Dinners...

Have you ever eaten with someone you’d rather not be eating with?

They might chew with their mouth open...smack lips as they chew...talk with mouth full...have food on their face...etc...

OR

Linen table cloth...plate on a charger...2” from table edge...equidistant...folded linen napkin in the plate center...3 forks on the left (fish...dinner...salad)...2 knives...spoon...blades facing certain way...They bring something you’re not even sure what it is - not sure what to eat with...

Have you ever had someone ask “Mind if I JOIN ya?” and your answer was yes in your head - but you said no...

Jesus ran into the SAME thing...having to eat with some people - he would rather not have eaten with...

In Luke, Jesus ends up at 2 very different tables...

1 - With People that JUST Don’t KNOW HOW to ACT...

The Other - With the People that have all the Right Silverware...Servers...

The dinner wasn't the big deal - Spiritually is where their Greatest Difference was FOUND

1st Table - SINNERS...

2nd - RELIGIOUS...

1st Table - The SINNERS Table 

Religious (Are not at the Table - but) Can’t Believe that JESUS would do such a thing...

DISTURBED = Good Word to Describe their Reaction...

2nd Table - The RELIGIOUS’S Table

Sinners are NOT Welcome

A Sinner Joins - 

DISTURBED = Good Word to Describe their Reaction...

Messes it all up - in the religious’ opinion...

So 

We have 2 

Very Different Table Settings

Very Different TABLE GUESTS 

Very Different Outcomes

Jesus takes them BOTH as TEACHING MOMENTS

READ 

Luke 5:27 - 32

"Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"...Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick...

32   

"I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

Jesus - Eating WITH Sinners...

SINNERS

Yuk!

Nasty Word - STING to it...

SINNER...

Sinners =

Those devoted to sin...A Sinner...

Not free from Sin...

Preeminently Sinful...Especially wicked...

STAINED - with certain vices...

See their problem?

Jesus eating with STAINED People...

Obviously Marred by their Lifestyle...

WHY?

The healthy don’t need the doctor - it’s the sick that need him...

Matt. 9 (Same story)

Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

SICK - Miserable...

Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.

Then read Luke 7:36 - 39

.37 - BEHOLD

A Sinner (268)...

...this man - if he were a prophet - would know WHO & WHAT Type of person she is...For she is a SINNER (268)...

Stained person...

Marred...Still not yet free...

.47

Her SINS - which are many - are forgiven...

.48

Your sins are forgiven...(50) Your faith has saved you - go in peace...

Luke 14

Then He also said to him who invited Him, "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid.  "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.  You will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."