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I. JESUS RECEIVING SINNERS.

1. This was and is a great fact — our Lord received, and still receiveth sinners. A philosopher wrote over the door of his academy, "He that is not learned, let him not enter here"; but Jesus speaketh by Wisdom in the Proverbs, and says "Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, let him eat of My bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled" (Proverbs 9:4, 5). He receives sinners as His disciples, companions, friends. "This man receiveth sinners"; not, however, that they may remain sinners, but to pardon their sins, to justify their persons, to cleanse their hearts by the Holy Spirit.

2. I want your attention to another thought — namely, the consistency of this fact. It is a most consistent and proper thing that this man should receive sinners. If you and I reflect awhile we shall remember that the types which were set forth concerning Christ all seem to teach us that He must receive sinners. One of the earliest types of the Saviour was Noah's ark, by which a certain company not only of men but also of the lowest animals were preserved from perishing by water, and were floated out of the old world into the new. Moreover, the Master has been pleased to take to Himself one or two titles which imply that He came to receive sinners. He takes the title of Physician, but as He told these very Pharisees a little while before, "The whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick." There is no practice for the physician in a neighbourhood where every man is well.

3. Observe the condescension of this fact. This man, who towers above all other men, holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners — this man receiveth sinners.

4. Notice the certainty of this fact.

5. Do observe the unqualified sense in which the sentence is put, "This man receiveth sinners." But how? What sort of sinners? How are they to feel? How are they to come? Not a word is said about their coming, or their preparation, but simply, "This man receiveth sinners." One man came on his bed — indeed, he did not come, but was brought by other people; Jesus received him all the same for that.

II. Now, I wanted to have spoken upon the second head, but I have not had sufficient forethought to store up the time, so we must only say of that just this: that Jesus Christ having once received sinners, enters into the most familiar and endearing intercourse with them that is possible. HE FEASTS WITH THEM — their joys are His joys, their work for God is His work for God. He feasts with them at their table, and they with Him at His table; and He does this wherever the table is spread. It may be in a garret, or in a cellar; in a wilderness, or on a mountain; He still eateth with them. This He does now in the ordinances and means of grace by His Spirit; and this He will do in the fulness of glory, when He takes these sinners up to dwell with Him.

(C. H. Spurgeon.)

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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.