The Guilt-Ridden
The guilt-ridden: close to the heart of God
Matthew 9:11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and “sinners”?’ (12) On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. (13) But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’
Matthew 11:19 . . . they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners”.’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.
Matthew 21:31 . . . Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. (32) For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Luke 7:37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, (38) and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. . . . (40) Jesus answered him . . . (41) ‘Two men owed money to a certain money-lender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. (42) Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he cancelled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?’ (43) Simon replied, ‘I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancelled.’ ‘You have judged correctly,’ Jesus said. (44)
Then he turned towards the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. . . . (47) Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.’ . . . (50) Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you, go in peace.’
Luke 14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Luke 14:16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. (17) At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ (18) But they all alike began to make excuses. . . . (21) The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ (22) ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ (23) Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. (24) I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’
Luke 16:15 . . . What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.
Luke 18:10 Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. (11) The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. (12) I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ (13) But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ (14) I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Galatians 2:16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no-one will be justified.
Romans 3:20 Therefore no-one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
Romans 9:30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; (31) but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. (32) Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the “stumbling-stone”. (33) As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
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