“But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matt 9:12-13 (ESV)
I will be the first to tell people that I don’t want to read more into scripture than what is obvious. Many a religion, denomination or move of God became side-tracked by reading something into a bible scripture that was not part of the intended obvious meaning, nor part of the historical meaning either.
Yet, lately, when I read scriptures like Matthew 9: 12-13, I seem to be asking myself if Yeshua is asking another question beyond what I see written. Follow my train of thought and maybe you will understand what I am saying.
One of the basics of Biblical faith about the nature of man is the doctrine of “The Depravity of Man”. This doctrine states that man, by his very nature, is completely and totally sinful, unable to save himself. Whether we commit an actual sin or not, whether the sin is simple or heinous, is not the issue. The question is about our basic nature as defined by God in scripture. We are sinners by nature and in need of God’s salvation.
Regarding the Matthew passage at the beginning, here is a possible chain of thoughts (logic) we must examine:
By Yeshua’s own words:
- Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick
- He came to call sinners to repentance but not the righteous.
Furthermore:
- If man is sinful by nature
- If man is incapable of saving himself
- If man by the work of God can only be saved through Yeshua’s death and resurrection on the tree (cross)
A conclusion we can reach, based on these thoughts, is that everyone is in the group that Yeshua is seeking.
The question I keep asking myself is this. Is there another question in Matthew that Yeshua is not asking His detractors? Could this be the question: If I am seeking out the sick and the sinners, if scripture states that everyone is a sinner before God, then why are you not also amongst the group of people seeking me?
