“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.”
Here endeth the lesson. This whole chapter in Matthew is about religious leaders questioning Jesus and his actions. Now I have no problems with questions, but they weren’t trying to learn or understand, they were trying to humiliate and discredit.
Jesus healed a paralyzed man and told him his sins were forgiven. The leaders said he was cursing God.
Jesus and his disciples did not practice fasting. The leaders questioned why they didn’t engage in this ritual.
Jesus heals a man who is mute. The leaders called Jesus the prince of demons.
It breaks my heart how healthy the Christian church in America thinks it is and how sick it has really become. We used to argue over the color of the carpet in the sanctuary or which is the better the organ or a guitar and drums. Now some are actually debating on whether or not empathy is a sin and others are justifying the murder of innocent people using scripture.
It is mind boggling to me. In my head I know that it has always been this way. History has shown us what a mess people using the Bible for their own gain have made. There are leaders today that believe that they are called by God, can do no wrong, and that they can hurt and decimate other human beings and never have to repent or apologize.
In my heart I know the truth. We are all broken in some way and once we realize this we can begin to heal.
Mercy not sacrifice. Compassion not contempt. Healing not hurt. Love and hope in all things. This is what following God looks like. Be blessed.” Thank you. Make it a great week, and Happy Easter! Grace and peace, Becky Long
Becky Long is the partner--in ministry and in life--of Pastor Don Long Jr. of Wesley United Methodist Church., 1212 Calhoun St., Macomb.
