Matthew 9:10–13

We are all sinners in need of a Savior!

Christians are not a clique, Church  is not a social club. We are the Body Of Christ whose duty lies in relating God’s gift of salvation in Jesus Christ to all!

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Faith in God's presence, provision and promises leads to obedience to His commands, and hope in His salvation. 

God calls sinners to belong to Him and saves them by His grace. First5 

For you shall go out in joy; and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.  The Book of Isaiah SabbathMoments 

God asked this question through the prophet Isaiah. “‘To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?’ Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing” (Isaiah 40:25-26).

Let’s humble ourselves before the hand of God. The Bible reminds us that those who walk in pride, God is able to humble. And we don’t want him to humble us, do we? Max Lucado

Matthew 9:10–13

10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” The New King James Version

Jesus’ answer might be a simple analogy. It also could reflect the cultural assumption that disease was associated with sin. A common formula used by rabbis to direct their followers toward a particular passage in the Scriptures. Jesus’ use of this formula might be a subtle jab at the Pharisees, who are not His disciples and represent the learned of Jewish society. Because they have failed to properly understand the spirit of the law, Jesus treats these experts as beginners. 

Jesus is quoting Hosea, which critiques Israel for focusing on the letter of the law while ignoring its spirit. God desires His people’s faithfulness and steadfast love more than their ritual observances. The righteous refers to people who are perceived as being righteous. According to Jesus, true righteousness involves showing mercy toward outcasts. Faithlife Study Bible

Jesus quoted Hosea to make the point that God is more interested in a person’s loyal love than in the observance of external rituals. Jesus refers ironically to the Pharisees as the righteous. They were not righteous; that was only how they perceived themselves because of their pious and scrupulous law-keeping. But Jesus explained, quoting from the familiar words of an Old Testament prophet, that God had already judged sacrifices without mercy as worthless. The NKJV Study Bible

Some time after his call, Matthew sought to bring his old associates to hear Christ. He knew by experience what the grace of Christ could do, and would not despair concerning them. Those who are effectually brought to Christ, cannot but desire that others also may be brought to him. 

Those who suppose their souls to be without disease will not welcome the spiritual Physician. This was the case with the Pharisees; they despised Christ, because they thought themselves whole; but the poor publicans and sinners felt that they wanted instruction and amendment. It is easy, and too common, to put the worst constructions upon the best words and actions. It may justly be suspected that those have not the grace of God themselves, who are not pleased with others’ obtaining it. Christ’s conversing with sinners is here called mercy; for to promote the conversion of souls is the greatest act of mercy. The gospel call is a call to repentance; a call to us to change our minds, and to change our ways. If the children of men had not been sinners, there had been no need for Christ to come among them. Let us examine whether we have found out our sickness, and have learned to follow the directions of our great Physician. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Matthew 11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’  But wisdom is justified by her children.”