How Does God See Sinners?
Adapted from a sermon by Fr Elijah Iskander
Many times when I find myself drowning in sin. A common thought that may cross my mind is that God is looking down in disappointment. Sometimes I think that God is ashamed of me. I think that He is disappointed in me. I think that He will turn His face away from me.
We see a different reaction when we are introduced to Matthew the tax collector in the Gospel of Luke. When the Lord meets Matthew, we see a glimpse of how He sees the sinner and in particular, the repentant sinner.
Ultimately, this story is what led to Matthew’s discipleship. The people of the time would have some thoughts about Matthew. As a tax collector, this came with the stereotype of being greedy and selfish.
The role of the tax collector was to take taxes on behalf of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire may require $10 for example, but the tax collector would take $15 and give themselves a profit of $5. This is where the characteristics of greed and dishonesty came to resemble the tax collector.
Even worse, they were seen as traitors for they were originally from the Jewish nation and the people they were taking taxes were their own people. The Jewish nation is already upset that they are under the bondage of the Roman Empire. Now, the Roman Empire imposes taxes by hiring one of the Jews’ own people to defraud and betray their people for the sake of money. They were profiting from the oppression of their own people.
If you were to think about the image of the tax collector, the people would immediately label Matthew, and others, as greedy, as evil and as worthy of criticism.
Our Lord has a different perspective when He looked at Matthew. He says to him, “follow Me.” When the whole world saw evil, the Lord saw the potential for good. We see a magnificent reaction. Matthew immediately prepares a banquet for the Lord, an act of generosity and hospitality.
When the world sees no possibility of good, the Lord sees goodness. With one simple invitation to follow Him, Matthew immediately rose up. The Lord looks at me in the exact same way. I may be drowning in my sins. Others may look at me and think that I am beyond help, but the Lord can see beyond this. He sees my potential for good. He can see the good within me.
Saul was also another character that would’ve been viewed similarly. The Lord saw good in Saul and he become St Paul. Jesus saw good in the Samaritan woman and she became an evangelist. Jesus saw good in the right hand thief and he became the first to enter heaven.
When we are sinful, and come to the Lord in repentance, never should we think that He looks at us in disappointment, shame or anger. The Lord looks at you and I in our repentance and sees goodness. It may be disguised or deeply hidden, but it is there.
The people may have also looked at Matthew and seen a terrible person with a punishment awaiting him. He was benefiting from the oppression of the people. He was dishonest, but his time will come when he pays the price. The Lord does not respond in punishment to the repentant sinner. The Lord is a Physician; He heals the soul. Notice, He doesn’t excuse Matthew’s behaviour. It is what it is, but the Lord is there to heal.
Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.
Matthew 5:31
We all have spiritual illnesses. Everyone else may look at our anger, or our selfishness, and think that our time for punishment is coming. The Lord looks at our ailments and says, “I am here to heal.”
The people criticised Matthew but the Lord defended him. When I see someone close to me make a mistake, I may be inclined to criticise them…
What were they thinking? I would never do that!
This is exactly what the Pharisees did – “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” (Luke 5:30). The Lord answers in defence of the repentant sinner, for He was there for healing.
Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Luke 5:31
The Pharisees attacked Him again for not keeping the period of fasting and the Lord again defends those who were with Him.
Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.
Luke 5:34-35
When the world looks at someone worthy of criticism, the Lord looks at somebody in need of defence. Imagine if you have the Lord Himself defending you! Too often, we place too much reliance on worldly connections. I rely on my boss, or even in church, I look to head servants or the priests. Where will this lead you?
It is better to have the Lord as my defence. How do I achieve the defence of the Lord? A truly repentance heart, a heart that is ready to respond to the Lord’s call. A heart that knows it is sick and in need of the Physician. A heart that does not criticise others, for the Lord defends me when others criticise me.
Let us pray that Lord looks at us the way He looked at Matthew. Let us pray that He sees our potential, beyond our sins. Looks past my greediness and sees my ability to give and hold a banquet for His people. Looks past my sickness and extends His healing hand, for He is the good Physicians. Looks past my actions worthy of criticism and defends me. We hope to please God and not men.
Glory be to His Name forever, Amen.