READ: MATTHEW 9:9-13

9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 
12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Take 2 minutes to read over the passage:

Discuss:

1. Why is it surprising to the pharisees that Jesus is eating with Sinners and Tax collectors?

2. What does this account show us about who Jesus is and Why he came?

Read:
What does it mean that Christ is a friend to sinners? At the very least, it means that he enjoys spending time with them. It also means that they feel welcome and comfortable around him. The very two groups of people whom Jesus is accused of befriending in Matthew 11 (tax Collectors and sinners )are those who can’t stay away from him in Luke 15. They are at ease around him. They sense something different about him. Others hold them at arms’ length, but Jesus offers the enticing intrigue of fresh hope. What he is really doing, is pulling them into his heart.

-Dane ortland


3. Do you tend to think of Jesus as someone who is comfortable around ‘sinners’ and someone sinners are comfortable around? Why/Why not?

APPLY

4. How are you going at being like Jesus in terms of having a life that overlaps with those who are far from God?

5. What are people doing to connect with non-christian friends over the lockdown? 

( The cooking class on Thursday night would be something fun to invite to)

PRAY

6. Pray for one person each who you want to be connecting with over this time.