gender, and orientation distinctions. We must learn to ignore these differences and meet all according to their readiness of heart.
(We invite your comments. Feel free to share this devotion with your friends and invite them to subscribe by forwarding their email address to the Pastor at: fredjeffsmith@gmail.com.)
Mornings with Shiloh airs on WVLA Channel 33 each weekday at 6:58 a. m. CST. Mornings with Shiloh is available on our Youtube channel at 8:00 a.m. CST.
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO ACCESS OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:
https://www.youtube.com/@ShilohMBCBR/videos
Want to get more involved at Shiloh?
Browse our Ministries