Jesus Calls Sinners to Repentance

If you were going to start a church, whom would you pick for your core group? Jesus chooses some of the most unlikely people, including Levi the tax collector who was despised by his countrymen as a thieving collaborator with the occupying Roman enemy. When Jesus dines with Levi and his friends who are also sinners, the Pharisees are upset. Jesus responds with one of the great statements in all of Scripture:

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

What a privilege it is to be a sinner who has been called by Jesus!