Mercy That Restores

Matthew 9:9-13;18-26

Preached on June 7, 2026

Have you ever had a period of time where it seems you’re going from one thing right into another? 

We’re going to look at a passage today that puts Jesus in the middle of a sequence of events and it seems like He just can’t catch his breath.

His ministry has launched and he is one busy man—and in the middle of all He is doing, He keeps getting interrupted. 

We’ll see that those interruptions were actually opportunities.

Let’s turn to Matthew chapter 9.

I will be reading from the NIV this morning. Matthew chapter nine, and we’re going to read verse 9-13. We’re going to fast forward a little, and then pick back up in verses 18- 26 .

Matthew 9:9. Since it’s a bit long, you can remain seated. 

THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD. THANKS BE TO GOD

Prayer. 

We looked at Matthew’s call a while back— But- we were in the Gospel of Luke. 

Today we read Matthew’s version. Interesting—he’s writing about himself. 

Matthew—a busy fella. A hard-working man.

There he is—he’s on the job—but it’s not a respectable one. Tax collectors were considered traitors.

They teamed up with their oppressors, the Romans. They also lined their own pockets.

Spurgeon says Matthew is a taker —but Jesus is going to turn him into a giver. 

But to do that—Jesus has to call him away from before he can call him to something.

Here we have it— Jesus is walking along and spots a guy in a tax booth— “Come be my disciple…” Now that may seem random.

Now let’s remember—Jesus never did random ministry.

His heart was always aligned with the Father’s will. He knew where God’s grace was already working.

John 6:38: "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."

John 5:19: the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing..."

Let’s keep this in mind as we unpack these stories.

Grace was already working, and Jesus was tuned-in, to the Father’s voice, aligned to His will.

So Jesus is walking along, He spots Matthew and says- “Follow Me.”

Maybe Matthew’s conscience was already bothering him. Matthew knew he wasn’t satisfied, although he seemed to have it made. 

Jesus said, “Follow me.” Notice He didn’t say—“think it over”…”Talk to a few friends about it…” or what about “Pray about it.” 

This was not a multiple choice question.

The answer Jesus needed was either a “Yes I will,” or “No, I wont.” 

Matthew said “yes”— Knowing that he would have to walk away from wealth and privilege.

Matthew left it all in the tax booth.

He followed Jesus. No hesitation. No looking back.

But why would Jesus want him, though? 

This was at least a controversial call.

There’s nothing like adding a person who is despised to your ministry team, right? 

What would that do to Jesus’ credibility? Tax collectors are swindlers!

This is socially taboo.

When a Jew entered into service for Rome, he became an outcast, was disqualified from ever being a witness in court, and was excommunicated from the synagogue. 

Why would Jesus want him?

I believe He—knows what grace can do! 

He knows how powerfully grace transforms and all He needs to work with is an obedient heart.

(Pause)

So, Jesus and his disciples go to Matthew’s house for dinner, and it sounds like a lot of his friends show up.

And of course, the Pharisees are watching. 

Verse 11, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Did you notice though, the Pharisees didn’t ask Jesus directly?

Could it be they’re trying to turn them against Jesus—casting a shadow of doubt—

But Jesus overheard them and says, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 

I love this—He’s describing the sinners as patients in need of healing. Sin is a medical condition.

What would happen if we focused less on the behavior and sinful actions, and cared more about the wounds and hurt that cause people to act out?

What if we thought of sin as a disease?

Maybe we would learn to practice mercy. 

The Pharisees didn’t get it.

They avoided all contact with sick people. 

Of course they wanted the sick people to get healthy- but they weren’t going to risk getting infected themselves. 

But Jesus came for those who understand their need.

For those who see they can’t save themselves.

The proud can’t admit they need Him.

So Jesus gives those Pharisees a direct challenge. 

“Go and learn what this means:

“I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

He shamed them by using Scripture that they already knew—at least in head knowledge. 

Jesus basically told them to go back and study Hosea 6:6.

Jesus isn’t saying that sacrifice doesn’t matter.

But—Their offerings were meaningless —if they didn’t treat people—especially the poor right.

They had forsaken mercy even though they were faithful in their offerings.

The Pharisees focused on their purity and offerings, but Jesus is focused on healing, relationship, and mercy. 

(Pause)

What lengths Jesus goes to—

He called Matthew INTO His circle. That’s mercy that restores!

