Bible Study on Matthew 9, verses 9 to 13, Matthew is chosen

 

Matthew 9:9 ¶  And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. 10  And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11  And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12  But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

 

Matthew, a hated tax collector in the Jewish social order, is chosen. In fact, many tax collectors and people of questionable repute sit down with Jesus and His disciples. He welcomes all which disturbs the Pharisees greatly. Their social order, like ours used to be, was very exclusionary.

 

Jesus’ argument here is inspiring. “Why do I associate with people that you think merit your disgust? Because with regard to sin, like a physical sickness, it is the sick that need the doctor. So, if you are healthy you apparently don’t need me.” He teaches two lessons here. The first suggests that the Pharisees are sicker than they realize. The second is that mercy is of a higher value to God than ritual worship.

 

God delights in mercy.

 

Micah 7:18  Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

 

And God gives more importance to mercy on our part than to judgment.

 

James 2:13  For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

 

What Christ did in coming to earth, living as one of us, dying as one of us, paying the penalty for our sins, and rising from the dead was mercy to the uttermost if you take the context of eternity and keep that in your mind.