To preserve their religious purity, there were church leaders who, like seemingly holy Pharisees, built high religious walls in their hearts and constantly poured out complaints behind the backs of “sinners” (homosexuals, or marginalized people who did not fit the church’s stereotypes), keeping them at a distance. Yet the Lord of love continued to draw near even to such people and always welcomed them. “Now all the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to hear Him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them’” (Luke 15:1–2). (1) Today’s passage, Luke 15:1–2, is the introduction recorded before Jesus gave the three parables: the Parable of the Lost Sheep (vv. 4–7), the Parable of the Lost Coin (vv. 8–10), and the Parable of the Lost Son (the Prodigal Son) (vv. 11–32). (a) First, when I r...