Matthew 9:10-17
As Jesus was having a meal in Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard this he said, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Then John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?” Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot mourn while the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast.
No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, because the patch will pull away from the garment and the tear will be worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the skins burst and the wine is spilled out and the skins are destroyed. Instead they put new wine into new wineskins and both are preserved.”
The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
COMMENT & QUESTIONS
When the Pharisees looked at the sinners, they only saw their failure. But Jesus saw their needs. After all, Jesus came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Do you ever think that some people are beyond becoming a follower of Christ?
It's easy to look at people who are engaged in a lifestyle of sin, and think that they are beyond saving. Many people even read the gospels and think that even they are beyond saving. But Jesus turns this upside down. He sees people who have obvious moral failings, yet He sees the brokenness in their life and the opportunity for healing. In reality, many of these people readily accepted Jesus and His mission, not in spite of their brokenness but because of it. (See Luke 19:1-10)
Jesus and His disciples are criticised not only for who they associate with, but also for not conforming to other people’s expectations. Jesus gives 3 illustrations here to show that new and old don’t mix. By this point in the gospel account we can see many examples of the new way Jesus offers, which is very different to the old way. If you have time, read Jeremiah 31:31-34 and notice what will be different about the ‘new covenant’ that Jesus is bringing.
God will put His law in them and write in on their hearts
He will be our God, and we will be His people
We won't need teachers because everyone will have access to the law
He will forgive our iniquity and remember our sins no more
Prayers
Pray that we will see the needs people have and not just see them for their sins Thanks that Jesus has healed us from our sin