Scripture

“For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Observation

Jesus returns to his own town Capernaum. Some people bring a paralysed man to him. Jesus encourages the man and says his sins are forgiven.

Some of the teachers of the religious law think that this is blasphemy. To prove that He has authority to forgive sins, Jesus tells the man to get up and walk. The man leaps to his feet, to the amazement of the people.

Jesus passes a tax collector called Matthew. He calls him to come and follow Him, which he does.

Matthew invites Jesus and the disciples to his home, along with tax collectors and other disreputable people. The Pharisees are offended by. Jesus tells them that it is sick people who need the doctor, not those who are healthy. He came to save the people who know they are sinners, not those who think they are righteous.

Application

The hardest people to share the gospel with are the “good people”. They think they are OK with God. They aren’t murderers or paedophiles, so why would they need saving?

Those who know their lives are a mess are much easier to convince. They have seen that running their own show has, brought devastation, broken relationships, addictions

Everybody needs a saviour. We just cannot see that until until we come to the end of ourselves.

The the good news is that Jesus died for sinners. Everybody can receive His salvation.

All we need to do is lay down our self-righteousness and self-sufficiency.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for saving me. Please help me to remember that it is the poor in spirit who receive your Kingdom. Amen.