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

            Jesus did.  The “sinful” people didn’t influence Jesus to commit sin, but he hung out with them so they could witness God’s love through him.  That’s the same for us.  We must ask what our intentions are to hang out with sinful people.  Is it to sin or to show God’s love?  Pharisees were more concerned about their reputation and never would consider hanging out with sinners.  Jesus knew who he was and what he represented.  He wanted to show these sinners what a healthy Christian life was like.  You can believe in God and still have fun.

            Like a doctor, Jesus saw this as an opportunity to make a house call, not to wait for them to come to the hospital.