"But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. 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."
The first part of today's quote relates how the people marveled at the power of Jesus as He healed the palsied man and rebuked the scribes.
The second part of the quote relates how the Pharisees objected when Jesus selected Matthew as an apostle and then sat down with him to eat. The Jews, under the Law, were not allowed to mingle with gentiles or those who were considered by Jews to be "sinners". Matthew was such a man. Jesus, knowing their hearts, said, in essence that those who considered themselves already perfect had no need of a guide to perfection; "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."
Thank God, Jesus came to heal the unworthy such as myself.~
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