9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax-collection station, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.
10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with Jesus and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners” Matthew 9:9-13.
Tax collectors were typically associated with sinners. Working for Herod, tax collectors in Galilee were viewed as traitors to God’s people. They also were known for demanding more money than they were supposed to collect. When Jesus called Matthew, the tax collector, to be a disciple, this would have been surprising; again, for it signaled that Christ has come to be light to all the world, not just to the upright.
Also scandalous is that Jesus went to Matthew’s house for a meal. Now table food and drink symbolized a shared life. By sharing a meal with many tax collectors and sinners, Jesus identified himself with these outsiders and welcomed them into His kingdom.
But in the eyes of the Pharisees, Jesus was inviting all the wrong people into His movement. So they asked the disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" In other words, “What kind of teacher or Rabbi would do such a thing?” Jesus says two things in response. First, He explains that his mission to forgive sins (1:21) involves going to sinners, just as a physician must go to the sick. Second, He tells the Pharisees “(respected teachers of the law!) to go back to Scripture 101 and learn what Hosea 6:6 means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”
This passage denounced Israelites who were trying to cover up their grave sins with external acts of piety such as sacrifice. Since sacrifice was supposed to express covenant love and faithfulness, Hosea said that God desires “mercy,” not (empty) sacrifices. The Hebrew word hesed, meaning loyal, steadfast covenant love. Jesus uses this word from Hosea to challenge the Pharisees not to allow external practices such as their table fellowship regulations to replace the steadfast love that must be shown to God and all his people, including sinners and tax collectors who have fallen away (23:23). Jesus is the light to the whole world (5:14), and Jesus did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
So today consider that Jesus is calling you, a sinner, to be a righteous person. Pray for mercy and forgiveness. Ask the Lord to come into your heart. Never forget the Hebrew word, hesed, the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever.
Read this Psalm, knowing that the second line of each verse is the Hebrew word, hesed.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
Psalm 136
God’s Work in Creation and in History
1
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
2
O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.
3
O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;
4
who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;
5
who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;
6
who spread out the earth on the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever;
7
who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever;
8
the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;
9
the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;
10
who struck Egypt through their firstborn, for his steadfast love endures forever;
11
and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever;
12
with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever;
13
who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever;
14
and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever;
15
but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;
16
who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;who made water flow from the rock, for his steadfast love endures forever;
17
who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
18
and killed famous kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
19
Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever;
20
and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever;
21
and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever;
22
a heritage to his servant Israel, for his steadfast love endures forever.
23
It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever;
24
and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;
25
who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
26
O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
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