Jesus Welcomes Outsiders

Welcome back to Day 2 of our devotional journey! How’s it going so far? Any fresh thoughts from yesterday’s stories? If you’re doing this plan in person with someone, share your thoughts together, or take a moment to jot down questions or reflections before diving into today’s story.

Remember, here’s how you can structure your time doing the plan together:

1. Read: Take turns reading the passages with a friend or on your own.
2. Retell: Summarise the story in your own words, recalling the details.
3. Reflect: Share what stood out to you. What insights do these stories offer about Jesus and the people involved?
4. Relate: Discuss how these stories might connect to your life or challenge your perceptions. Use the Reflection Questions to prompt your discussion

Today, we find Jesus sharing a meal, one of His favorite ways to connect with people. In His time, meals symbolized belonging and equality. This particular meal, however, caused outrage among the Pharisees, the religious leaders who controlled Jewish worship practices. Why? Because Jesus was dining with tax collectors and sinners—people society deemed unworthy.

Tax collectors like Matthew were despised for exploiting their own people to profit under Roman rule. They were viewed as traitors and were ostracized socially and spiritually. For a Rabbi to dine with such people would have been considered deeply offensive and unclean. Yet, Jesus not only calls Matthew to follow Him but also sits down to share a meal in Matthew’s home with others labeled as “lawbreakers.” To the Pharisees, this act was scandalous. But for Jesus, it was a radical declaration of inclusion and friendship.

By dining with outcasts, Jesus broke through cultural and religious boundaries. This wasn’t just about food—it was about restoring dignity to the marginalized and extending God’s love to those society had written off. He was saying, “You belong. You are welcome at my table.” Imagine how impactful this must have been for people who had spent their lives shunned and rejected.

The Pharisees couldn’t understand this, and Jesus addressed their criticism with these words:

“Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do,”

“I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices,”

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

Jesus challenged their obsession with outward appearances and rigid rules, emphasizing instead God’s mercy and compassion for all people. His actions and words show us that true connection with God isn’t about religious status or social acceptance, but about the willingness to embrace the outcasts and offer them the love and grace they need.

Reflection Questions

1. How do you feel about the way Jesus interacts with outcasts?
2. What do Jesus’ words to the Pharisees reveal about His mission and priorities?
3. Do you see any connection between this story and your own life?

Take some time to discuss or think about these questions. Jesus’ radical inclusivity offers us much to reflect on—not just about Him, but about how we view and treat others. See you tomorrow for Day 3!