This is the theme verse of the Gospel of Luke. Jesus stated this purpose in response to the crowd, who grumbled that He had gone to be the guest of a man who was a sinner, the chief tax collector, Zaccheus.
In Jericho, one of those who was so lost, a man hated by all, was curious to see Jesus, but because he was small and could not safely mingle with the crowd, climbed a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus.
Jesus didn't come to please the religious crowd, pander to the social crowd, or hang out with them. He came to save the lost and to bring a deeper understanding of what Jesus meant when He taught us to pray.
