Matthew 9:9-13 (NRSVA) (2024)

FAQs

What is the main point of Matthew 9 9 13? ›

On its most basic level, Jesus is like a spiritual physician who heals wicked hearts, corrupt minds, and lives ravaged by the disease of sin. Those who are sick are the spiritually unhealthy tax collectors and sinners. Their sin is plain to see. They are those with whom Jesus was reclining at Matthew's table.

“I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” That is, “I desire to show mercy to you, I do not desire to demand a sacrifice of atonement from you.” God does not desire to extract from us sacrifices for our sins and promises that we'll do better next time and all the other things we might do to make up for our weakness.

Glossa Ordinaria: " Or; Those who were righteous, as Nathanael and John the Baptist, were not to be invited to repentance. Or. I came not to call the righteous, that is, the feignedly righteous, those who boasted of their righteousness as the Pharisees, but those that owned themselves sinners."

Jesus says the healthy do not need a physician while the sick do, that he has come to call not the righteous but sinners (9:13). Yet Jesus' companionship with sinners appears to be just that, companionship and not treatment. Jesus has many harsh words to say in the First Gospel, but he directs none of them at sinners.

Let us pray: Dear Lord, thank you for the invitation to join you at your table. Thank you for reaching through the ages, through the crowds, to notice a sinner like me, call me by name, and invite me to follow. Thank you for willingness, fleeting and fickle though it be. In Jesus' name.

In chapter 9, Matthew continues to tell the stories of Jesus healing and casting out demons and even bringing the dead to life. Each story demonstrates that He is truly the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus repeatedly emphasizes that faith in Him is key to the healing experienced by many.

Twice in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus quotes this passage from Hosea 6:6. Jesus' command to the Pharisees was, “Go and learn what this means,” and then quotes Hosea 6:6a, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13 and 12:7).

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15:22).

Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy. for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods, and the LORD's anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you.

Matthew 5:20 King James Version (KJV)

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Did Jesus call sinners to repent? ›

Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. Calling to “repentance” does not mean pointing out our sins and rebuke us sharply. It means helping us to change our mindset and lifestyle from self-centered to God-centered.

Man's relationship with God has always been defined by God's promises and faith. Even before the fall into sin, Adam and Eve were righteous in God's eyes, not because of their obedience, but because God declared them good and they believed. Faith has always defined righteousness coram deo.

Matthew 9:12–13 Shows Jesus sharing with the spiritually sick. And then he gathered at table in Matthew's house with a bunch of other sinners and the Pharisees are critical of Jesus for gathering with this group. He then looks at them and he says, “those who are well have no need of a physician”.

Healthy people don't need a doctor, Jesus says. Sick people do. Jesus was not declaring the Pharisees to be healthy, but pointing out that they saw themselves that way. Jesus told them He was there to help people who knew they were sick.

“Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice'”. He was quoting the prophet Hosea, who, centuries earlier, had condemned the Jews for attempting to excuse their idolatry and their oppression of the poor by offering the prescribed animal sacrifices.

Jesus taught that God is willing to let us off a debt we cannot repay, so we should be ready to forgive others. The servant who did not forgive was tortured. Perhaps Jesus is referring to the way a person feels when they cannot forgive. They remain bitter and resentful and end up suffering the most.

While traveling from Galilee to Jerusalem, Jesus healed ten lepers. Only one of those who were healed returned to give thanks to Jesus. This lesson can help you feel and express gratitude to Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and others.

Just like Jesus, Christians are called to serve the people around us in humility, especially if one holds a position of Christian leadership. The act of washing the feet serves as a picture of Jesus' ultimate mission: to serve humanity through His humble death on a cross, a death that washes us clean from all sin.

Jesus wants to teach people the importance of praying with the right attitude. This parable is aimed at those who think they are very righteous and look down on others – that is, the Pharisees. Jews had to pray three times a day and people would go to the temple for private prayer.