Luke 5:27-29
And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

Jesus is not put off by people’s status or station in life, by their occupation or their reputation. He went in to eat with a bunch of publicans and sinners. Why? Because they needed Him. Sinners need a Savior, and that’s who Jesus is. Sinners need salvation, and that’s what Jesus offers. He calls a publican, a hated tax collector, rich and yet looked down upon by so many, to be one of His disciples. So maybe in thanks, Levi invites Jesus to a feast with all of his friends, these publicans and sinners, outcasts of society. Yet they were valuable to Jesus. He loved them and wanted to spend time with them, to fellowship, to teach them, to save them.

Luke 5:30-35
But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

Jesus is equally not put off by the Pharisees, these prominent religious rulers in the society of the day. He engaged with them. He answered their questions. He tolerated their attempts to trip Him up. He also dined with them and sought to teach them and help them to see the truth. His offer of salvation was open to them. He loved the Pharisees who opposed and rejected Him just as much as the publicans who embraced Him.

Wherever we fall on the spectrum of society, from outcast to the most prominent, Jesus loves us. He died for us. He wants to save us and forgive our sins and give to us eternal life. He is willing to step into our world, our life, our place, and engage with us, teach us, show us grace and compassion, and to be our Lord and Savior. It doesn’t matter who we are or who we’re not. It doesn’t matter what we have or don’t have. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done or haven’t done. There is a place at His table for us, an opportunity for fellowship with Jesus, the gift of salvation He wants to give us, and a life spent knowing, loving, and serving Him.