“A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.” (Isaiah 43:3,4)
The Pharisees had such little toleration for the imperfect, those that were not lining up with their understanding of the law. The outcasts of Israel were those they had given up on as lost and beyond hope. They cut them off and put them away. Divorce was rampant among the Pharisees because they had little patience with the flaws of their spouses who undoubtedly had a hard time measuring up to their exacting standards. Jesus told these hard men to go and learn about mercy, right before they got rid of Him too.
Faith always sees beyond where someone presently is to where they can be if only they receive God’s help. Jesus didn’t only have faith to heal the leper, but faith to gather and heal the outcasts who the religious people didn’t have the grace and mercy to deal with. He was not so quick to throw in the towel. No wonder they flocked to Him. Where the Pharisees saw a “mountain,” an impossibility, because their easy answers did not provide quick results, He saw those that could be won through wisdom, patience, and love.
Where would any of us be if our Lord acted toward us like a Pharisee; if the first signs of us being non-compliant toward Him caused Him to give up on us? Surely, we would be on the outside looking in. Wonderful Savior! He specializes in winning back outcasts.
Have you been dumped by a religious bunch? Jesus is looking for you.