JESUS CALLS MATTHEW

Passage: Matthew 9:9-13

Key verse: 9

NIV

The Calling of Matthew(A)

9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,”(B) he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”(C)

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[a](D) For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”(E)

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 9:13 Hosea 6:6
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Calls Matthew

9 (A)As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called (B)Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

10 And as Jesus[a] reclined at table in the house, behold, many (C)tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, (D)“Why does your teacher eat with (E)tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn (F)what this means: (G)‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For (H)I came not to call the righteous, (I)but sinners.”

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 9:10 Greek he
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Follow me (9)

Matthew, who wrote this Gospel, was a tax collector. This was synonymous with 'sinner.' It was also synonymous with 'selfish, greedy guy.' Tax collectors were quislings who sold their own people for personal gain. But they paid a price of inner misery of soul. They were lonely outcasts, spiritual lepers. Matthew was tired of this kind of life, but there seemed to be no way out. Then Jesus walked by and said, 'Follow me.' It was a call to repentance and faith. Matthew accepted. Jesus changed him from a tax collector into a servant of God.

2. The sick need a doctor (1

-13)

Matthew celebrated his new life with a dinner party. He invited his old friends to come and rejoice with him, and meet Jesus. It was a joyful party, for a dead man had come alive. But the Pharisees criticized Jesus for eating with a 'sinner.' Jesus taught them from God's word that he had come to show God's mercy.

Prayer: Lord, continue to change me from a selfish person into a selfless follower of my Lord Jesus.

One Word: Jesus calls sinners