People Over Perception

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:9-13

Two Shocking and Scandalizing Moves Jesus Makes:

1. Jesus calls a tax collector to be a disciple.
2. Jesus eats with Matthew and Matthew’s friends.

Bottom Line

Loving people must take priority over public perception.

Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:12-13

A Triple High-Truth Punch

1. It’s not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
2. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
3. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

Action Steps

Create some space to prayerfully reflect on the following questions:

• Do I see myself as one of the sick for whom Jesus came?
• How might Jesus’ actions be disrupting my self-righteousness?
• Am I willing to risk public perception in order to love people where they are?

Practice: Take the risk of loving someone whose life is a mess right where they are.