Word for Wednesday
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto His disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? Matthew 9:11
Good question! Anyway you look at it, this was an intriguing question. And note carefully, Scripture does not record an answer to the Pharisees’ question. From the Pharisees’ standpoint, they couldn’t understand how One who claimed to be from God could stand to be in the midst of such wicked and low characters. The Pharisees were deeply religious, and extremely particular about who they ate with or even talked with. They would never lower themselves to sit in a company that included tax collectors and immoral people. They simply couldn’t understand why Jesus would do so. It made no sense to them. Well, sometimes it makes no sense to us either, but not for the same reason the Pharisees were puzzled.
Remember the story of Mephibosheth? Remember how when David made him a member of the royal household, and Mephibosheth could ask David why he would look on such a dead dog as himself? That’s how we who belong to the Lord look at this question the Pharisees asked. Consider those publicans and immoral people who were eating a meal with the Lord Jesus. We can wonder why He would allow them to be there. They had no right. But they had his open invitation. And it is the same with us. We have been brought into the royal household of Heaven, and have been seated at Jesus magnificent table, and will enjoy His company forever. Why are we so blessed? In ourselves, we have no right. But we do have an invitation, just as does the entire world.
Consider the One to whose table we have been invited. He is the very One who held the highest office in Glory. But He laid aside that glory for a time, that He might come to earth and personally invite us to be with Him. He made the invitation possible by the offering of Himself on the cross. He purchased our forgiveness in drops of His own most precious blood. And He has brought us into His banqueting house.
Yes, we are amazed that Jesus would company with us. Amazed, but delighted, and thankful. And let us pass on the invitation to others. -Jim MacIntosh