A
depiction of the oil painting on canvas by Gustave Dore (1832-1883),
The Pharisee And The Publican
Today,
reply is on why harlots and publicans were receptive to the ministry
of Jesus Christ. The multitude that came to Jesus for healing
included many whose faith derived from “the law and the prophets,”
and who acknowledged the workings of divine love and spirit, rather
than the strict practice of customs, rites, rituals, and traditions
by the Temple elders, Levites, Pharisees, and priests. The crowds
baptized by John the Baptist also had been instructed to expect that
one would be sent by GOD (Christ; the Messiah) whom they were to obey
pertaining to the soon-coming kingdom of GOD. Because the gospel
messages of acceptance by divinity, forgiveness, redemption, and new
life were being demonstrated as actual and present, those who would
be otherwise lost and impoverished began to believe they could be
released from defilement, and were eager to embrace the vision shared
by the Lord. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on
Religion and Spirituality, who uses the ID “Breakthrough” (Level
6 with 15,427 points, a member since June 29, 2013) posted the
following:
In
the bible, why were the big time sinners more receptive to Jesus than
those who had committed less sins?
THE
GOLDEN ARROW: And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner,
when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s
house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet
behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did
wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and
anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had
bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he
were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is
that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said
unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith,
Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors:
the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they
had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore,
which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose
that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast
rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon,
Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no
water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped
them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this
woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My
head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my
feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are
many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is
forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are
forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within
themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the
woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7: 37-50, King
James Version, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: Scripture Teachings On Repentance (10/16/2018);
Consequences and Divine Love (07/05/2018); Christ Rejected By
Pharisees? (06/17/2018); Conversation In The World (04/03/2018);
Porn, Prostitutes and Salvation? (06/08/2017); About The Great Whore?
(06/24/2016); Come As You Are? (06/29/2013); Freewill is Finite
(06/30/2013)
“Breakthrough”,
here are some points developing Christians are careful to consider
regarding the ministry of Jesus Christ to sinners (we also say, to
the mob; the multitudes; the crowds):
1.
The practice of prostitution was a transgression of covenant law (we
say, sin) wherein a person also denied family and marriage law, their
birthright and inheritance from those who entered the Promised Land,
and their sacred relationship with divinity. Harlots (also called
prostitutes, strange women, and whores in Scripture) appear as
representatives and symbols of cities, towns, and nations married to
GOD, that commit adultery, betrayal, and idolatry by exalting and
worshiping false gods and man-made images.
2.
The publicans described in the Scriptures include those we now call
celebrities, entertainers, professional gamblers, gladiators,
government officials, politicians, socialites, “stars”, and tax
collectors. Like the prostitutes, publicans as a class were those
who carefully examine the behavior, character, and conduct of others
in order to manipulate them, and have advantage. Like Jesus, these
“knew what was in man,” and developed skill for mastery in
exchange and interaction.
3.
Jews who adopted the fashions of the Greeks (we say, Hellenization),
those who integrated and intermarried during captivity and exile, and
those valuing Roman citizenship were often condemned as publicans,
and despised as traitors, turncoats and those who no longer had a
share in the privileges of covenant inheritance.
4.
Repentance for sin appears through operations of the Holy Spirit and
often begins on the basis of unfulfilled desire for life change,
rejecting secular relationships, and operations of the flesh that
include conscience and remorse as well as sorrowing for sin.
Consider
also the following that uses language from the Bible:
(1.)
Ezekiel 33: 10-12, King James Version (KJV): 10 Therefore, O thou
son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If
our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them,
how should we then live? 11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord
GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the
wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye,
turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people,
The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day
of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall
not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness;
neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in
the day that he sinneth.
(2.)
Ezekiel 16: 35-39, KJV: 35 Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of
the LORD: 36 Thus saith the Lord GOD;
Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered
through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy
abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give
unto them; 37 Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with
whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved,
with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them round
about against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them, that
they may see all thy nakedness. 38 And I will judge thee, as women
that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee
blood in fury and jealousy. 39 And I will also give thee into their
hand, and they shall throw down thine eminent place, and shall break
down thy high places: they shall strip thee also of thy clothes, and
shall take thy fair jewels, and leave thee naked and bare.
(3.)
Ezekiel 16: 48-52, KJV: 48 As I live, saith the Lord GOD,
Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast
done, thou and thy daughters. 49 Behold, this was the iniquity of
thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness
was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand
of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty, and committed
abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. 51
Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast
multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy
sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done. 52 Thou
also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy
sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are
more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy
shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.
There
is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually
apprehended. (For example, (4.) Matthew 21: 28-32, KJV: 28 But
what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first,
and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29 He answered and
said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30 And he
came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I
go, sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his
father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I
say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom
of God before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of
righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the
harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not
afterward, that ye might believe him.) Even so, I trust this
fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE
BLACK PHOENIX
Washington,
DC
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