THE SIN-SICK PEOPLE OF THE WORLD NEED THE WORD OF GOD

Proclamation:

“Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’”  Luke 5:31-32 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.  In this chapter he begins by presenting the events around the calling of the first disciples of Jesus, The Christ.  After He had finished teaching the people while sitting in Simon Peter’s boat at the edge of the lake, He told him to push out into the deep water and cast his nets.  Although he was reluctant, Simon Peter did as he was instructed and caught such a large load of fish that his nets broke and he had to get help from his partners. (Luke 5:1-7)  Seeing this, he worshiped Jesus, who told him that He would make him fishers of men. (Luke 5:8-11)  After this Jesus healed a man with leprosy (Luke 5:12-14) and a paralyzed man (Luke 5:17-25) before He saw Levi, the tax collector, and told him, “Follow me.” (Luke 5:27-28)  It was at a banquet at Levi’s house that the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to question Jesus about the company that He was keeping.  Jesus defended Himself and His disciples and told them that the sick people need a doctor, not the healthy. (Luke 5:29-39)

Application:

Jesus, The Christ, spent time with outcasts and sinners because they were the people who needed to be saved.  He changed them, they did not change Him.  If we are going to spend time with the unsaved people of this world, then we need to be strong enough in The Lord and The Word of God that we can help them out and not get pulled down into their sins.  If our purpose is not to take The Word of God to them, then we do not need to be where they are.  However, if the sinners are in our homes or our place of employment, then we need to stay “prayed up” and walk and talk in such a way that they can see The Christ in us.  Remember, only those who recognize that they have a problem will seek assistance.