Mt 9:10-13 - Jesus came for sinners, not righteous

Matthew 9:10-11 (ESV)

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

In Matthew 9 Jesus healed a paralytic in order to prove that he had the power to forgive sins. He then called a tax collector to follow him, and met with his friends and associates for dinner that night. None of this makes sense to the Pharisees. To them, the well and the wealthy are the ones blessed by God. Their health and wealth is evidence to them that God is pleased with them. But Jesus had a different perspective. “Go and learn what this means” he said, “‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mt 9:13).

We preach this all the time in our evangelical pulpits and Sunday School classes, yet I wonder if we really get it. Our tendency is still to look at certain people and expect that they will never respond to the gospel. Our tendency is to look at “nice” gifted individuals and think, “They would make a great Christian. If only they would trust Christ.” But Jesus didn’t come for the competent. He didn’t come for the nice people of this world. He came for the broken. He came for the helpless. He came for sinners. He is not looking for people who will help him out. He is showing mercy to those who have nothing to offer. That is the great news of the gospel.

Why does Jesus eat with tax collectors and sinners? Because those are the very people he came to save. Maybe we need to rethink our own attitudes toward people. Maybe we need to see people through Jesus’ eyes. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mt 9:13). Father, help me to see as Jesus sees.