Matthew 9:9-13 9And as Jesus was going away from there, he saw a man sitting at the tax booth called Matthew, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he getting up he followed him. 10And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13And going, learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous but sinners.”
This passage has three parts to it. The first gives Jesus’ invitation to Matthew. After spending some time in Capernaum area, Jesus continued on his journey throughout the area surrounding the Sea of Galilee. He saw a tax collector sitting at his toll both. Significantly, once again, Jesus took the initiative in inviting someone to follow him. Tax collectors have always been notorious for their association with taking hard earned money from people since no one enjoys paying taxes. Tax collectors were lumped into the category of unliked people. Jesus gives Matthew the same invitation as with the four fisherman, James, John, Andrew, and Simon in 4:19: follow me (akolouthei). Also, like the fisherman, Matthew got up and followed. Following Jesus required him to leave his tax booth, likely in the middle of the day.
The second scene is in Matthew’s house. Reclining around a table was the typical way to eat. Matthew must have had many friends or at least work colleagues because of all the people who showed up. The picture is one of joy and thanksgiving. Matthew had to give up a lot to follow Jesus, such as these many friends, but his obedience to Jesus’ call provided a powerful witness to them.
The third part of the story focuses in on Jesus’ dialogue with the Pharisees. They saw him guilty of sin by association. The word “pharisee” has as its root the idea of separation. Their interpretation of holiness was separation from that which defiles. They lumped tax collectors and sinners into this unclean and defiled category. They missed the whole point of what Jesus was doing. They were more concerned about the outward appearance that the inner condition of those who needed to be healed.
The so-called “sinners” and tax collectors were spiritually sick and needed to be healed. The Pharisees were making the same mistake as the people during the days of Hosea. Jesus quotes the prophet (Hosea 6:6) to offer the Pharisees the opportunity to examine themselves. No doubt, they knew this passage but missed its association with spiritual healing. They had a form of righteousness by the law, but they had deep issues just like those in Matthew’s house. Jesus never intentionally pushed them away from salvation; they chose to walk away because of the calloused and blinded hearts. Those who came to Jesus in faith experienced the healing.
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