Sinners Who Need a Doctor

"While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and 'sinners' came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?' On hearing this Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9: 10-13.

Who really needs to hear the good news of Grace and Salvation more than anyone? It is those who are lost in sin. Those of us who are already Christians and believe in the deity of Christ and have already accepted Grace, shouldn't have to be reminded over and over again of how we can be saved from sin. We should already believe in Grace enough, that we should be willing to share that good news with everyone. Sadly, many of us are like the Pharisees. We see people wallowing in their sins and suffering because of their sinful behavior. Rather than see them as the sick sinners they are and offer them the healing mercy that Jesus offers, we look at them in disgust and judge them as not being worthy or ready for Grace. How sad! More often than not we deny the sick access to the one "doctor" who can heal them.

Later in the same chapter, in Matthew 9: 36-38, the Bible tells us, "When he (Jesus) saw the crowds he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he (Jesus) said to His disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.' " The sinners are out there helpless, sick and harassed, and they need a doctor. Will you be a Pharisee or will you be a Harvester?