"Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to [Jesus] to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, 'This Man receives sinners and eats with them.' "
I love these verses. Since *when* are not some good old "garden-variety" sinners interested in Christ, the gospel, and the church? The truth is, they *are*, even today. People found Jesus Christ, His person, His message, and His community *so* compelling, that they could *not* resist Him. The same thing happens even in 2008, when the church presents the Redeemer as the One He truly is: lovely, and fascinating.
But of course the pharisees hate all this. Christ upsets their world view's "apple-cart"; and He does not fit their mold (of a staid, stale, lifeless, and boring Messiah). Jesus came for sinners; not good people, (cf. Lk. 5:32).
[Puritan quote of the day: "A hypocrite will read, come to church, gives alms, build hospitals, but cannot forgive wrongs; he will rather want forgiveness from God than he will forgive his enemies."
--Thomas Watson, in "The Lord's Prayer"]
