Jesus Calls Matthew and Defends Mercy

9:9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. "Follow me," he said to him. And he got up and followed him. 9:10 As Jesus was having a meal in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Jesus and his disciples. 9:11 When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 9:12 When Jesus heard this he said, "Those who are healthy don't need a physician, but those who are sick do. 9:13 Go and learn what this saying means: 'I want mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." 9:14 Then John's disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast?" 9:15 Jesus said to them, "The wedding guests cannot mourn while the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast. 9:16 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, because the patch will pull away from the garment and the tear will be worse. 9:17 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the skins burst and the wine is spilled out and the skins are destroyed. Instead they put new wine into new wineskins and both are preserved."

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. He then eats with tax collectors and sinners, showing that his mission is to call the spiritually needy. He also explains that fasting must fit the time of his presence, and that his new work cannot be forced into old religious forms without harm.

Jesus sees Matthew sitting at the tax booth and says, “Follow me.” Matthew gets up and follows him at once. This shows Jesus’ authority and Matthew’s immediate obedience. A tax collector was despised in that society, yet Jesus still called him.

Then Jesus eats in Matthew’s house with many tax collectors and sinners. This meal matters because table fellowship showed acceptance and association. The Pharisees object and ask why Jesus eats with such people. Jesus answers that healthy people do not need a doctor, but sick people do. His point is that sinners are the ones who need him. He is not pretending they are well. He has come to help those in need.

Jesus then quotes Hosea: “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” He tells the Pharisees to learn what this means. He is not rejecting God’s commands or all worship. He is correcting a wrong priority. God wants mercy, and religious forms are empty when they are separated from compassion and covenant faithfulness. Jesus says that he came to call not the righteous, but sinners. In this setting, that likely speaks with irony about those who think they are righteous and do not see their need.

Then John’s disciples ask why Jesus’ disciples do not fast like they do. Jesus answers with the image of a wedding. Guests do not mourn while the bridegroom is with them. His presence is a time for joy, not fasting. But he also says that the day will come when the bridegroom will be taken away, and then they will fast. So Jesus is not abolishing fasting. He is saying that fasting must fit the season.

Jesus then gives two pictures: a new patch on an old garment, and new wine in old wineskins. Both pictures show that some things do not fit together. If they are forced together, damage happens. Jesus’ new work cannot simply be placed inside old forms without strain and loss. The point is not that the old revelation was bad. The point is that his messianic presence brings a real new situation.

This passage shows that Jesus calls sinners to himself with authority and mercy. His fellowship with them is part of his healing mission. It also shows that the coming of the Messiah changes the time and the pattern of religious life. Mercy, joy, and obedience must now be understood in relation to Jesus.

• Jesus’ call to discipleship is personal, direct, and authoritative.
• Matthew’s immediate response shows real obedience.
• Jesus’ meal with tax collectors and sinners shows his mercy toward the spiritually needy.
• The physician image means sinners need Jesus’ healing mission.
• “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” corrects wrong priorities; it does not cancel God’s commands.
• “The righteous” here likely refers ironically to those who think they are righteous.
• Jesus does not abolish fasting; he teaches that fasting must fit the time of his presence and his removal.
• The cloth and wineskin images teach that Jesus’ new work cannot be forced into old forms without harm.

• Do not read Jesus’ meal with sinners as approval of sin.
• Do not turn “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” into a rejection of worship or obedience.
• Do not say this passage teaches that fasting is never needed.
• Do not use the wineskin images to claim that Jesus rejected the Scriptures.
• Do not stretch the bridegroom image beyond the passage’s main point of present joy and future loss.

God’s plan is shown in Jesus’ authority to call sinners, show mercy, and bring a new season of joy. The prophets had already taught that mercy matters more than empty ritual. In Jesus, that truth is seen clearly. His presence also marks a new phase in God’s work, so old religious patterns must be measured by him.

Follow Jesus with immediate obedience. Show mercy to people who know they are broken and need help. Practice fasting and other disciplines with wisdom, not pride. Test church habits by whether they serve Christ’s mission and fit his way.

Related commentary links will be expanded as this tier is built.