Matthew 9: 9-13
The Pharisees and scribes often engaged Jesus in disputation. At first thought one of them, the Pharisee party began to question Jesus’ behavior. He wasn’t clear—was he for the strict observance of the Torah demanded by God and necessary for the return of Israel to its place as God’s light in the world or was he not? He followed John echoing the call to repentance, but he spent time with those outside the pale, tax collectors and sinners. And he seemed more critical of the “good guys” than those who were the slackers. What did he really think of the Law?
The crowds liked Jesus though. More and more followed after him. A few he called to be his inside group, his disciples. One of those was a tax collector, a traitor, one who made his living collecting for a fee the tribute due Rome. Why would Jesus, a holy man, invite such a person into his inner circle? Doesn’t association contaminate?
When Jesus attended a big dinner party thrown for him by this tax collector, the Pharisees couldn’t stand it any more. Here was the rabbi among the society crowd, among those who were impure, among those who had forgotten their heritage and just wanted to make their way in the world. “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Yes, why go to those who may corrupt? Why go out among all the elements of society? Why take a chance that you will be changed by exposure to the different, the unacceptable?
Jesus answered: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
Can we hear Jesus? When we are sick he comes. Can we let him?
Can we learn what it means to desire mercy not sacrifice?
Let’s picture this dinner. Are we there or are we an onlooker? Who sits or stands next to us? What do we talk about? Look into the eyes of the tax collector host. Look into Jesus’ eyes. See. Pray.
Blessings, Caroline
The Pharisees and scribes often engaged Jesus in disputation. At first thought one of them, the Pharisee party began to question Jesus’ behavior. He wasn’t clear—was he for the strict observance of the Torah demanded by God and necessary for the return of Israel to its place as God’s light in the world or was he not? He followed John echoing the call to repentance, but he spent time with those outside the pale, tax collectors and sinners. And he seemed more critical of the “good guys” than those who were the slackers. What did he really think of the Law?
The crowds liked Jesus though. More and more followed after him. A few he called to be his inside group, his disciples. One of those was a tax collector, a traitor, one who made his living collecting for a fee the tribute due Rome. Why would Jesus, a holy man, invite such a person into his inner circle? Doesn’t association contaminate?
When Jesus attended a big dinner party thrown for him by this tax collector, the Pharisees couldn’t stand it any more. Here was the rabbi among the society crowd, among those who were impure, among those who had forgotten their heritage and just wanted to make their way in the world. “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Yes, why go to those who may corrupt? Why go out among all the elements of society? Why take a chance that you will be changed by exposure to the different, the unacceptable?
Jesus answered: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
Can we hear Jesus? When we are sick he comes. Can we let him?
Can we learn what it means to desire mercy not sacrifice?
Let’s picture this dinner. Are we there or are we an onlooker? Who sits or stands next to us? What do we talk about? Look into the eyes of the tax collector host. Look into Jesus’ eyes. See. Pray.
Blessings, Caroline
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