Matthew 9:9-13
“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector's booth. 'Follow me and be my disciple,' Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.
Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with such scum?'
When Jesus heard this, he said, 'Healthy people don't need a doctor ~ sick people do.' Then he added, 'Now go and learn the meaning of this scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
I was on my way to a doctor's clinic this morning when I heard the late Adrian Rodgers preaching on the car radio. He told a personal story from early in his ministry about his own career. He had a very strong desire to preach the gospel and see people saved. He said that if he preached one message and saw no response, he would be so disappointed that he wanted to leave the church by the back way and not greet anyone. Then, after a time, God revealed to him that it was his responsibility to be obedient in preaching...or as he said...”scatter the seed”. It is God's job to move forward, nurturing the seed and bringing it to fruition.
After I arrived at the clinic for my doctor's appointment and waiting to be called, I was reading today's scripture from my One Year Bible. I noticed here in Matthew 9:12 Jesus said, “Healthy people don't need a doctor ~ sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Jesus was quoting Hosea 6:6. The complete verse from Hosea says, “I want you to show love (or mercy), not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.”
What I picked up from this is that obedience in doing what God desires is more important than any sacrifice we might offer. None of us would go to the doctor if there was not a need...and likewise, none of us would come to Jesus if we thought we were already righteous. The Pharisees would never come to Jesus because they were so caught up with “themselves” and their own sacrifices, that in their minds they thought they did not need “the doctor”, Jesus. Personal check-up: How is my obedience factor today?
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