“I Have Not Come To Call The Righteous, But Sinners”
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting
at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and
followed him.
While
Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners
came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they
asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and
sinners?”
On
hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the
sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:9-13
God’s
grace has been expanded to all in need, because Jesus died for our sins.
When
Jesus invited Matthew the tax collector to follow Him, Matthew accepted.
Matthew then invited Jesus to dinner, and He accepted. There was criticism of
Jesus for doing this. Jesus noted He had not come to call the righteous, but to
call sinners to repentance.
By
reaching out to people in need, we can extend to others this grace of God in
Christ – guiding them to His healing touch.
When you know God’s grace, you’ll want to show God’s grace.
Our Daily Bread –