In Matthew 9:13, Jesus says, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” This is in response to the Pharisees questioning why He ate with tax collectors and sinners. To understand why Jesus made this statement, we need to examine the context, the meaning of righteousness and repentance, and who Jesus came to call.
The Context of Matthew 9:13
In Matthew 9, Jesus had been going through the region healing the sick, casting out demons, and forgiving sins. After calling Matthew to be His disciple, Jesus went to Matthew’s house where many tax collectors and sinners gathered around Him. The Pharisees saw this and asked the disciples why Jesus ate with such people (Matthew 9:11). Jesus heard the question and responded that He did not come for the righteous but for sinners.
The Pharisees considered themselves righteous because they strictly followed the Mosaic Law. However, their righteousness was only external. Jesus knew the hearts of all men (John 2:24-25) and saw the self-righteousness and hypocrisy of the Pharisees. They looked down on those they considered sinners but were no better inwardly before God.
The Meaning of Righteousness
When Jesus said He did not come for the righteous, He was referring to those who were righteous in their own eyes – like the Pharisees. They trusted in their own good works and obedience to the Law to make them acceptable to God. However, true righteousness only comes through faith in Christ (Philippians 3:9).
The Bible is clear that on our own, no one measures up to God’s standard of perfect righteousness (Romans 3:10). We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). That is why Jesus did not come for the self-righteous who did not recognize their need for a Savior. They rejected Jesus because they felt they were good enough already.
The Meaning of Repentance
When Jesus said He came to call sinners to repentance, He was referring to the humble who acknowledged their sinfulness and need for forgiveness. To repent means to turn away from sin and turn to God. Those who recognized their unrighteousness were the ones ready to hear Christ’s call to repentance.
Repentance involves a change of heart and a turning from sin in both attitude and action. When we understand our lost state before God, we see our need for the Savior. In godly sorrow over our sin, we turn to Christ in humble repentance and faith. This is the repentance Jesus came to bring sinners to.
Who Did Jesus Come to Call?
Although Jesus did not come for the self-righteous, this does not mean some are excluded from His salvation. He came to call all who recognize their need for forgiveness. His death on the cross paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). God desires all people to repent (2 Peter 3:9).
Jesus came first to the Jews to preach repentance and the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17). But His ultimate mission was to provide salvation for the whole world. He commissioned His followers to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). So while the self-righteous may reject the call, Jesus invites all humble sinners to come to Him.
Jesus Welcomed Sinners to Show Them God’s Love
In eating with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus demonstrated the mercy and compassion of God. The religious leaders avoided such people to remain ceremonially clean. But Jesus showed that God cares more about reaching lost souls than following ritual customs.
Jesus said He did not come for those who claimed they had no need for a doctor but for the sick (Luke 5:31). Spending time with sinners gave Jesus the opportunity to speak truth into their lives. His love and forgiveness could bring healing and restoration.
As followers of Christ, we are called to show the same grace He did. We are not to condone sin but befriend sinners in hopes of pointing them to the Savior. By loving the unlovable, we reflect God’s heart for the lost.
Jesus Prioritized Internal Transformation Over External Acts
The Pharisees were scrupulous about observing the rituals and traditions of Judaism. But they neglected the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faith (Matthew 23:23). Their focus was on external appearance rather than inner transformation.
In contrast, Jesus focused on changing hearts first. Once a person repented of sin and trusted in Him, righteous living would follow. He said cleaning the inside of the cup affects what is outside (Matthew 23:26).
For Jesus, holiness was a matter of the heart. Acts of righteousness are meaningless without inward renewal by the Holy Spirit. Outward reformation must spring from inward regeneration.
Jesus Offers Saving Grace, Not Mere Temporal Fixes
The Pharisees believed that meticulously keeping the Law was what pleased God. So they imposed extra biblical rules to create a form of godliness (2 Timothy 3:5). But Jesus offered so much more than outward compliance to a set of standards.
Through His death and resurrection, Jesus dealt with sin’s root cause – a fallen human heart. He alone can transform sinners into new creations from the inside out (2 Corinthians 5:17). This spiritual rebirth brings true cleansing and power to live a godly life.
No amount of superficial moral reform can solve humanity’s sin problem. We need a Savior to rescue us from sin’s grip and bring us into right relationship with God.
Jesus Came as a Physician for Sin-Sick Souls
When the Pharisees accused Jesus of spending time with undesirables, He responded that the well have no need for a doctor but the sick. As a great physician, Jesus came to diagnose the fatal condition of the soul sickened by sin.
Just as a doctor must name a disease before treating it, Jesus puts His finger on our sin problem and calls us to repentance. His prescription is the redemptive medicine found only in Him.
Once Jesus cures us of sin’s deadly disease, we are able to live in the joy and freedom of spiritual health. We experience wholeness as He binds up the brokenhearted and heals all our infirmities.
Jesus Calls Sinners to Experience God’s Mercy Themselves
As the religious elite looked down on sinners with contempt, they felt no need for mercy themselves. Their self-righteousness blinded them to their own need for forgiveness.
But Jesus offered mercy to all who humbly acknowledged their unworthiness before God. He invited the sin-sick to come and receive divine healing through repentance.
When we deny our need for mercy, we shut ourselves off from God’s grace. It is only when we confess our sins that we can be cleansed and made whole. Calling sinners to repentance opens the door for them to personally encounter God’s compassion.
Jesus Was the Friend of Sinners But Not a Friend of Sin
The Pharisees accused Jesus of condoning sin because He spent time with sinners. But befriending sinners to meet their spiritual needs is far different than approving of sinful lifestyles.
Jesus hung out with the lost not because He was ok with their sin but because He wanted to bring them to repentance. He offered them forgiveness and fellowship with God.
We must follow Jesus’ model of loving sinners while calling them to forsake sin. Building relationships with the lost is necessary to share the gospel. But true love also compels us to speak truth about sin.
Jesus Came to Fulfill Messianic Prophecies About Salvation
The Old Testament contains many prophecies about the coming Messiah who would deal with sin. Isaiah 53 portrays the suffering servant who bears the iniquity of sinners to bring them healing.
Jesus said the Son of Man came to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). His death purchased our redemption from the penalty of sin. This fulfilled the Messianic prophecies about salvation.
If Jesus only came for the righteous, His death would have no purpose. Sinners need a sacrifice for sins which Jesus alone could provide. He came for sinners to offer the way of salvation.
Conclusion
Jesus made a direct correlation between His mission and sinners who repent. The sick need a doctor and sinners need a Savior. Though the religious elite rejected Him, Jesus came to call not those who claimed their own righteousness, but those who saw their need for His grace. His ultimate purpose was to offer repentance, forgiveness, and spiritual rebirth to all who believe in Him.