Scandalous Love

Matthew 9:9-13 NASBS
As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. [10] Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. [11] When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” [12] But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. [13] But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

Jesus is seated among sinners, which is considered a sign of disloyalty to God in Jewish tradition. In Jesus’ day, no self-proclaimed man of God would ever consider spending time with someone who was leading a sinful lifestyle.

To sit with this people would imply to religious people that you would no longer be able to worship God because you would have become dirty. Just by having fellowship with sinners.

In the time of Jesus, a tax collector would have been considered more than just an impure person. A tax collector was a Jew who chose to work for the Roman empire in order to collect money from his fellow countrymen. He was paid in silver. According to the rest of the Jewish population, a tax collector was someone who was becoming wealthy at the expense of the disgrace and impoverishment of their homeland.

But Jesus doesn’t appear to be particularly concerned with the politics of his day. He went straight to the people who were betraying the country, chose one of them to be his disciple, and sat down with them for dinner to discuss their actions. He was even praying with them at the time!

Jesus doesn’t appear to be troubled by the religious garb or the fact that he doesn’t appear to be following their rules. Jesus astonished the religious leaders as well as the rest of the populace with a single act of pity or compassion (we will return to the profound meaning of the word later).

Tax collectors were not well received or appreciated by the public. They were traitors, to say the least. However, despite the fact that he was living during a period of very judgmental people,  Jesus was able to take advantage of every opportunity he had to demonstrate scandalous mercy and unheard of acts of love.

His love went on to dismantle every barrier that stood between humans and the Almighty. The word “compassion” conjures up images of a love that is so genuine and profound that it is not hindered by politics, religious codes of conduct, or even the apathetic behavior that we are all familiar with. He was frequently moved by compassion.

This compassion is expressed in the Hebrew language as an inward anguish for others that manifests itself in the form of an act of love and assistance. This sympathy can be expressed by tears, groans, or other unidentified sounds, as well as through a strong and determined GO AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

When the Pharisees confronted him about why he was eating with such sinners, he responded by revealing his heart and, at the same time, rebuking the religious leaders who had become entrapped in their religious bubble and had failed to understand God’s heart for the people of the world.

Matthew 9:13 (NASB) is what Jesus said.
For now, though, go and learn what this means: “I WANT COMPASSION, NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Here, the term “compassion” or “mercy” refers to a feeling of benevolence or good will toward the unfortunate and afflicted, combined with a wish to assist them. (Thayer’s Bible Dictionary, Dictionary Thayer of the Bible.)

Isn’t it straightforward? We take something so easy for granted… Helping those in need was something Jesus did with a scandalous amount of compassion, unwavering action, and the sheer desire to assist them.

That’s where his heart is.

The rebuke came in the shape of the phrase “I do not desire sacrifice, but rather mercy. ” I don’t want self-righteous people who don’t show mercy and grace to those around them. I do not support religious rituals that ignore individuals who are in desperate need of assistance. To represent me, I want compassionate people who will journey to the ends of the Earth in search of those in need and sit with them and listen to them, as well as love them.

Remove the locks from your doors and venture out into the streets. Talk to sinners and offer them assistance. This is the result of God’s handiwork.

Politics and religious codes of behaviour are not barriers to love. Love that goes beyond your own comfort or sense of self-righteousness. Love takes precedence over your disinterest. Get out there and help those who are in need.

Blessings