‘Jesus was a Friend of publicans and sinners’ is often used by believers, to compromise and make friends with the world, tolerate and approve sin, leave the commandments of the Word and live according to their own will, just like the world. As soon as you confront someone with certain behavior, sin and/or friendship with the world, you often hear: “But Jesus was a friend of publicans, prostitutes, and sinners and had relationships with them, and if He had relationships with them, we may also have relationships with them and accept them for who they are and respect them and not judge them.” But is this the truth? Was Jesus a Friend of publicans, prostitutes, and sinners? Did Jesus have relationships with them?
John the baptist preached the baptism of repentance
for the remission of sin
Before Jesus came on stage, John the baptist was on stage. John the baptist was the forerunner of Jesus and prepared the way for the coming of Jesus. John preached in the wilderness of Judea and said: “Repent (having a change of mind which issues in regret and a change of conduct) because the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” John preached with such a formality, gravity and authority, which must be heeded and obeyed.
Jerusalem, all Judea and all the region round about Jordan went to him and were baptized by him in the river the Jordan while making a public confession of their sins (Mat 3:1-6).
John wasn’t afraid and intimidated by the Pharisees and Sadducees when they came to his baptism. Instead, John confronted them with their conduct. He called them a generation of vipers and called them to repentance so that they would bear fruit, which would meet the repentance. But they rejected the counsel of God, by not being baptized.
John preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins and baptized them, who would give heed to his call (Mat 3:1-12, Lu 3:9)
Among those, who gave heed to his call and were baptized were also publicans. They came to John and repented when they heard his message and his call to repentance for the remission of sins and were baptized. The publicans asked John, what they had to and John answered them, that they should ask (exact) no more than that, which was appointed to them (Lu 3:12-13, Lu 7:29-30).
These publicans repented of their sins and were baptized. Although they were still publicans, they didn’t belong to the unrepented publicans, who were lovers of money, covetous, liars, cheaters and swindled people and continued their evil works, which were against the will of God.
Jesus called the lost of God’s people to repentance
Jesus came to the earth, while the old covenant was still in existence. Jesus didn’t come in the first place for the Gentiles, but for the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Mat 15:24). Jesus came for those, who belonged by natural birth and the carnal circumcision to God’s people. The publicans, prostitutes, and sinners, who are mentioned in the Bible, belonged to God’s people.
Although they had the status of gentiles, they were not gentiles. They were deviated from the way of the Lord and entered a way, which was not according to the will of God. They did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and therefore they lived in sin. They belonged to the poor and the lost of the house of Israel.
The coming of Jesus didn’t change anything about the message of God, which was preached by all the prophets and John the baptist. Jesus preached the same message and also called the people, who belonged to the house of Israel, to repentance for the remission of sins.
Jesus didn’t go and fellowship with the Gentiles, but He went to the people of God and preached among them the gospel to the poor; He healed the brokenhearted, preached deliverance to the captives, and recovered the sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, and He preached the acceptable year of the Lord (Lu 4:18-19)
Jesus didn’t approve sin but called to repentance
Jesus didn’t tolerate and approve sin and didn’t fellowship with publicans and sinners, who belonged to God’s people, but persevered in sin. He didn’t fellowship with the Gentiles either, as so many people assume and say. Because although Jesus died for the generation of fallen man, the mercy and grace of God came to the Gentiles after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and after the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10).
Jesus didn’t fellowship with the publicans and sinners, who belonged to the house of Israel, out of selfish reasons, with the purpose to enter into relationships with them and become a partaker of their works and adjust the laws and values of the Kingdom of God to their desires and will.
Jesus didn’t adjust His message to what they wanted to hear, but Jesus confronted those, who belonged to God’s people with their sins and iniquities and called them to repentance and commanded them a.o. to sin no more (i.e. Jn 5:14, Jn 8:11)
The works of the (unrepented) publicans were evil and not good. Jesus confirmed that their behavior and works were not good in the following Scriptures:
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican (Mat 18:15-17)
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (Mat 5:44-48)
Jesus is not a Humanist
Jesus didn’t allow and approve sin. Not even the evil works of the (unrepented) publicans. Jesus wasn’t a Humanist, who tolerated, approved and justified everything, including sin. Those, who say this, don’t know the Word but have created their own Jesus in their carnal mind, who looks exactly like themselves.
Jesus didn’t approve the works of the publicans. He didn’t justify their evil works and didn’t have communion and fellowship with those, who were not willing to repent and persevered in their sins.
