It's interesting that in our current society a lot of Christians like to speak about Jesus "hanging out with sinners". They parrot the teaching that He preferred the company of the sinners over the company of the religious. I think those who believe this teaching would be surprised that in the verses I was reading this morning Jesus said, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons. Mark 1:38-39
Do those verses tell you that He avoided the religious? Notice it said He went into their synagogues throughout all of Galilee. Do not become fixated on what you want to read or believe, but read the scriptures and be open to the truth of the Lord's teaching, the Holy Spirit will open all truth to you if you come with an open heart and not preconceived ideas or teachings that fit what you want to believe.
A synagogue by definition is a building where a Jewish assembly or congregation meets for religious worship and instruction. By these very scriptures, Mark 1:38-39, Jesus was seeking out the people who were gathering to hear the teaching of God's Word and to worship His Father, the people the world calls the religious! That is very encouraging to me!
Jesus was seeking to bring truth and life to whoever would receive it, He did seek saints and sinners. We tend to label the people in the churches "hypocrites" if they don't know, act and live "all truth", we don't have mercy, compassion or forgiveness on them as we do the "sinners" in the world, why is that? They are our brothers and sisters, we should be more loving and forgiving of them than anyone else! Later Peter approached Jesus and said, “How many times do I have to forgive my fellow believer who keeps offending me? Seven times?”Jesus answered, “Not seven times, Peter, but seventy times seven times! Matthew 18:21-22
How often do we as Christians take offense at what has happened in church, at what someone has said or not said to us? Imagine the delight the enemy has in dividing Christian believers! The very people that God has called to bring His love to the world can't even love one another!
This article has really mushroomed into several "rabbit trails" and I'm getting off track here, let me try to pull us back to the beginning thought!
Not all of the "religious establishment" would receive Jesus' teachings, but neither would all of the "sinners", sadly. Instead of dividing people along the lines of their "personal practices" we should be looking at their desire to hear the teachings of Jesus? Sinners or Saints isn't the important line to draw, hungry or satisfied would be the more of a focus. Are you hungry to hear the teachings of Jesus? Are you open to hear and grow? If you answered yes then you are one of the ones He was and is still seeking! Behold, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If your heart is open to hear my voice and you open the door within, I will come in to you and feast with you, and you will feast with me. Revelation 3:20
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