After this he (Jesus) went out, and saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he left everything, and rose and followed him.
And Levi made him a great feast in his house; and there was a large company of tax collectors and others sitting at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick;
Luke 5:27–31 (RSV)
I only knew him as a recovering alcoholic. He had been sober for nearly twenty years, living one day at a time. He was grateful for the Lutheran pastor who helped him crawl out of the bottle. I cannot say how it began, but the pastor started a friendship with the man, often going to the bar where the man spent his time drinking.
I want to say that all the pastor's parishioners were supportive of his efforts. I want to say it, but it wouldn't be true. The pastor was criticized for going to the bar. He was criticized for spending time on a drunk who wasn't a member of the congregation. A common trait among Pharisees is they see other people's sins so clearly that they cannot see their own.
The Gospel is for sinners. The Gospel is for those enslaved to sin which can see no way to be healed. A recovering alcoholic will tell you that the first step toward sobriety is admitting that you are powerless over the booze. A forgiven sinner will say much the same. We cannot free ourselves, and we are slaves to sin.
Luther was clear; we are to die daily to sin and be raised in Christ. We confess what a recovering alcoholic knows; it is not in our hands. It comes to us as grace from God, who raised Jesus from the dead. When we remember this truth, we give God thanks for His healing and new life in Christ.