Matthew 9:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

NIV: But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

NASB: Now go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, RATHER THAN SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'

CSB: Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners."

NLT: Then he added, 'Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

A recent question from the Pharisees was more of an accusation: why does Jesus eat with tax collectors and "sinners?" Why would a supposedly-righteous man be seen in the company of immoral people (Matthew 9:10–11). The Pharisees themselves would never share a meal with people who openly break God's law. Nor would they lower themselves to be seen with anyone who didn't follow their own rules of conduct.

Jesus has quipped that healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do. His point is twofold: that to properly love and care for others, we need to minister to those who are caught in sin (Matthew 5:44; 2 Corinthians 4:3), and that arguing otherwise is as ridiculous as a doctor who refuses to go near sick people.

Now Christ tells His critics to examine Hosea 6:6, where God says "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice." As He typically did, Jesus quotes the Greek translation of the Old Testament, known as the Septuagint. The original Hebrew of this verse uses the term he'sed, an important expression of faithful, deep, graciousness. The ESV, for instance, translates the term in Hosea 6:6 as "steadfast love." The Pharisees were not in the mercy business. Their strategy for motivating the people of Israel to live right before God was to set the standard very high and then live up to it themselves. From that position, they looked down in judgment on those who could not or would not join them in their pious lifestyles (Matthew 23:2–7). Jesus' willingness to spend time with tax collectors and harlots and other disreputable people as if those people were "okay" was maddening to them.

Jesus tells the Pharisees that He did not come to call the righteous. He came to call sinners. The Pharisees assumed themselves to be righteous already. They did not think they needed saving. Jesus came to call those who understood themselves to be sinful and in need of mercy, forgiveness, a Savior (Matthew 7:6). When given a glimpse of the loving face of God in Jesus, seeking people flocked to Him (2 Corinthians 4:6). They still do.

Matthew 9:9–13 begins with Jesus calling Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him as His disciple. Soon, Jesus and His disciples are having dinner in Matthew's home with many tax collectors and others labelled as "sinners." In answer to a question from the Pharisees about why Jesus would eat with these people, He responds that the sick need a doctor, not the healthy. He tells the Pharisees to go learn the meaning of the Scripture in which God says that He desires mercy, not sacrifice. Jesus declares that He has come to call sinners, not the righteous.

Matthew 9 continues to show how Jesus authenticated His claims to be the Messiah by powerful miracles of healing and casting out demons. He heals a paralyzed man after telling the man his sins are forgiven. He calls Matthew to follow Him and eats dinner with Matthew and other tax collectors. He answers questions from Pharisees and others. A woman who touches His cloak is healed from a 12–year illness, and Jesus raises a dead girl back to life. He restores sight to blind men and speech to one who is demon oppressed. He is filled with compassion for the crowds.

Matthew 9 follows the same pattern of Matthew 8, showing through miraculous works of healing that Jesus is truly the Messiah. Christ forgives the sins of a paralyzed man and heals him. He calls Matthew to follow Him and eats with tax collectors and sinners. A woman is healed by touching His garment and a dead girl is given life by the touch of His hand. Two blind men see, and Jesus casts out a demon, restoring speech to its victim. Finally, Jesus declares that the harvest is plentiful and tells His followers to pray for workers. Chapter 10 builds on this compassion as Jesus commissions the Twelve to go and deliver His gospel to the people.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.