“Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” –Mathew 9:13
After Jesus called the Jewish tax collector, Matthew, to follow Him, He shared a meal with “many tax collectors and sinners” (Matthew 9:10). The Pharisees despised such people and asked His disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (v. 11). Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (v. 12). The rest of His response is our Fighter Verse this week: “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The Pharisees would have recognized Jesus’ words from the prophet Hosea, “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). The suggestion that they didn’t understand what those words meant, and that they needed to go and learn, must have infuriated them. Even more that Jesus was putting them in the same category as the faithless priests of Hosea’s day who failed to teach the people God’s ways.
The only reason the people of Israel still existed–the religious leaders included–was because of God’s mercy. He had revealed Himself to the people as:
"The LORD, The LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation." (Exodus 34:6-7)
Jesus was the visible picture of God’s character in action: showing mercy to sinners by forgiving those who had faith in Him. He was on a mission to turn sinners away from their sin. This is what the priests should have been doing all along. The religious leaders were avid practitioners of the sacrificial system. But they were insincere in their religious observance. God wanted leaders who were eager to obey, and brokenhearted over sin. Instead the Jewish leaders were quick to accuse and point fingers at the sinful people, assuming all along that they were not among them. They had no need for a savior because, in their eyes, they had no sin.
If the Pharisees had done what Jesus said, they would have seen how the Jewish priests and prophets rejected knowledge (Hosea 4:6). They were faithless teachers and the people were destroyed for lack of knowledge (4:6). God had given them a position of privilege and authority to mediate between the people and God, but instead, they served themselves.
The priests were unfaithful shepherds who failed to do God’s will. Rather than embrace Him and repent of their own self-righteousness, they accused Jesus of sinning.
Jesus’ command is instructive for us, too. Hosea reveals that God is slow to anger and full of mercy. The book records Israel’s unfaithfulness and unrepentance and God’s plans to punish the people. But also it reveals the Lord’s love and plea for His people to return to Him. We learn that we are to “press on to know the Lord” (6:3), and that He desires “steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (6:6). God wants us to seek Him in HIs Word, to believe His promises, and to obey His commands.
God did not institute sacrifices because He loved to have animals slaughtered for Him–He was not like the pagan gods of Canaan, or of Greece or Rome. The animal sacrifices were necessary because “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). The sacrificial system provided a way for God’s sinful people not to be destroyed. It was given by Him in mercy, and was meant to protect them from His wrath until the time when Christ would come and pay for sin once and for all (Romans 3:25).
When Jesus said He came not to call the righteous, but sinners, He was saying He came to call everyone. But only those whom He convicts of their sinful condition can hear His call and be saved.
Contrast Jesus’ rebuke that ordered the religious leaders away, with Jesus’ invitation to people who know themselves to be sinners:
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
“Go and learn [on your own]” vs. “come to me…and learn from me.” Only the humble in heart can learn from Jesus–those who know they are heavy laden with sin. There is freedom in every generation for those who humble themselves and come to Jesus in repentance and faith.
For Reflection
Do you thank God for His mercy when He makes you aware of your sin?
Ask God to grant you a heart of mercy toward others who sin against you, recognizing that your sin against God is your biggest problem.
Give thanks to God for Jesus who paid the price for your sin.
Candice Watters is the editor of Fighter Verses and co-author of Start Your Family: Inspiration for Having Babies with her husband Steve. The Watterses have two grown children and two who are nearly grown. They live in Louisville, KY.