You’re Sick! – Matthew 9:9-13

Many Americans of late have come to the conclusion that their bodies do not respond well to the gluten in wheat. They didn’t know they were sick, but they had wrestled with a number of symptoms that were attributed to other issues and only discovered that at the heart of their health issues was gluten. We can be sick and not know it, despite having symptoms that point to a problem.

Jesus’ miracles have drawn the attention of the Pharisees, the popular religious party and wielders of influence in Israel. They should be paying attention to the symptoms that show they are ill but they aren’t. This becomes obvious when they belittle a disciple of Jesus.

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:9-13 ESV)

Matthew has used a pattern in his recounting of Jesus’ miracles…three episodes of miracles (the leper, Centurion’s servant, Peter’s mother-in-law) and an interlude about the cost of discipleship, three episodes of miracles (calming the storm, casting out demons, and forgiving and healing the paralytic), and now, another interlude about who Jesus came to save, which is again about discipleship and who can be a disciple.

The calling of Matthew, a tax-collector, to be a disciple is a striking choice.  Few were more hated among Israelis than tax-collectors because they were working for the Roman occupiers, the enemy.  Matthew had been interested in Jesus, but now he was being asked to follow Jesus, to commit to Jesus as a believer and as a learner. Matthew’s joy at being given this privilege is unbounded and he throws a party to announce it to all his tax-collector friends and others considered obvious sinners.  He wants to introduce them to Jesus, the one he loves above all.

The Pharisees’ question reveals their own merciless and arrogant hearts.  They think they are righteous and healthy.  But it is the tax-collectors and sinners at Matthew’s party who are truly hungering and thirsting for righteousness, who know they are sick and in need of a physician of the soul, and whose righteousness then exceeds that of the Pharisees (Matthew 5).  Jesus came to save such as these and until the Pharisees recognize just how sick and unrighteous they are Jesus has not come for them. 

Has he come for you? Have you recognized that you are in desperate need of a Savior, of God’s forgiveness and mercy? Or do you think you are healthy enough that you don’t need the divine Physician? Until you acknowledge your sickness, you cannot get well.