Jesus loves sinners
Mark 2 “14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. 15 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. “
Levi (Matthew) was a tax-collector taking money from his fellow country-men (Jews) and giving it to ungodly pagans (Romans).
The Jews viewed Matthew as a traitor, a sinner.
In many cases, these tax-collectors were doing this to make money by swindling the people, like Zacchaeus.
But what did Jesus do?
He made Matthew one of the 12 Apostles.
Jesus loved him and chose him unconditionally without judging him or condemning him.
Matthew was a failure in the eyes of Israel but in the eyes of Jesus, he was one to be loved..
Jesus loves to be with sinners, because he forgives them and makes them righteous saints freely by grace through faith,
forgiven all sin – children of God.