Jesus didn’t cast him out because of his failures, He invited Him to walk a new path.

Picking up in verse 18, Jesus is now interrupted as he’s in mid- conversation.

Suddenly, a synagogue leader shows up.

He falls on his knees- he’s desperate.

“My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 

And Jesus said— “Hey man, can’t you see I’m busy? Get in line!”

No!

He felt this father’s grief.

But did you listen closely to what he wanted Jesus to do?

Touch a dead body!

It’s one thing to hang out with a crowd of sinners—that’s taboo, and controversial, right?

But touch a dead body?

Most religious leaders wouldn’t go near the dead.

That’s a big request!

This was the the most defiling thing of uncleanness that a person could do!

But, verse 19—Jesus gets up, says, come’on guys—and he went with him.

Wow—what length will Jesus go to to provide restorative mercy?

(Pause)

And just as they are making their way to his house, Jesus is interrupted again.

This time He’s interrupted by someone on the opposite end of the social spectrum.

The religious leader is respected—prominent in society.

Verse 20, “Just then a woman (total opposite end of the social spectrum)

A WOMAN—an UNCLEAN WOMAN who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years

came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.”

Wow! Do you see the contrast?

The man had walked right up to Jesus, the woman tries to hide.

He responded to both of them with restorative mercy!

(Pause)

It seems as if this woman is trying to minimize the risk of making Jesus unclean.

She didn’t touch Him, but just His garment.

Verse 21,  She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

Maybe her theology is a little flawed.

Charles Spurgeon says, “She was ignorant enough to think that healing went from him unconsciously; yet her faith lived despite her ignorance, and triumphed despite her bashfulness.”

And Jesus responded. He turns toward her. He saw her. He emboldened her.

He could have let His healing power flow, but He made a public notice of her.

Maybe it’s because He wanted her to hear an official declaration.

Or maybe he wanted others to know she was healed.

Maybe He didn’t want her to feel that she had to hide from Him.

There’s a lot of maybes—but He says, “Take heart.”

Be encouraged, be confident.

“Your faith has healed you.”

What lengths would Jesus go to- to provide mercy that restores?

So- now He gets back on task.

He gets to the house and the professional mourners are all wound up.

Jesus tells them to leave because the girl is asleep—and just like that, all that mourning turns to mocking.

Verse 24: “They laughed at Him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in, and

Took the girl by the hand…”

Remember, that’s a NO NO.

What lengths will Jesus go to?

He took the girl by the hand, and she got up.”

Jesus endured the ridicule and criticism.

It didn’t stop Him from doing God’s will in the least bit.

Instead of death defiling HIM, he defied death!

“She got up.”

(Pause)

Three powerful stories. All show us a Christ that moves toward those in need.

He upends social expectations and challenges religious structures.

All of these stories center on a theme of unexpected inclusion and transformative mercy.

It is Jesus who gets to decide who belongs in the community—in the family of God!

Divine compassion outweighs rigid religion.

These were tangible acts of restorative mercy—not just words.

(Pause)

So what do we do with this? What does this passage teach us?

I’ll be honest, my first response is—I want to be like Jesus.

But before we go there, let’s put ourselves in the shoes of the other characters and allow God to search our hearts.

Matthew—Caught up in a system that personally benefited him at the expense of hurting others.

(Repeat) Caught up in a system that personally benefited him at the expense of hurting others.

Do you believe that there are still systems of injustice today that we can get caught up in that benefit us at the harm of others?

Systems of privilege for some? This is a tough one.

Globally, we are the richest society in the world.

Do you think there might be ways we use that to our advantage?

We could sit with that for a while, but if we’re really honest, we may see that we are in need of restorative mercy—just like Matthew.

God, let us hear your call to leave it behind and walk away from it all to follow you.

Other characters—the little girl—maybe we have dead things in our lives that we need Jesus to restore. Dreams?

Maybe we have been knocked off our feet and feel like life has been sucked right out of us.

Do you just need to feel the hand of Jesus getting you back up?

Do you need restorative mercy today?

Maybe we’re like the woman who reached out to touch the hem of His garment. Utterly helpless.

Is your faith so strong that you are willing to risk it all just to touch the hem of His garment?

If you’re in any of those places—that’s a good thing.

You’re positioned well for the Great Physician to do His work!

Remember, Dr. Jesus didn’t come for the healthy, He came for the sick.

