Day 11 Devotional - God Desires Mercy not Sacrifice

Matthew 32:11-13

“And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice. for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." NKJV

Jesus had just called Matthew who was a tax collector to follow Him and he immediately got up and followed Him. Matthew had Jesus over for dinner that night and invited all his friends to come meet Him. In those days tax collectors were despised and hated by everyone and viewed as the scum of the earth. They could only hang out with each other and others that were viewed the same way because no one else would talk to them. Once again we see how Jesus chose His disciples not because of their outward righteous acts or religious piety but men who would follow Him with their whole heart.

Matthew inviting his friends over to meet Jesus was the perfect scenario to bring light into their dark world and bring them to repentance and salvation through Christ. The Pharisees saw the good that was happening and viewed it as evil and then accused Jesus of fellowshipping with sinners. Read More...