In ancient times, repetition of certain themes was an important way of communicating essential truths. Today I’d like to trace an important theme through the book of Matthew. We’ll focus on stories in Matthew 9, 12, and 13, but if other references are given without mentioning a book, you can assume they are still taken from the book of Matthew.
I’ve broken these thoughts into a three-part series, but I’ve published all three parts at the same time. So, if you’re gung-ho and want to read everything all at once, you can. If you want to take time to absorb each part over a couple of days, you can go at your own pace.
At each point, we’ll read a little bit of the story and pull out meaning specific to each account. Then at the end, we’ll show how each piece has tied into the overall theme. Let’s get started!
1. CALLING MATTHEW
As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew sitting in the tax collector’s office; and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.
Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and began dining with Jesus and His disciples.
And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?”
But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. Now go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, rather than sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
(Matthew 9:9–13, NASB)
The books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record this story. However, Matthew’s account differs from the others in one way. In Matthew, Jesus quotes the Old Testament prophet, Hosea [1]: “I desire compassion, rather than sacrifice.” (The NIV says, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”)
Jesus seems to use this quotation to support His assertion that the sick need a physician, not the healthy; and as the reason for His having come to call sinners and not the righteous.
As a tax collector, Matthew has been viewed as a traitor to his people—a sell-out to the imperialistic Romans. He has been hated by his countrymen and scorned by the religious elite. Matthew has experienced the brunt of the Pharisees’ “righteousness” and “health” more than any of the other disciples. So he also had an interesting perspective on why Jesus is now prioritizing the sick.
He feels the Pharisees’ lack of mercy towards him and the other social outcasts so keenly. But Jesus’ love and mercy sink into his spirit even more deeply.
Matthew’s choice to include this detail is not a “so there!” to the Pharisees. The writers of the other accounts are happy to summarize Matthew’s calling, but Matthew himself cannot.
This is too important.
Too transformative.
Jesus’ words have had such a healing effect on him that he will never forget it. For him, they CANNOT be removed.
Because within that quotation is not just Jesus’ acceptance, shining forth for all to see—but God the Father’s as well.
Matthew is no longer on the outside looking in.
It’s for him that Jesus has come.
Jesus sought him out.
Jesus called him.
And Jesus is the first religious leader—a spokesperson for God—who has had compassion on him.
Can anything be more important?
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NOTES
[1] He has tweaked the original statement a little bit, but you can find it in Hosea 6:6.
