Tax Collectors and Other Sinners

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth.  "Follow me," Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.  Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.  But the Pharisees and teachers of the Law complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and other sinners"?  Jesus answered them, "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 5:27-32

As I was reading through the Gospels recently I was struck by a phrase repeatedly used by Matthew, Mark and Luke to describe the people Jesus was associating with:  tax collectors and other sinners.

I wondered just how bad you had to be in order to have your own category.  On the one hand we have the tax collectors; on the other hand - all other sinners! 

 Obviously tax collectors were hated by Jews in 1st century Israel.  They worked for the cruel Roman government and extorted money from their fellow countrymen.  They were viewed as murderers.  Jesus not only searched them out but even ate with them, something no self-respecting Rabbi would do. 

I love that about Jesus, because I realize that I am just like the tax collectors.  If you knew how dirty my heart was you would probably put me in a category all by myself too.  Jeannie and other sinners.  Yet because he came to call this sinner to repentance he invites even me to his table.

If you are in my particular category or are simply lumped in with all the 'other sinners' His invitation still stands:

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock.

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,

I will come in and eat with him and he with me."

Rev. 3:20