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I. WHO IT IS THAT RECEIVETH SINNERS?

1. "This man." That Christ was "man," may easily be shown from the united and ample testimony of Scripture. Revelation makes no attempt to conceal this fact. It treats it as a matter that is necessary to be known, and as fully and readily to be believed, as His essential and eternal divinity. Godhead without manhood could have effected no atonement for the world's transgression.

2. But "this man" was Divine, He was God "manifested in the flesh," combined all the glory of the Deity with all the weakness of man — all the infirmities of the creature — with acts and attributes splendid and incomprehensible! He was frail as flesh, yet omnipotent as God. Thus was our nature infinitely enriched, though sin had beggared it of all worth.

3. "This man" gave to the universe the most amiable, attractive, and stupendous manifestation of the Deity ever witnessed, a "manifestation" altogether different from any which had been previously afforded. Here was no throne of sapphire, no city of pearl, no retinue of celestials, no blaze of unapproachable brightness, no footpath on the firmament, no chariot rolling "on the wings of the wind," and studded with the stars of the skies. The majestic symbols of the presence and power of the Infinite were kept back, and here was man in weakness, destitution, reproach, suffering, and death. "This man" showed how low the Deity could stoop, how much the Deity could love, how infinitely the Deity could redeem, with what frail and broken things the Deity could rebuild His moral universe.

II. HOW THIS MAN RECEIVETH SINNERS.

1. He "received" them universally; His arms of love are ready to embrace all.

2. "Christ received sinners "without upbraiding them on account of their sins.

3. Observe the delightful and blessed certainty that "sinners" have of being "received" by Him.

III. WHAT DOES CHRIST'S RECEPTION OF SINNERS COMPREHEND? To what are they received? The world receives its votaries, but only to oppress them with its vexations and vanities. Satan receives sinners, but only to slavery and wretchedness. Doth Christ receive them? It is —

1. To a state of reconciliation with Himself; He casts around them His Divine complacency, makes and calls them "His friends."

2. Christ "receives sinners" into a state of holiness. He sanctifies all the powers of the intellect, all the. affections of the heart, and all the actions of the life.

3. Christ "receives" them under the special protection and guidance of His providence. They rest under the pavilion of the Almighty Redeemer, are encircled as with a wall of fire, and fenced round and defended by the angels of glory.

4. Christ "receives" them into the full immunities of His kingdom of grace. In that kingdom "all things are theirs."

5. Christ "receives the sinners" He thus sanctifies and blesses into heaven. This is the last and greatest gift of God in Christ. This will perfect every holy principle and every religious joy.

(E. Horton.)

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KJV: Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

WEB: Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.