Beloved Names of God ....series "Friends of Sinners"

 

Friend of Sinners

 

"Behold...a friend of publicans and sinners."

Matthew 11:19 KJV

 

• Name of God the Son
• Jesus is referred to as a "friend of sinners" twice in the KJV.
• Jesus associated with tax collectors and prostitutes whom polite Jewish society shunned.
• In Matthew 11:19, Jesus was pointing out that just as John the Baptist was not fully appreciated because of his unusual lifestyle, neither was He fully appreciated because of the imperfect nature of the people He associated with.

 

Jesus contrasted His lifestyle with John the Baptist's and ended by saying, "But wisdom is justified of her children" (Matthew 11:19 KJV).

 

John and Jesus were the children of wisdom. Their styles didn't matter, their works were the important thing. In John's case, it was to prepare the way. In Jesus' case, it was to come from God straight to those in the greatest need: the publicans and sinners.

 

Jesus was prepared to put up with scorn, ridicule, and death to be a Friend of Sinners. Let us be "children of wisdom" as well and be wise enough to say, "Lord, I am a sinner. Be my friend."

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Next week we will look at "God of All Comfort" See you then :O)