JESUS CAME NOT TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT SINNERS
There are two types of people: those who divide people into two types, and those who don't.
That is an absurd statement designed to show the absurdity of oversimplifying people. Nobody I have ever met is always bad all the time. Nor have I met anyone who was always good all the time. There are shades of grey in everyone's attitudes and actions. Some people would be mean and selfish in my opinion, while others are kind and generous. But those evaluations are only my opinion.
What does God see? He has given us the ten commandments and other statements of his expectations for people. He summarizes the law by saying, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself." And when he measures us against his perfect law and his righteousness, he says, "There is no one righteous, no, not one." He doesn't compare us to any other person, just himself. We stand or fall by our own merits. And sadly, we all have failed the test. Even if I could hold myself to a minimum of sins, or even just sin one time, I would be condemned by my own fault. But it's impossible to minimize my sin. I am completely sinful, unclean.
Jesus was not denying that fundamental teaching of Scripture (Total depravity, original sin) when he said (Matthew 9:13) "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." He was proposing a theoretical scenario. If someone were righteous, he would have no need for repentance, no need for forgiveness, no need for Jesus. Sinners need such things.
Some people think they are righteous. They make their sins sound really small; they make their charity sound really large. But are they really righteous? Sadly, the answer is "No!" Because they think they are, though, they think they have no need for forgiveness or for Jesus. Through their pride, they do not accept the work of their Savior.
If you have been led to a point where you saw that you were sinful, the Holy Spirit called you to be Jesus' disciple through His Word and sacraments, and you now know your Savior, then don't be proud. Thank him for undeserved mercy. Be humble.
What does God see? He has given us the ten commandments and other statements of his expectations for people. He summarizes the law by saying, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself." And when he measures us against his perfect law and his righteousness, he says, "There is no one righteous, no, not one." He doesn't compare us to any other person, just himself. We stand or fall by our own merits. And sadly, we all have failed the test. Even if I could hold myself to a minimum of sins, or even just sin one time, I would be condemned by my own fault. But it's impossible to minimize my sin. I am completely sinful, unclean.
Jesus was not denying that fundamental teaching of Scripture (Total depravity, original sin) when he said (Matthew 9:13) "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." He was proposing a theoretical scenario. If someone were righteous, he would have no need for repentance, no need for forgiveness, no need for Jesus. Sinners need such things.
Some people think they are righteous. They make their sins sound really small; they make their charity sound really large. But are they really righteous? Sadly, the answer is "No!" Because they think they are, though, they think they have no need for forgiveness or for Jesus. Through their pride, they do not accept the work of their Savior.
If you have been led to a point where you saw that you were sinful, the Holy Spirit called you to be Jesus' disciple through His Word and sacraments, and you now know your Savior, then don't be proud. Thank him for undeserved mercy. Be humble.
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