Inspired thots:
1) Jesus doesnt stop calling on people to be His disciples.
i) Though he started calling His FIRST disciples in Chp 4 (Simon Peter and Andrew, James and John), He is always looking for people who will be His disciples.
ii) Even after all the many people who come to Him for healing from chp 4-8, Jesus calls Matthew to 'follow Him' (v9). And Praise God, Matthew was quick to respond.
iii) Blessings follow those who follow Jesus (supping with Jesus) though persecution may also be close by (Pharisees sneering and criticising)
2) v12 "It is NOT the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick" ~ so true.
i) Health is not just the 'physical' but the 'spiritual' too. The Pharisees did not realise they were 'spiritually' unhealthy. They did not want to acknowledge WHO Jesus was, yet they want to 'see' WHAT He was doing. And ... critic Jesus on the good He did! What spiritual rottenness of the soul.
3) v13 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice'.
i) Jesus recalls the OT teaching to help the Pharisees and people understand His purpose on earth. Jesus uses familiar words and references to His hearers that they may understand and acknowledge Him.
ii) After all, To God (& Jesus), its all about MAN! (John 3:16)
4) v13 'For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners'
i) Jesus knows MAN is a sinner; no one is righteous (Rom 3:10,11; Ps 14) except that which Man declares himself.
ii) Jesus came in the flesh because God knows no MAN can be righteous except through Jesus. Praise the LORD!
iii) Yet, man tends to think of himself... ~ self-righteous, conceited, foolish in God's eyes (Romans 1:21)
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