When looking at the story of “The Prodigal” it is easy to see that Jesus believes that sinners matter.

Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2 NIV

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10 NIV

All throughout the accounts of Jesus in the New Testament he was hanging out with the sinners of his day because they mattered to him and they still do today. It’s not that he thought sinners were “cool or hip”, but they needed what he had to offer. Believers must be in contact with unbelievers as we engage them in our culture, not for the fact that we want to be edgy or cool, but because we want to be salt and light. Some Christians actually are involved in lifestyles that are sinful in the hopes of reaching the sinner. Play with fire and you will get burned!

I grew up believing that I needed to stay away from sinners because they would corrupt me and lead me astray. It was kind of the attitude that I wasn’t to touch any unclean thing. This teaching was not from my parents, but from the church. Unfortunately that can lead to the temptation of checking out what is supposed to be bad and that is exactly what I did. Today we must be bold and brave enough to love the people Jesus loved to hang with, but be strong in our faith and testimony.

Do you think that Jesus would have gone through what he did if he didn’t think that there is value in those who are far from him?

Jesus believes that Sinners are misunderstood. When we think of the sinner, we instantly think “not me!” It’s always the bad guy. Who is a sinner? Those who do their own thing, leaving God out of their lives. That includes those of us in the family of faith. We sin also! Quit acting like you don’t or even worse, smugly believe that I all I have to do is pray and it’s taken care of. Christ died for our sins and Romans 6 commands and instructs us not to sin. Praise God for 1 John 1:9.

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:15-17 NIV

The oldest brother misunderstood the whole situation. Look at verses 28-32. We can be like this older son and turn our nose up to those who are “below” us. Many times we are too worried about ourselves and miss out on the joy of a sinners return.

Jesus believes sinners need forgiveness

We can be assured that God approaches sinners who turn to him with open arms, not His back turned.
God goes on the active search for sinners. Verse 20 and verse 24. This boy doesn’t even get the whole story out of his mouth and his father is offering forgiveness. He had rehearsed his speech over and over and when the time came, his father cut him off. His father had already forgiven him because he was his son.

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:7 NIV

This story justifies Jesus involvement with sinners and should motivate us to be involved in the lives of those who Jesus sought out. Christians forget what it is like not be a Christian. We forget what it is like to be separate from God and have God pursuing you.

In order for this story to end the way that it did, someone had to take the first step. There always has to be a first step. That first step is always the hardest, but then the next one is easier, and the next one is easier. Soon the steps become a run and they don’t stop until they reach home.

When the father saw the son, he did something that no respectable Jewish man of his day would do. He ran to get to his son. He had to pull up his robe to run and he bore his legs which men were not allowed to do. He didn’t care what others thought. All he cared about was getting his arms around that boy.