Our Desire to Punish Sinners--Feb. 17, 2021

Lord Jesus, you endured great hostility—

every reason to want the sinners punished. 

but you did not call out against them.

 

Jonah was offended that Nineveh did not suffer,

and the Pharisee was sure God would condemn

the tax collector for his sins.  

 

Remind me that if God does not despise

a broken and a contrite heart, 

then why should I?

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 5; 147:1-11; 27; 51

Jonah 3:1-4:11

Heb. 12:1-14

Luke 18:9-14

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 51:17

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
          a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

 

Jonah 3:10-4:1

When God saw what [the king and citizens of Nineveh] did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.  But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry.

 

Heb. 12:3

Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.

 

Luke 18:11

“…The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  …’”