God Desires Mercy not Sacrifice

Matthew 32:11-13

“And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"  When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.  for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." NKJV

Jesus had just called Matthew who was a tax collector to follow Him and he immediately got up and followed Him.  Matthew had Jesus over for dinner that night and invited all his friends to come meet Him.  In those days tax collectors were despised and hated by everyone and viewed as the scum of the earth.  They could only hang out with each other and others that were viewed the same way because no one else would talk to them.  Once again we see how Jesus chose His disciples not because of their outward righteous acts or religious piety but men who would follow Him with their whole heart.   

Matthew inviting his friends over to meet Jesus was the perfect scenario to bring light into their dark world and bring them to repentance and salvation through Christ.  The Pharisees saw the good that was happening and viewed it as evil and then accused Jesus of fellowshipping with sinners. 

The Pharisees were a religious and political party in Palestine in New Testament times. The Pharisees were known for insisting that the law of God be observed as the scribes interpreted it and for their special commitment to keeping the laws of tithing and ritual purity. (def. Taken from from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

It is unfortunate when men or women get caught up in their own spiritual self righteousness that they miss out on having the most important relationship of all - Intimacy with Christ Himself.  The Pharisees were so bent on finding fault with Jesus in fact they talked to him face to face and still didn’t see Jesus for who He was.  Pride is like a blindfold to the truth.  They cannot receive it because they cannot see it.  Seeing spiritually takes humble faith.     

Let us also learn from this that true religion is having a personal relationship with Christ and reaching out to others in love and mercy not in judgment or accusation.  Please do not follow the way of the Pharisees but follow Christ, for the bible says it is satan that is THE accuser of the bretheren. Jesus desires mercy not sacrifice.  God will exalt the humble and will humble the proud.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3” Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. and though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. NKJV

Filoiann Wiedenhoff