Jesus Desires Mercy, Not Sacrifice
When Jesus tells us that we need to learn what something means, we ought to apply ourselves to learning it well and doing it.(Matthew 9:12,13) Therefore, let me ask you a question. What did Jesus mean when He said, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice?" Have you considered it? If not, why not? Let's take a minute to consider the context and the meaning, so we can know what it means.
Some of the Pharisees were upset with Jesus for eating with tax collectors and sinners, after He called Matthew, the tax collector, to be one of His disciples. Jesus was very plain spoken. He said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick." Obviously, Jesus knew the tax collector and sinners had great needs; they were the "sick." Jesus was the Physician who could meet those needs, so He went to them. The Pharisees thought they were "well," because of the way they practiced religious rituals. However, Jesus knew better than that, so He tried to teach them what to do themselves, and to answer their question about why He would eat with those people upon whom they looked down. He said, "Learn what this means," or think about this. I desire mercy, not sacrifice. Jesus was wanting them and us to know that having mercy on people who have great needs, and especially upon those who need the Lord, was His great priority, and it should be our priority, if we are well. That is why He concluded by saying that His mission was to call sinners to repentance, not the righteous. The righteous are on the way to Heaven, but the sinners are destined for Hell. We must have mercy on them and pursue them passionately, like Jesus did. That is what we will do it we, "Learn what this means."
Do we really have mercy on sinners as we should? Do we overlook some of their vices so we can share the love of God and the gospel with them? Do we show them sincere love? When was the last time we intentionally reached out to a non-Christian in love? If we can't answer those questions with examples of us showing mercy, then, we have not learned what this means. In fact, let me give you a question I heard from a preacher last week? Besides family members/relatives, how many non-Christians do you sincerely love, so that you regularly show love to them? Are we so busy with our sacrifice, our religious rituals and services, that we have forgotten the mission of Jesus for us? If so, we are no better than the Pharisees, and we need to learn what Jesus meant.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Matthew 10-12.
Some of the Pharisees were upset with Jesus for eating with tax collectors and sinners, after He called Matthew, the tax collector, to be one of His disciples. Jesus was very plain spoken. He said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick." Obviously, Jesus knew the tax collector and sinners had great needs; they were the "sick." Jesus was the Physician who could meet those needs, so He went to them. The Pharisees thought they were "well," because of the way they practiced religious rituals. However, Jesus knew better than that, so He tried to teach them what to do themselves, and to answer their question about why He would eat with those people upon whom they looked down. He said, "Learn what this means," or think about this. I desire mercy, not sacrifice. Jesus was wanting them and us to know that having mercy on people who have great needs, and especially upon those who need the Lord, was His great priority, and it should be our priority, if we are well. That is why He concluded by saying that His mission was to call sinners to repentance, not the righteous. The righteous are on the way to Heaven, but the sinners are destined for Hell. We must have mercy on them and pursue them passionately, like Jesus did. That is what we will do it we, "Learn what this means."
Do we really have mercy on sinners as we should? Do we overlook some of their vices so we can share the love of God and the gospel with them? Do we show them sincere love? When was the last time we intentionally reached out to a non-Christian in love? If we can't answer those questions with examples of us showing mercy, then, we have not learned what this means. In fact, let me give you a question I heard from a preacher last week? Besides family members/relatives, how many non-Christians do you sincerely love, so that you regularly show love to them? Are we so busy with our sacrifice, our religious rituals and services, that we have forgotten the mission of Jesus for us? If so, we are no better than the Pharisees, and we need to learn what Jesus meant.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Matthew 10-12.