Because sin causes separation between God and man. When Jesus took all the sin of humanity upon Himself, the Father left Him and He was separated from His Father.
Sin caused separation, and sin still causes separation, despite the coming of Jesus Christ and His work of redemption.
The work of redemption doesn’t involve accepting sin and unrighteousness. But the work of redemption contains the redemption of the old carnal man, by laying down the flesh; dying of the flesh, so that the new man be raised from the dead.
Jesus is the Light of the world
Jesus is the Light of the world. When He walked on this earth, He testified that the works of the world are evil (Jn 7:7). Jesus confronted the people of Israel, who walked in darkness with their sins and called them to repentance. Jesus didn’t close His eyes and didn’t say: “You are doing a good job, continue the way you live” or “You are circumcised and therefore you are saved, despite the works you do.” No, Jesus called those, who persevered in sin, to repentance and putting away their sins. Jesus said: “go and sin no more”.
Therefore, in the old covenant, the carnal man already had the ability to sin no more. They could do something about it, namely to resist sin and sin no more. But it was their choice. And their choice depended upon the first commandment, namely if they loved God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength (Deu 10:12, Mar 12:30).
Because if you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, you will not persevere in sin, but you will hate sin, just like God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and repent and remove the sins out of your life.
When Jesus came and lived among the people, the light shown in the darkness. The people, who belonged to Gods people, were confronted with their dark and defiled state and their evil works of unrighteousness. Because of the fact, that Jesus testified about their evil works and brought their works of darkness into the light, many hated Jesus. But not everyone, because there were also many people, who repented (Jn 7:7, Jn 15:18)
This also happened among the publicans, prostitutes and other sinners, who belonged to the house of Israel. When they met Jesus, who represented God and His Kingdom, they were confronted with their evil works and repented from their evil works and their sins on the basis of the words of Jesus and followed Jesus.
They were no longer sinners, who belonged to God’s people. But they had repented and were saved by their repentance and the removing of their sins.
The call of Matthew
And as He passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow Me. And he arose and followed Him. And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and His disciples: for there were many, and they followed Him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto His disciples, How is it that He eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, He saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Mar 2:14-17)
And after these things He went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and He said unto him, Follow Me. And he left all, rose up, and followed Him. And Levi made Him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Lu 5:27-32)
And He went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto Him, and He taught them. And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto Him, Follow Me. And he arose and followed Him. And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and His disciples: for there were many, and they followed Him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that He eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, He saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Mar 2:13-17)
In these scriptures, we read about the call of Matthew (also called Levi). Matthew was a publican; a tax-collector, but when Jesus came and he heard His words, Matthew obeyed His words and immediately left everything behind and followed Jesus. Matthew was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.
When Jesus and His other disciples entered Matthew’s home and lay at the table with other tax-collectors and sinners, the scribes approached His disciples and asked Him, why their Master (Jesus) lay with tax-collectors and sinners. Jesus heard their question and answered them, that He didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Therefore, Jesus didn’t compromise with the tax-collectors and sinners, He didn’t approve their works, but Jesus called them to repentance.
The repentance of Zacchaeus, the chief publican
And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost (Lu 19:1-10)
While Zacchaeus was sitting in a sycomore tree, Jesus called Zacchaeus. Immediately, Zacchaeus gave heed to His call and did what Jesus commanded him. He climbed out of the tree and received Jesus in his home joyfully. When the people saw this, they all began to murmur. Because how could Jesus be a guest and enter the home of a sinner? Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, that he would give half of his goods to the poor. But that was not all! He also promised, that if he had taken any thing from any man by false accusation, that he would restore him fourfold. Jesus saw his sincerity and repentance, and therefore salvation came to his house.
Jesus said again, that He came to save the lost. He knew the sheep, who belonged to the house of Israel and Zacchaeus was a lost sheep, who Jesus had found and brought back to the flock (Lu 15:1-10)
The Pharisees and Sadducees
The majority of the Pharisees and Sadducees looked pious, god-fearing man, but in reality, they were puffed up and full of pride. Although they had an extensive knowledge of the written Word of God, they didn’t know God and didn’t recognize Jesus, the Son of God. They didn’t know the will and the heart of God, and were not familiar with His ways. Therefore, they didn’t have a heart of compassion for the lost of God’s people.
