September 13 – This Man

“Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”” – Luke 15:2  (NASB)

This Man, who is no other than the eternal God, before whom angels veil their faces—this Man receives sinners. That any of us should be willing to seek after the lost is nothing wonderful—they are of our own race; but that he, the offended God, against whom the transgression has been committed, should take upon himself the form of a servant, and bear the sin of many, and should then be willing to receive the vilest of the vile, this is marvelous. “This Man receives sinners”; not, however, that they may remain sinners, but He receives them that He may pardon their sins, justify their persons, cleanse their hearts by His purifying word, preserve their souls by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and enable them to serve Him, to show forth His praise, and to have communion with Him. When Jesus receives sinners, He opens the gates of his royal heart, and receives the sinner right into himself—he makes him a member of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. This fact is still most sure this evening, he is still receiving sinners: would to God sinners would receive him.

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Our verse today and selected commentary is shared from C. H. Spurgeon. The adversary of Jesus Christ had in his camp an elite group of Jewish leaders who were always quick to criticize and condemn Jesus. But it never caught Him unawares or knocked Him off balance.  

C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: Daily Readings, (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896).