the gentile, publican and tax collector
It's interesting that so many use this passage as an example of how to cut fellowship with others. Depending on the translation Jesus says if people won't listen to the church, you should treat the individual like a Publican, Heathen, Gentile and/or tax collector.
That seems like pretty harsh words until you think about how Jesus treated those people.... He loved them! He went and had dinner with them! He called one tax collector to be a part of his inner circle - no questions asked. How's that for scandalous grace?
I have a feeling Matthew (the tax collector) understood it, which is why he included it in his writings. And I have a feeling Peter understood it, which is why just moments (verses) later he speaks up and asks, "well teacher how many times DO we have to forgive our brother - seven?"
And the teacher of scandalous grace responds, "Seven? Seven?! Hardly! Try seventy times seven."
Created 9 months ago