They didn’t confront them with their sins and didn’t call them to repentance out of God’s love. No, they were sons of the devil and walked after his will in darkness, and therefore they let them go and allowed them to keep living in sin. While in the meantime, they judged them for the same evil works of unrighteousness, which they also did in secret, when nobody was watching.
Sense ruled
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners (Mat 11:18)
Then drew near unto Him all the publicans and sinners for to hear Him. And the Pharisees and Scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners, and eats with them (Lu 15:1-2)
The Pharisees and Sadducees saw Jesus as someone, who received sinners and ate with publicans and sinners. They called Jesus a Friend of publicans and sinners. They were carnal and led by their senses. They didn’t know the heart of the publicans and sinners, but judged according to what they saw. They didn’t see publicans and sinners, who repented and had become righteous, but they considered them as publicans and sinners, who were still doing evil works. That’s why, they accused Jesus of being a Friend of publicans and sinners.
Sin revealed
In the first dispensation, God revealed sin to the carnal man by the law, which represented the will of God. In the second dispensation, Jesus revealed sin to the carnal man by His presence and His words, which are in line with the law and the will of God. Jesus didn’t come to destroy the law and get rid of it, but to fulfill the law. Jesus even adjusted some commandments of the law and made it harder, and added commandments. In the third dispensation, where we live in, the Holy Spirit reveals the sin of the world and testifies of Jesus the Christ. During these three dispensations, the will of God has not changed but has remain the same.
Although by the work of Jesus Christ the old covenant is replaced by a new covenant and the position of fallen man has been restored in Christ, by becoming a new creation; a new man in Christ, God’s will is still the same.
Jesus represented and testified about the will of God and called the people to repentance. The Holy Spirit, who lives in the new creations, still represents and testifies about the will of God and confronts people with their sins and calls them to repentance.
Was Jesus a Friend of publicans?
Jesus didn’t call Himself a Friend of publicans, but the Pharisees and Sadducees called Jesus a Friend of publicans, just like they said about John, that he had and evil spirit. Which was not true, but a lie. They based, that Jesus was a Friend of sinners, on the fact that they saw Jesus fellowship with publicans. But Jesus didn’t hang out and fellowshipped with them for selfish reasons, to enter into friendships and become a partaker of their evil works or to justify their works. But Jesus called them to repentance and hang out with former publicans and former sinners, who repented and removed their sins.
Jesus has never commanded His followers to compromise with the world, fellowship with unbelievers and building bridges with the world, and be united with the world.
As soon as someone approaches you regarding friendship with the world and the approval of sin and uses the pious lie, that Jesus was a friend of publicans and sinners. You can destroy this lie, by telling them the truth of the Word, which is that Jesus indeed fellowshipped with publicans. But first of all, they belonged by natural birth to God’s people and secondly, they had repented and had removed their sins. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance and not to be a partaker of their evil works and approve and justify their evil works. Jesus was not a Promoter of sin, but of righteousness.
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause (Jn 15:18-25)
The world hates Jesus, because He testified of their evil works. Everyone, who belongs to Jesus and is born of God, will be hated by the world. Because the world only loves those, who belong to the world and do her works. But if you don’t belong to the world anymore, and not be a partaker of her works, you shall be hated by the world. That’s because the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, Who testifies about her evil works.
Jesus has commanded us to live a holy life after God’s will (which is also the will of Jesus) and represent, preach and bring the Kingdom of God on this earth. That also includes the preaching and the call of repentance and the putting away of sins, so that the lost will be saved.
Jesus didn’t say to have fellowship with the world (sinners), be a partaker of their works and live the way the world lives. But Jesus said to go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature, call them to repentance and teach them all things that Jesus has taught (Mar 16:15)
But as long as believers believe the lie, that it doesn’t matter how you live and are allowed to keep living in sin and therefore they don’t remove the sins out of their lives, how can they preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and call sinners to repentance and the removing of sins? How can they expect from others, what they don’t do themselves? That’s why the preaching of repentance and the removing of sins are hardly preached anymore.
Believers are more focused upon gaining as much knowledge as possible, supernatural experiences, walking in the supernatural, prophecies, visions, signs and wonders and rather preach or hear prosperity, gaining wealth and become successful in this world. But with these sermons, you won’t enter the gates of heaven, because without sanctification no one will see the Lord. That’s why it’s time to reveal all those pious lies, which are wrapped in half-truths, with the truth of the Word and remove them and preach the Word of God, so that many souls will be saved from destruction.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
