A Call To Action P. Ruby :) HOLA

Today, we delve into a powerful passage from the Gospel of Matthew, where we witness a transformative encounter between Jesus and a tax collector named Matthew. This encounter reveals profound truths about God's mercy and our response to His call. Let's explore Matthew 9:9-13 together and discover the lessons it holds for us today. Jesus Calls Matthew 9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many 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, “Why does your teacher eat with 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 what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Point 1: The Surprising Call Our passage begins with Jesus extending an unexpected invitation to Matthew, a tax collector.

“He saw a man call Matthew sitting in a tax booth

We see in verse 10 that Matthew puts tax collectors in a separate category than sinners.

Tax collectors were the worst.

There were two types of tax collectors and neither were liked.

General tax collectors - fixed rates collected by Romans

property taxes

income taxes

poll taxes

The ones who would tax everything - no fixed rates

similar to our sales rates

these tax collectors made their money by whatever they could get out of people.

They’d give what was due to Rome and pocket the rest.

Rome did not care what these tax collectors charged as long as they got their cut.

Matthew was the second kind of tax collector

He set up his own stand and milked his people from their hard earned dollars

These types of tax collectors were known to be dirty and crooked.

Many Jews considered submission to Rome, treason.

In the Jewish writings there are sections dogging tax collectors.

It was actually ruled by Jewish rabbis that it was okay—lawful even—to lie to tax collectors.

For Matthew, being a Jew, could you imagine what his people thought of him being a tax collector? HE WAS HATED by his own people.

Those following Jesus probably thought “Jesus is going to give this tax collector a piece of His mind”

Yet, Jesus sees beyond Matthew's social status and calls him to follow.

Jesus sees beyond our sin and sees in us as the men and women He wills us to be

He sees our heart – when others focus on our sin and judge us

He is asking all of us to follow Him

Luke 5:28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

Matthew leaves EVERYTHING

In true conversion we leave everything and start new, start fresh

Examples of following

He wants to be in relationship with us

Like Matthew, Jesus finds us at our worst and asks us to follow him.

Not only does Matthew leave everything behind but Luke 5:29 says “And Levi made him a great feast in his house,”

Matthew was so ecstatic about his new relationship with Jesus that he wanted all his friends to meet Him. Hebrews 13:16 - And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Matthew wanted to share Jesus with his friends. Point 2: The Compassion of Christ As Jesus sits at the table with Matthew and other tax collectors and sinners, the religious leaders criticize him for associating with such individuals. “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus responds with a powerful statement: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’"

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”

Jesus is referring to Himself as the doctor

He is the cure

We’re all sick – those in the room were not offended when He referred to them as sick

Scripture says “we have all fallen short”

“Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ “

Jesus is quoting the OT to the Pharisees here. In Hosea 6:6 it says “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings”

He’s reminding the religious leaders of what is written in the OT

God desires acts of compassion and kindness over ritualistic sacrifices.

The prophet Hosea was rebuking the people of Israel for their hypocrisy and superficial religious practices.

They were going through the motions of offering sacrifices and observing religious rituals, but they were neglecting the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and compassion towards others.

Jesus doesn’t invite us into a new set of rules, he calls us into a relationship

Point 3: The Call to Transformation In verse 13, Jesus declares, " For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” In Luke it reads “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Jesus doesn’t call us for an outward observance of religious rituals but for genuine transformation of the heart, TRUE REPENTANCE

a transformation marked by love, compassion, and mercy towards others.

Hosea “For I desire.... the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings”

God does not want us to just know of Himor be aware of Him – He wants us to KNOW HIM personally

He desires a deeper, intimate understanding of who He is, His character, His will, and His ways.

It's about having a personal relationship with God, knowing Him intimately, and living in alignment with His principles and desires.

God values heartfelt devotion and understanding of Him more than outward displays of religious duty.

The prophet emphasizes the importance of sincerity, genuine connection, and living in accordance with God's will, rather than relying solely on religious rituals or offerings.

Let’s examine ourselves and reflect on our own lives and consider areas where we may prioritize religious activities over showing mercy to others. Conclusion: As we conclude, let us remember the powerful message of Matthew 9:9-13. Jesus' call to mercy is as relevant today as it was in the time of Matthew. May we respond to His invitation with open hearts, leaving everything behind, extending His love and compassion to all those we encounter. And may we, like Matthew, be transformed by the mercy of our Savior, becoming instruments of His grace in a world in desperate need of His healing touch. Amen.