Matthew 9:1-13
Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. – Matthew 9:13
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Matthew%209%3A1-13&version=ESV
In this week’s passages from Leviticus, we discussed the final two of the five offerings: the sin offering and the guilt offering. Those who offered these sacrifices had sinned through mistakes, negligence, or ignorance. When they became aware of their guilt, they could be reestablished and restored in their relationship with God and others through offering these sacrifices. Therefore, the sin offering and the guilt offering were meant to demonstrate God’s mercy. He established the sacrificial system so that his people could have the opportunity to come before Him again, even after sinning.
However, God was not satisfied with people coming to Him through sacrifices alone; He was not content to wait for sinners to come and confess, repent, and seek forgiveness. So, He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to approach sinners. In today’s scripture, the Lord Jesus heals a paralysed man brought to Him by his friends and takes the initiative to forgive his sins. In Jewish understanding, a paralysed person was seen as suffering because of sin. The authority to forgive sins that Jesus demonstrated made the scribes think that Jesus was “blaspheming” because they believed that no one except God had the authority to forgive sins. Regrettably, they never considered the possibility that since He dared to say such things, could He be God?
The scripture then records that Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector, to be His disciple; and He ate with all kinds of sinners and tax collectors. In the eyes of the Pharisees, who emphasised Jewish law, the sick, sinners, and tax collectors were all unclean. Therefore, they asked Jesus’ disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (v.11) When Jesus heard this, He said, “…I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (v.13)
In our faith life today, are we like the Pharisees? We want to draw a clear line between ourselves and sinners, lest we also be contaminated by their uncleanness; we want to stay away from non-believers; we want to live a life set apart. Gradually, the only friends we have are Christians, and we are unwilling to accept people who are different from us. Slowly, our circle becomes smaller, and the walls we build become thicker. We think this is the lifestyle that God loves, but we have forgotten the purpose of the Lord Jesus coming into the world, which is to seek and save the lost. (Lk 19:10)
Jesus reminded the Pharisees at that time, saying, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (v.13) This reveals God’s heart for the world since the creation—for all people to be saved and no one to perish. To save the world, He did not hesitate to let His only Son become a fragrant offering, bringing people back to Him.
Reflection:
Today, we are all sinners who have received grace, and we can come before God anytime, anywhere through Jesus Christ. So, what kind of lifestyle should we have to bring God’s love and mercy to the people around us?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, who became flesh, thank you for demonstrating your love and mercy for the world through your life. May the Spirit of truth remind us to follow your example, step into the crowd, to live out love, and allow more people to have the opportunity to know you. We pray this in your holy name . Amen!
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Matthew%209%3A1-13&version=ESV
In this week’s passages from Leviticus, we discussed the final two of the five offerings: the sin offering and the guilt offering. Those who offered these sacrifices had sinned through mistakes, negligence, or ignorance. When they became aware of their guilt, they could be reestablished and restored in their relationship with God and others through offering these sacrifices. Therefore, the sin offering and the guilt offering were meant to demonstrate God’s mercy. He established the sacrificial system so that his people could have the opportunity to come before Him again, even after sinning.
However, God was not satisfied with people coming to Him through sacrifices alone; He was not content to wait for sinners to come and confess, repent, and seek forgiveness. So, He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to approach sinners. In today’s scripture, the Lord Jesus heals a paralysed man brought to Him by his friends and takes the initiative to forgive his sins. In Jewish understanding, a paralysed person was seen as suffering because of sin. The authority to forgive sins that Jesus demonstrated made the scribes think that Jesus was “blaspheming” because they believed that no one except God had the authority to forgive sins. Regrettably, they never considered the possibility that since He dared to say such things, could He be God?
The scripture then records that Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector, to be His disciple; and He ate with all kinds of sinners and tax collectors. In the eyes of the Pharisees, who emphasised Jewish law, the sick, sinners, and tax collectors were all unclean. Therefore, they asked Jesus’ disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (v.11) When Jesus heard this, He said, “…I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (v.13)
In our faith life today, are we like the Pharisees? We want to draw a clear line between ourselves and sinners, lest we also be contaminated by their uncleanness; we want to stay away from non-believers; we want to live a life set apart. Gradually, the only friends we have are Christians, and we are unwilling to accept people who are different from us. Slowly, our circle becomes smaller, and the walls we build become thicker. We think this is the lifestyle that God loves, but we have forgotten the purpose of the Lord Jesus coming into the world, which is to seek and save the lost. (Lk 19:10)
Jesus reminded the Pharisees at that time, saying, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (v.13) This reveals God’s heart for the world since the creation—for all people to be saved and no one to perish. To save the world, He did not hesitate to let His only Son become a fragrant offering, bringing people back to Him.
Reflection:
Today, we are all sinners who have received grace, and we can come before God anytime, anywhere through Jesus Christ. So, what kind of lifestyle should we have to bring God’s love and mercy to the people around us?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, who became flesh, thank you for demonstrating your love and mercy for the world through your life. May the Spirit of truth remind us to follow your example, step into the crowd, to live out love, and allow more people to have the opportunity to know you. We pray this in your holy name . Amen!