Matthew 9:10-13 KJV And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. (11)And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? (12) But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. (13) 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary - Some time after his call, Matthew sought to bring his old associates to hear Christ. He knew by experience what the grace of Christ could do, and would not despair concerning them. Those who are effectually brought to Christ, cannot but desire that others also may be brought to him. Those who suppose their souls to be without disease will not welcome the spiritual Physician. This was the case with the Pharisees; they despised Christ, because they thought themselves whole; but the poor publicans and sinners felt that they wanted instruction and amendment. It is easy, and too common, to put the worst constructions upon the best words and actions. It may justly be suspected that those have not the grace of God themselves, who are not pleased with others' obtaining it. Christ's conversing with sinners is here called mercy; for to promote the conversion of souls is the greatest act of mercy. The gospel call is a call to repentance; a call to us to change our minds, and to change our ways. If the children of men had not been sinners, there had been no need for Christ to come among them. Let us examine whether we have found out our sickness, and have learned to follow the directions of our great Physician.
Free At Last - Physically sick people seek help in hospitals, because the physicians are trained to minister to their particular illnesses. Once treated and health is restored, the hospital will release you so that it can make room for someone else. A physician that will only examine healthy people is no physician at all. A church that cannot minister to the lost, is no church at all. Godliness requires that we place the spiritual needs of others at the highest level of importance. To do for others what Christ has done for us, should be a joy for most Christians. However, this is not always the case. Christ never met with a sinner that he did not try to bring to repentance. To be in the company of someone that does not know Christ and not try to direct them into a relationship with God is the most heinous crime of all. Matthew wanted his former associates to met the Master, but the Pharisees wanted to use this occasion to question the righteousness of Christ. Their view was that a godly person would not keep company with publicans and sinners. The truth is quite the opposite. One who professes to be righteous must engage those who are lost, that they may be found. Christians are not islands to themselves, but are bridges that lead from darkness into the light. Those who may want to pick and choose which individuals are eligible to crossover, may find that they are not eligible themselves. Also, at the very moment of our attempt to help others to cross, we will find that our accusers are eager to fix a charge upon us. They were not invited to this feast and would not have come if they had been. But, not being invited, they hang on the outside and criticize the disciples of Jesus for being there. We forget that our sole purpose is to lead sinners to repentance and we cannot do that unless we engage them. We should not join them in their wickedness, but make every effort to lead them out.
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