The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Matthew:9:9-13

kjv@Matthew:9:9 @ And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom; and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

kjv@Matthew:9:10 @ And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

kjv@Matthew:9:11 @ And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

kjv@Matthew:9:12 @ But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

kjv@Matthew:9:13 @ But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice; for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Today's notes: Mercy and not Sacrifice

Context:

Before - power on earth to forgive
After - as bridegroom is with them

What is man believing/doing?:

Matthew (Levi) leaving his position and following his calling
Matthew hosting a feast for Jesus and disciples
Pharisees critiquing Jesus for associating with low lifes

What is making man to believe/do as he is doing?:

(implied - preparation of God, perhaps one of those publicans familiar with John the Baptist)
desire for friends and associates to meet the Jesus for whom Matthew is going to follow
the belief that the holy and sacrificial are above acquaintance with sinners, misunderstanding of call to perform mercy, appearance of such mingling to others, fear of dirtying oneself or ones appearance.

Notes:

The sequence of these events in relation to the Sermon on the Mount does not need to be chronological as this would be Matthew's (our author) first grouping with the disciples. The sequence very well could be thematic, how Jesus envisioned His kingdom to exceed as a whole, the many directions He reached out to establish it. Even the series of healing immediately following it do not need to be chronological. It could also mean that Matthew heard the sermon second hand or that it was a frequently given sermon.

You will notice that Jesus is using real life people and situations to preach for him to the scribes and Pharisees. It is not an high tower academic pursuit, the Pharisees are having to follow Jesus in and among the people to determine what He is teaching where it gets down and dirty and street wise practical.

Key Messages:

What does this say about our present condition?

Mercy simple and pure becomes a very complicated thing. The appearance of things trumps the urgent need of things for the self righteous. Even when there is a desire to perform mercy (not saying that is always the case), there is uncomfortable image of self in relation to others and an image others hold of you that stifles mercy, detaches it, institutionalizes it.
There is a measure of self justification allowed oneself when left outside of what mercy is happening with others. One might put oneself above it, but there is the disturbing sense of one losing their influence or acquaintance. For the pious there is the hope that Jesus would operate more on your level, yet he continually disappoints by going to the people that you've worked so hard to rise above.

Further Resources:

Comment Board:Matthew:9:9-13
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Matthew:9:9-13 rwp@Matthew:9:9-13 mhcc@Matthew:9:9-13
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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