Matt 9:12-13 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ^{” 13} But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Most of my life I did not feel like I needed to go to a doctor unless I was really sick. I ate pretty healthy food, exercised, in general tried to take care of my body and was blessed with good health for most of my years. That was my BC life…Before Cancer life. This past, coming up on two years, has confirmed what a treasure good doctors are when one is really sick. What Jesus said is so true. When we are really sick we get in to see a doctor as soon as we can.

At some point after Matthew was called by Jesus, he decided to invite his former tax collector colleagues and other lost people over to his house for a meal. Matthew also invited Jesus and the other disciples. Our blog picks up where Jesus is answering the question the Pharisees asked of His disciples as to why He is eating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus’ response in verse 12 was clear and to the point, “…Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” Christ concluded His answer in verse 13 “…For I did not come to call the righteous, but, sinners, to repentance.” In essence, well people do not need a doctor, sick people do and I came to call the lost to repentance, not those who think they are already righteous. What a mic drop answer!

Our passage today reminds us there is a bigger healing we need than physical healing. This was and still is good news. Jesus came to this earth to address our biggest need, that being our “sin” sickness. The further good news is Jesus was and still is willing to meet lost people right where they are just as He did at Matthew’s house. As I shared last week, Jesus came to SEEK and to SAVE. Long before we knew we needed a “doctor” Jesus came seeking us. Praise the Lord He still makes house calls today!

I want to encourage all of us to follow Jesus’ example and be willing to go where hurting and lost people are. Ask God to help you to be a good witness to those in your place of influence who so desperately need to know our God. May God help us to see lost people as worthy of our time and able to be redeemed by God and His grace. Jesus did, therefore, we should as well.

Tim