Years ago, when Bill Clinton was president, it seemed like a scandal was erupting at least monthly. Whether it was Monica Lewinsky or shady land deals, it seemed like this man who seemed so good at dealing with the economy couldn't control himself or take care of his personal life. I remember watching Congress voting to impeach him and the preacher of the church I was at at the time loved to blast away at his moral decisions.
It was a popular thing to do to make fun of a man or at least to be critical of a man who had so many moral failures. So, I wonder what most modern preachers would do at this point in the story in Matthew 9:9, when we see Jesus come face to face with the author of this gospel, Matthew at a tax collectors booth. Knowing that it would have been the popular or easy thing to do to call Matthew a scoundrel and rail against him the way Jesus did against the Pharisees. So, I wonder if there wasn't a collective gasp when Jesus said to Matthew "follow me." Was Jesus really calling this man who had cheated so many to be one of his followers. It is a reminder again that Jesus' actions must have shocked people daily. If he wasn't raising people from the dead, he was saying or doing something people didn't expect.
So, it shouldn't be surprising, that even as Jesus is sitting at Matthew's house enjoying a meal, that the Pharisees are being critical of Jesus. They are wondering what in the world he is doing and what point he is trying to prove. Jesus doesn't give them long to wait. Jesus tells them "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." What does he mean by "righteous". He means those who thought themselves "righteous" and above others.
I think if we were candid we would like to think that most of us would have accepted Matthew also. But, somehow I doubt it. Matthew was the one man both Jews and Romans hated or looked down upon. To the Jews this man was a traitor, lining his pockets as a worker for the Romans. He would not have been accepted as a worshiper in the temple. The Romans needed people like Matthew to help collect the taxes, but the certainly weren't friends with him. He was in a world where nobody accepted him and everyone hated him. Deep in his heart, perhaps Matthew sensed that things were not going well and though he had lots of money, it was not satisfying the way he thought it should. So, when Jesus looks into Matthew's eyes and sees the regret, the loneliness, the fatigue, Jesus throws out a life vest and says, "I see your sickness. Follow me."
Now, if Jesus also looks into our hearts and minds then he also sees the hurting and lonely places in your life and mine. He sees the things we don't mention. The old hurts, the regrets, the struggles, the times when it is difficult to smile. Jesus sees all of these things. Unlike a regular physician, who only knows what the test results say or you tell him, Jesus the physician sees sickness that we don't even want to label. Things like shame and bitterness and envy and all sorts of darkness places. Not only does He see these places, but he can heal them.
Look at these other verses to see how Jesus treats the outcasts
Matthew 21:31- "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you."
Luke 7:47 "Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven-for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
John 8:11 "No one sir," she said, "Then neither do I condemn you." Jesus declared. "God now and leave your life of sin."
Luke 15:2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "Thsi man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
I thank God that he does not expect me to be perfect, but to be trusting in Him despite my imperfections and all my faults.
