Daily Word - Jesus Eats With Sinners - Matthew 9:9-13

Scripture
Matthew 9:9-13 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
The Call of Matthew
9 As Jesus went on from there, (A) He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, "Follow Me!" So he got up and followed Him. (B)
10 While He was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came as guests to eat [a] with Jesus and His disciples. (C) 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" (D)
12 But when He heard this, He said, "Those who are well don't need a doctor, but the sick do. (E) 13 Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. (F) (G) For I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners." [b]
Footnotes:
Matthew 9:10 Lit came, they were reclining (at the table); at important meals the custom was to recline on a mat at a low table and lean on the left elbow.
Matthew 9:13 Other mss add to repentance
Cross references:
Matthew 9:9 : Mk 2:14-22; Lk 5:27-38;
Matthew 9:9 : Mt 10:3; Mk 2:14; 3:18; Lk 6:15; Ac 1:13;
Matthew 9:10 : Mt 10:42; 28:19; Lk 14:26; Jn 8:31; 13:35; 15:8; Ac 6:1;
Matthew 9:11 : Mt 11:19; Lk 5:30; 15:2; Gl 2:15;
Matthew 9:12 : Mk 2:17; Lk 5:31;
Matthew 9:13 : Hs 6:6; Mic 6:6-8; Mt 12:7;
Matthew 9:13 : Hs 6:6;

Reflection:
Do you know God’s mercy and do you treat your neighbor with mercy? People in Palestine were divided into roughly two groups: the orthodox Jews who rigidly kept the law and all its petty regulations, and the rest who didn’t keep all the minute regulations. The orthodox treated the latter like second class citizens. They scrupulously avoided their company, refused to do business with them, refused to give or receive anything from them, refused to intermarry, and avoided any form of entertainment with them, including table fellowship. Jesus’ association with the latter, especially with tax collectors and sinners, shocked the sensibilities of these orthodox Jews. In calling Matthew to be one of his disciples, Jesus picked one of the unlikeliest of men -- a tax collector who by profession was despised by the Jewish people.
When the Pharisees challenged his unorthodox behavior in eating with public sinners, Jesus’ defense was quite simple. A doctor doesn’t need to visit healthy people; instead he goes to those who are sick. Jesus likewise sought out those in the greatest need. A true physician seeks healing of the whole person -- body, mind, and spirit. Jesus came as the divine physician and good shepherd to care for his people and to restore them to wholeness of life. The orthodox were so preoccupied with their own practice of religion that they neglected to help the very people who needed spiritual care. Their religion was selfish because they didn’t want to have anything to do with people not like themselves. Jesus stated his mission in unequivocal terms: I came not to call the righteous, but to call sinners. Ironically the orthodox were as needy as those they despised. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Ro. 3:23). Do you thank the Lord for the great mercy he has shown to you? And do you seek the good of all your neighbors and show them mercy and kindness?

Prayer For The Day:
"Lord Jesus, our Savior, let us now come to you: Our hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with your selfless love. Our hearts are sinful; cleanse them with your precious blood. Our hearts are weak; strengthen them with your joyous Spirit. Our hearts are empty; fill them with your divine presence. Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours; possess them always and only for yourself.” (Prayer of Augustine, 354-430)