Mark 2:13-14  Jesus went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them.  As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.  And as he sat at dinner in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him.  When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Tax collectors were considered among the lowest of the low in society.  These were Jewish citizens who worked for the Roman government, and often overcharged their fellow citizens, in order to make money for themselves.

The Pharisees saw the tax collectors as people beyond salvage, and could not understand why Jesus would want to spend time with them.

Are there people you are ready to write off?  People you think are beyond help; people that epitomize for you everything that is wrong with society today?

Matthew was a tax collector, until Jesus came and said to him, “Follow me.”

Jesus Christ, friend of sinners, help me to remember that You died for everyone.  All are included in Your death so that all could be included in Your life.  A resurrection life that is far better than people can live on their own.  I can’t evaluate other people, not by what they have or how they look, because what is important is what on the inside.  And anyone united with You is a new creation.  The old life is gone.  Move me to tell everyone what you are doing, as Your representative in the world.  Amen.  (Based on 2 Corinthians 5:14-20, MSG)