THERE are only two classes of men,—those who draw near and hear Christ, and those who hold aloof. “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him." Unsaved reader, have you ever done so? You have heard what others have said about Him, who, it may be, knew Him not. You may listen to your own heart, which totally misrepresents Him; but have you drawn near unto Him to hear Him? Remember that “the hour now is when the dead (souls) shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear live." It is He who speaks in this wonderful chapter. Then draw near unto Him now to hear “This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them." Did He deny the charge? No, He admitted it fully—it was His glory to receive them. In doing so the glory of His divine origin shone out. "He could not be hid." He was in the midst of sinners. How would He treat them?
He would receive them. How could the Son of such a Father do otherwise?—the Father whose portrait He draws in the third section of this parable. Will He refuse you? Have you ever drawn near to Him to ascertain?
“I am too bad," you say. What, too bad to be a sinner? Are you sure you are not too good? You may be too good, but you cannot be too bad.
Thank God for that. That robe, that best robe, has covered the chief of sinners, the thief on the cross, a Mary Magdalene, a woman in the city, which was a sinner. That Shepherd sought them, that “woman" (figure of the Holy Ghost) found them, that Father receiveth them, and art thou, too vile?
You wrong the blessed Three.
Oh, but He was on earth amongst sinners then, and He is in heaven separate from sinners now,” do you say?
But is He changed? Has He ceased to own a Savior’s heart, or to do a Savior’s part? Nay, nay, you wrong Him, The very last words He spake to us from heaven He spake in the character of "Jesus," the name He received because “he shall save his people from their sins." And what did He say? "Let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:16, 1716I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 17And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:16‑17)). He wills—will you?
And why is He in heaven? As the evidence of His finished work accepted. For whom? For SINNERS. But more, He EATETH WITH THEM" (v. 2), that is, holds communion with them—with sinners saved by grace. Who shall express the grace of this?
That He, the Lord of glory, should partake with such,—should bring them to participate in His joys. As we read, " Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me "(Rev. 3:2020Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)). That is, that to “any man " amongst self-satisfied, religious professors, who say, " I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing," but whom He sees wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked (Rev. 3:1717Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (Revelation 3:17)); to any who will hear and open, He will come in. And people do not knock on the inside of a door. He is outside.
And art thou of those who are keeping the door of their heart barred against the Savior, and He seeking admission? Beware that He rise not up and close His door against all thy importunity (see Luke 13:24-3024Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 28There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 30And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. (Luke 13:24‑30)).
On one occasion it was said that He was gone to be the guest of a sinner. And on another—" How is it that he eateth and drinketh with sinners?”
But the Savior answered, “I came to call sinners to repentance." Oh the condescension of grace! How blessedly the Lord “condescended to men of low estate." Well may we sing—
“But, ah! the Master is so fair,
His smile so sweet to banished men,
That those who meet it unaware
Can never rest on earth again.”
W. G. B.