Mercy And Not Sacrifice

Redemption - Jewish genealogy for 42 generations. Jewish genealogy wAre recorded by the men. Matthew included women on 5 occasions

Tamar pretended to be a prostitute to trick her father-in-law into impregnating her.

Rahab was a prostitute who helped the Israelites capture Jericho.

Ruth—from the Book of Ruth—was a widowed Moabitess, and Moabites were forbidden from entering the assembly of the Lord (Deuteronomy 23:3).

The wife of Uriah is Bathsheba, with whom David famously committed adultery (and possibly raped).

Mary, of course, became pregnant before she was married.

People with a past not just included but given significant roles in the Kingdom.

Matthew 9:9–13 KJV 1900

And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Matthew knew what it was to be redeemed.

Matthew’s first response was to share with others what he had experienced.

Best thing he could do was get them around Jesus.

Matthew now considered the reproach of Christ better than material gain.

A love worth living for.

Matthew had a great feast to get his friends to Jesus. Luke 5:29

Money lover to soul lover.

I will have mercy and not sacrifice.

Jesus came to heal the sick.- If a man thinks that he’s in great shape, then he won’t go to the doctor, even if he’s got cancer. The Pharisees had spiritual cancer, but they thought they were pretty healthy. But the tax collectors had no illusions about themselves. They knew that they were terminal sinners. Many of them feared that they were such terrible sinners that they were hopelessly beyond God’s reach.

Jesus took the worst and made them the best of the best.

Jesus was so adept at leading he had Simon the Zealot and Matthew as traveling companions

Matthews life testifies

Jesus is Lord (Matthew followed)- Lord is used 7836 times in the Bible

He is a Redeemer (Matthew changed)- He's the God of endless chances.

Mercy and not sacrifice (Matthew received and shared mercy).

Matthews are made by mercy.