Realizing and admitting we have a need is how we obtain that restorative mercy!

The proud never get it!

We receive His restorative mercy—only to give it away!

God gets us back on our feet to help others get back on theirs!

Who are the people in our community who need a dose of restorative mercy?

That’s good medicine!

We have to get aligned with the Father’s will to know where His grace is already working.

We have to develop an ear for His voice.

Did you notice that Jesus noticed Matthew as He was walking on His way?

We have to develop His eyes to notice those who need restorative mercy!

Can you tell when a person is under conviction and ready to follow Jesus?

Are you willing to get in the trenches with them to lead them out? Even if it means it’s socially “taboo?”

This might take getting your hands a little dirty. Are we too afraid we might get contaminated?

About seven years ago, a very close friend of mine had gotten herself entangled with sin—and she had hit rock bottom.

Beautiful girl, beautiful family, loaded with talent—but she was a mess!

I got a call from her husband who was frantic—saying they had another big fight, and he thought she was at her work office drinking. (Closed)

He was afraid of what she may do to herself. He asked me to go check on her—try to help.

Eric and I got over there, and sure enough, she was there. Locked in.

She was drunk- had alcohol all over the floor. She had made quite a mess.

I talked her into coming home with me. We got her in the car, stopped by Wendy’s and got some food in her.

This was a Saturday night too—I had to lead worship the next day.

But- we got home…She was like a child. She laid her head in my lap- I held her, she cried like a baby.

She repented—over and over. “God, I am so sorry,” She said over and over. She prayed, I prayed.

And let me tell ya- by this time she stunk like liquor and onions. She had tears and snot all over the place.

We were up all night. She finally sobered up, I took her home at 6:00 am—about 45 minutes one way to her house…

and I got back home just in time to shower, get ready and get to church.

I was on the platform by 8:30 that morning leading worship with the heaviest heart.

Not telling you this story to brag on myself—but I wondered if I had made a difference.

I watched her struggle in the weeks, months and even years after.

But—I saw glimpses of God’s grace at work.

She didn’t get back in church, until recently, but God put her family back together—slowly…

And this morning—it’s been seven years…

This morning for the first time in seven years, she is singing on the praise team at her new church.

Mercy—what a voice!

Healed, restored, whole.

Both of their daughters got saved recently, and were baptized this past Easter.

Let me just tell you—it’s worth the effort.

Being a giver of restorative mercy is worth it!

Getting down in the trenches, getting your hands dirty is worth it.

God’s grace was stronger. His grace has put her back together and it’s wonderful to have a small part in what He has done in her life!

And church—that’s the mercy of Jesus.

Mercy that doesn’t stand at a distance.

Mercy that moves toward broken people.

Mercy that touches what others avoid.

Mercy that restores what seems too far gone.

That’s what Jesus did for Matthew.

That’s what He did for the bleeding woman.

That’s what He did for a grieving father.

That’s what He did for a little girl everyone thought was beyond help.

And maybe that’s what He wants to do for somebody here today.

Maybe you feel ashamed like Matthew.

Maybe you feel exhausted and hidden like that woman.

Maybe there’s something dead in your life that only Jesus can raise again.

Hear me: Jesus is still moving toward people in need.

He is still restoring. He is still healing. He is still calling people to follow Him.

And maybe today, the invitation is twofold.

First— Receive restorative mercy.

Stop pretending you’re fine. Stop trying to clean yourself up before coming to Jesus.

The Pharisees thought holiness meant staying away from messy people.

Jesus showed us holiness runs toward them.

You don’t have to hide from Him. You don’t have to impress Him. You just need to come to Him.

And second— Become a carrier of restorative mercy.

Because there are people all around us bleeding internally, grieving silently, trapped in shame, stuck in cycles of sin, wondering if anyone sees them.

May we become the kind of church that notices people the way Jesus did.

A church that isn’t afraid of interruptions.

A church that isn’t afraid to get close to messy situations.

A church that believes grace is stronger.

A church that believes nobody is beyond restoration.

Because mercy still restores.

(Pause)

Invitation—

And maybe this week, somebody’s restoration will begin because you noticed them… because you listened… because you stopped… because you were willing to get your hands dirty for the sake of love.

That’s the Jesus way.

Bendiction—May you leave today as people of mercy with eyes to see the hurting. May God give you courage to move toward them and compassion to love like Jesus does.

Grace and Peace…