“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 9:10-13 Ok. I think this passage calls for a Becky interpretation. Please remember I have not studied scripture in the original Greek, gone to seminary, or consulted any prominent, knowledgeable, dead theologians. This is just how I understand what is written by the ancient author.
“Jesus went to have dinner at the home of Matthew who just left his job at a Payday loan office. A lot of people from the neighborhood joined them. Some were out on parole and there were a few trans people and gay couples. Several of the people were not citizens and didn’t have the correct identification. One young woman had an abortion the year before and another was single and pregnant. A couple of people were obviously under the influence of a mind altering substance. All of them were welcome to feast with Jesus.
The pastoral team at Super Mega Holy Righteous church saw the students of Jesus and asked them, “Hey! Why does your teacher welcome those truly demented, low IQ, deranged, no talent, radical people?”
Jesus overheard them and said, “Those who think they’re healthy don’t need a doctor. Those who know that they are hurt need healing. Why don’t you go and re-read Joel where he says “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” In case you don’t understand, it means that God desires compassion and caring over arbitrary rules and religious ritual.”
