Sometimes, we must go where these people are to get the message to them. I’ve visited prisons to preach to murderers. I’ve also talked personally with adulterers and homosexuals about the gospel. These are difficult conversations to have, but if we oppose all association no matter what, we are saying that certain people are not worthy of the gospel. God is no respecter of persons (Rom.2:11; Acts 10:34). We should not be either.
Why did Jesus associate with publicans and sinners? First, Jesus did not associate with sinful people to engage in their sinful practices. Jesus was the sinless Lamb of God (1 Peter 1:19). He never once committed a sin nor even spoke an inappropriate word (1 Peter 2:22).
One of the criticisms that Jesus enemies often employed was that He ate with the publicans and sinners. We find this criticism recorded for us in the following passages: Matthew 9:10, 11; 11:19; Mark 2:15, 16; Luke 5:30, 7:34, 15:1. Jesus associated with these people to teach them the gospel.
We ought not to criticize those who are trying to do such. Such displays a true Pharisaical attitude toward preaching the gospel to the lost.
Jesus did associate with these people in order to teach and preach the gospel
One of the criticisms that Jesus’ enemies employed was that He ate with publicans and sinners...This criticism was leveled at Jesus because he associated with these people to teach them the gospel.