Dining with Sinners: Understanding Christ’s Compassionate Outreach

By Debra Marsalisi

“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’”—Matthew 9:9–13 (NIV)

Let’s face it: times haven’t changed much. No one wants the IRS knocking at their door. When a Jew became a tax collector, he was regarded as an outcast from society—he was prohibited as a judge or witness in court, he was banned from the synagogue, and, in the eyes of the community, his dishonor and shame extended to his entire family. Matthew was hated and despised. His wealth was gained from the sweat and tears of his fellow brothers and sisters. And yet, Jesus invites Matthew to follow Him. This provides great comfort and hope for us.

Interestingly, Matthew mentions hypocrisy more times than any other biblical author. I imagine he witnessed so much hypocrisy from the Pharisees and the religious system that he was disgusted. By the time Matthew became a follower of Jesus, He had a well-known reputation for being unlike any of the religious leaders of His time. He witnessed Jesus turn the religious system on its head, reaching out to the marginalized and showing them love, acceptance, and compassion.

“He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth.”Jesus saw Matthew as a man, not as a tax collector. He didn’t say, “First stop being a tax collector, then follow Me.” Instead, Jesus calls him and us right where we are and then transforms our hearts, minds, and spirits. He doesn’t call us by our sin, “Hey thief, hey addict, hey sex-fein.” He calls us by name.

I presume Matthew got to the point that many of us do, where the world’s riches and comforts pale compared to being known and accepted by Jesus. In celebration of this major life decision, all his tax-collecting buddies and outcasts are invited to dine with his Savior. Like Matthew, when we bring our friends to Jesus, it’s a sincere act of worship to the King of kings.

In the next scene, a knock at the door rudely interrupts the party. The Pharisees offer judgment, disdain, and criticism at Jesus’ choice of dinner companions. In return, Jesus rebukes them, saying, “Go and learn what this means.”Pharisees used this phrase to imply that an individual was uneducated in God’s Word. By using this same phrase, Jesus is giving them a taste of their own medicine by pointing out they failed to apply the Scriptures to their lives. The Pharisees were honoring God with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him (Isaiah 29:13).

“I desire mercy, not sacrifice” is also found in Hosea 6:6. They didn’t understand they were called to pursue intimacy with God, not just check off a box of religious activities (for them, it was animal sacrifice to cover their sins). If we’re not careful, we can fall into the same rhythm of performing for God instead of abiding in intimacy with Him.

The last rebuke is directed solely at their self-righteous attitudes. Jesus lets them know He didn’t come for those who think they’re righteous but for those who know they’re sinners. This interaction reminds us Jesus was far from a pushover. He’s the perfect display of power under control.

Christ's compassion and pursuit of the lost and broken gives hope and encouragement to us all. I love how Matthew’s story of redemption is a perfect picture of Romans 5:8 (NIV), which says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Pause: Have you ever had a self-righteous Pharisaical moment, forgetting you’re a sinner saved by grace?

Practice: Honestly evaluate whether you’ve been checking a spiritual box with God this week. If so, repent and pursue intimacy with God by spending time in His Word and setting aside time for prayer.

Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for Your relentless pursuit of me, for seeing me and calling me by name. I ask for gentle conviction when I’m just going through the motions spiritually and when I let pride creep into my life. Bring me into deep intimacy with You. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.