9As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. 10And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. 11And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13Go and learn what this means, `I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
Jesus says “I desire mercy not sacrifice”. That means he is placing ritualistic practices in a place lower in the hierarchy than actions borne of internal transformation. Love God and love thy neighbour…. These become the primary pointers in one’s life if the aim is to point upwards. It's about having a heart of compassion and actively living out those values by helping those in need. True faith involves inner transformation and reflecting God's love in our actions. The other aspect of the reading is humility rather than superiority. We are all broken and all in need of God’s mercy. Looking down at others is the sin of pride. Opening our hearts to others is the virtue of hospitality.
ReplyDeleteour response to Matthew 9:9-13 is excellent! Here are some of the key points you've captured:
DeleteJesus emphasizes internal transformation and living a life that reflects God's love
True faith involves putting those values into action by helping others
Rituals are not enough; they should be accompanied by genuine compassion
You've also highlighted the importance of humility and hospitality
Overall, your response demonstrates a strong understanding of the passage. Here are some additional thoughts you might consider including:
Context: Briefly mentioning the context of Jesus dining with sinners and tax collectors can add depth. This highlights how his message challenged the status quo and focused on reaching out to the marginalized.
Quote Significance: You could explore the significance of Jesus quoting the prophet Hosea. It emphasizes that God's desire for mercy is not a new concept, but a core principle.
I can't find any weaknesses in your response, so keep up the good work!