Matthew 9:1–13 < The Lord of Mercy Who Calls Sinners >

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📖 Matthew 9:1–13 < The Lord of Mercy Who Calls Sinners >

13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’
For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

✨ Authority to Forgive Sins — The Beginning of True Healing

Before healing the paralytic, Jesus first declared,
“Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2).
While the people expected physical healing, Jesus addressed the deeper problem of humanity—sin.
This reveals that the root of all suffering lies in broken relationship with God.
True healing does not begin with outward restoration, but with restoration before God.

✨ The Way to Righteousness Is Grace, Not Works

The teachers of the law accused Jesus of blasphemy for forgiving sins.
Yet Jesus made His authority clear by raising the paralytic to his feet, proving that He indeed has the power to forgive sins.
Here we see a central truth of the gospel:
Human beings are not justified by keeping the law, but by the authority and grace of Christ.
This is the heart of grace alone and faith alone.

✨ Jesus Calls Matthew the Tax Collector

Jesus looked at Matthew, a tax collector despised by society, and said,
“Follow me.”
Lack of qualification did not hinder the call—
it became the very place where grace was revealed.
Jesus does not call those who appear righteous, but those who know they are sinners.
His call leads to a transformed life, but it always begins with unconditional grace.

✨ A God Who Desires Mercy

Jesus quotes the prophet Hosea and declares,
“I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”
God delights not in religious formality or outward piety, but in hearts of mercy toward sinners.
The gospel did not come to condemn us.
The gospel came to give life to sinners.

🙏 Prayer

Lord of mercy,
We come before You, not with outward appearances, but with hearts laid bare before the God who sees all.
Help us lay down our pride and self-righteousness, and rely solely on the grace of Jesus Christ.
Free us from the arrogance of thinking ourselves righteous, and remind us daily that we are sinners called by grace.
May we also extend to others the mercy we ourselves have received.

🔍 Application

• Am I still trying to prove myself through my works?
• Just as Jesus forgave sins first, entrust your deepest problems to Him.
• Step away from judgment, and move one step toward mercy.

💡 Meditation Point

Jesus did not come to find the righteous—
He came to save sinners.
Our hope is not in religious effort,
but in Christ, who has authority to forgive sins.
Today as well, live humbly as one who has been called by grace, and follow the Lord.

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