In Matthew 9:11-12, Jesus had just asked Matthew, a crooked tax collector, to follow Him, opening the door for many tax collectors and sinners to come sit and learn without the threat of being shunned by the great Master.
Some religious men watched with disgust as Jesus sat and ate with these men. They asked Jesus' disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
When Jesus heard that, He said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick."
If we think we are 'pleasing' God by 'sacrificing' our time, talents and money for religious purposes, yet we shun those around us and in our own families who don't live up to our sense of right living, we have missed the point of grace and mercy. Grace showers us with good things we don't deserve. Mercy withholds the payback we do deserve.
Jesus went on to say to those religious men in verse 13, "Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice."
Today, let the Spirit search our hearts and see if we harbor this kind of judgment. If so, in obedience to Jesus, let us choose mercy to those who need it. This includes ourselves, on whom we tend to be the harshest.
Some religious men watched with disgust as Jesus sat and ate with these men. They asked Jesus' disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
When Jesus heard that, He said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick."
If we think we are 'pleasing' God by 'sacrificing' our time, talents and money for religious purposes, yet we shun those around us and in our own families who don't live up to our sense of right living, we have missed the point of grace and mercy. Grace showers us with good things we don't deserve. Mercy withholds the payback we do deserve.
Jesus went on to say to those religious men in verse 13, "Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice."
Today, let the Spirit search our hearts and see if we harbor this kind of judgment. If so, in obedience to Jesus, let us choose mercy to those who need it. This includes ourselves, on whom we tend to be the harshest.
