April 18, 2012
Jesus calls Matthew (a despised tax collector) to follow Him—and Matthew did. Jesus went to Matthew's house and had dinner with other tax collectors and "sinners." The holier-than-thou Pharisees were shocked. They asked, why does your Master/teacher eat with "sinners"? Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy people who need a doctor, but the sick." Then he continued, "Go and learn what this means: (and then Jesus quoted Hosea 6:6) I want faithful love more than I want animal sacrifices. I want people to know me more than I want burnt offerings." (Matthew 9:12-13)
Jesus came for sinners. The problem is the Pharisees didn't think they were sinners. They didn't think they were in need of a Savior. After all, they were more than "good" people. Why, they interpreted the laws; they were the wise ones; and they even added new laws to God's law. Why would they need a Savior? And Jesus says, "I didn't come for the good" not because the "good" didn't need a Savior but because the "good" didn't recognize their need for a Savior. And Jesus tells them to go and figure out what this means, which is kind of funny since the Pharisees already thought they knew the meaning of everything. (You have to believe they were, "we are on the cutting edge of everything" type people.)
I want your faithful love. I want you to know me. This is what I want. I don't want your rituals without a changed life. I don't want outward appearances of obedience and being "good" by you going through the motions. I want changed lives. I want lives that match what you say you believe. I want faithful love. I want you to know me!!
Next Entry: Matthew 9:1–38 (Continued)
Jesus calls Matthew (a despised tax collector) to follow Him—and Matthew did. Jesus went to Matthew's house and had dinner with other tax collectors and "sinners." The holier-than-thou Pharisees were shocked. They asked, why does your Master/teacher eat with "sinners"? Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy people who need a doctor, but the sick." Then he continued, "Go and learn what this means: (and then Jesus quoted Hosea 6:6) I want faithful love more than I want animal sacrifices. I want people to know me more than I want burnt offerings." (Matthew 9:12-13)
Jesus came for sinners. The problem is the Pharisees didn't think they were sinners. They didn't think they were in need of a Savior. After all, they were more than "good" people. Why, they interpreted the laws; they were the wise ones; and they even added new laws to God's law. Why would they need a Savior? And Jesus says, "I didn't come for the good" not because the "good" didn't need a Savior but because the "good" didn't recognize their need for a Savior. And Jesus tells them to go and figure out what this means, which is kind of funny since the Pharisees already thought they knew the meaning of everything. (You have to believe they were, "we are on the cutting edge of everything" type people.)
I want your faithful love. I want you to know me. This is what I want. I don't want your rituals without a changed life. I don't want outward appearances of obedience and being "good" by you going through the motions. I want changed lives. I want lives that match what you say you believe. I want faithful love. I want you to know me!!
Next Entry: Matthew 9:1–38 (Continued)
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