Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 2:15

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 2:15
"And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him."

I hadn't noticed the part of "they followed him". So that means the publicans and sinners in order to follow Christ would have repented. Would the Pharisees feel people could never repent and turn from their past sins?

"In the ancient Near East, sharing a meal with others meant much more than simply eating and drinking together. It was a sign of fellowship; it indicated that a bond of friendship and peace existed or was at least being offered. The Savior often used the occasion of sharing a meal to extend the invitation to repent and obtain forgiveness. On a number of these occasions, pious Jews criticized Jesus for dining in fellowship with people they regarded as sinners.
Those regarded by the pious Jews as “sinners” could have included not only people guilty of breaking commandments but also people who did not live in accordance with the Pharisees’ traditions—people whose daily work was considered unholy (like publicans) and people who were not Israelites (like Samaritans and Gentiles; see Acts 10:28)."
(New Testament Student Manual, "Chapter 11: Mark 1-4")

Day 4083

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 3:12-13

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 3:12-13

"Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you."

There was something missing and the Joseph Smith Translation had it.

"For it is well known unto you, Theophilus, that after the manner of the Jews and according to the custom of their law in receiving money into the treasury, that out of the abundance which was received was appointed unto the poor, every man his portion;

And after this manner did the publicans also, wherefore, John said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you."

(JST Luke 3:19-20)

John had told them earlier "Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance.." (vs. 8). John could preach repentance and baptize them but the change had to come from within. John exposed where they erred and what sin could still overcome them. He gave the counsel that may have been hard to hear. It is interesting that publicans collected the tax under the Roman government. For this the Jews detested them and they were excommunicated. They also showed themselves ready to receive the gospel, ready to change. Matthew was one of them.

"Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him."

(Luke 15:1)

"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.

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."

(Matthew 21:31-32)

Day 3135