“And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them,” Luke 15:2.

The words of the Pharisees and Scribes are proof positive of the depravity of man’s heart and the great gulf between him and a Holy God. “This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them,” v 2. They saw great wrong in this!

The purpose of Christ’s coming was to “seek and to save that which was lost,” Luke 19:10. Paul the apostle sets it forth in 1 Timothy 1:15.  “This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 

That which was an act of sovereign mercy is here viewed as a vice. How different are the thoughts of God from those of sinful man!

Whatever the Pharisees and Scribes thought of the Saviour it is clear that there were sinners who felt drawn to Him. Indeed it says, “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.” 

The Lord Jesus was happy to have as His congregation, those spurned and despised by the religious leaders of His day. Sinners are drawn to Christ in a day of His visitation. Here is what revival is! 

We in the Free Presbyterian Church enjoyed, in a wonderful measure, just such a moving by the Lord in the late 1960s and early 1970s. There is a lesson here for preachers — set forth Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit and sinners will be drawn under such preaching.