Jesus Encounters Hostility

KEY VERSE: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” —Mark 2:17

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Mark 2:15-17, 23-28; 3:1-6

FROM the account given in Matthew 9:9-13, it is evident that the apostle was giving a rather detailed account of his calling to discipleship. Matthew was classed as a publican by the Jews because he was a collector of taxes and customs for the government. In general, the publicans from among the Jews were persons of immoral character because they charged more than was due and enforced their demands by military action. The office itself, because of this, was infamous, and, therefore, all who were engaged in this work were looked down upon by the people. Not all, however, were dishonest, and we believe this was the case with Matthew.

There is no record that Matthew had heard Jesus or John the Baptist, but we think it reasonable that he had heard one or both, and that the message had lodged in his heart and had borne fruitage so that when the Master spoke to him, saying, “Follow me,” he arose and followed him. (Matt. 9:9) He apparently never looked back to his former life.

We appreciate the evidence of zeal on the part of Matthew when he invited his friends and others who were publicans to a dinner, for the purpose of announcing his new vocation and making an opportunity for Jesus to give a witness to the truth and the kingdom. It is evident that our Lord was no prude, for he immediately sat down to the meal with these social outcasts of the Jews. The Pharisees, who were always looking for some objection to Jesus, inquired of his disciples why his actions were so inconsistent with the character of a prophet who would not sit at meat with men of so vile a character. “But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 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.” (Matt. 9:12,13) Jesus was saying that to have mercy requires contrition of heart which comes through a proper evaluation of oneself when compared to the perfect standard stated in the Law, and manifested by Jesus. Sacrifices under the Law could be offered without a proper heart attitude, and therefore not be pleasing to the Lord.

Our Lord’s words pointed to the heart condition of the scribes and the Pharisees and, in general, the religious leaders of the Jews, who felt that they were God’s favorites and had no reason to repent. It was the outward compliance to the letter of the Law that was important to them; the motives or the condition of the heart were not to be considered. Jesus, in another place, said of them, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”—Matt. 23:27,28

It is obvious these religious leaders did not feel the need of a physician. They did not recognize their fallen and undone condition, but were full of arrogance and pride. The Lord was interested in those who recognized that because of the weakness of the flesh they could never attain to a righteous condition through perfect obedience to the terms of the Law. These were those who responded to the call of repentance and showed a willingness to accept God’s provision for salvation through the promised Messiah. The obvious reason the Lord joined the feast was because he felt that some were there who would have a hearing ear.

On another occasion, one of the rulers of Israel came to Jesus “and worshiped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.” (Matt. 9:18) When Jesus arrived at the ruler’s home, he said, “Give place; for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth.” (vs. 24) And those who were present “laughed him to scorn.” But after she was raised, his fame spread abroad into all the land.

It was such experiences as these the Apostle Paul spoke of in Hebrews 12:3, when he said, “For consider him that endured such contradiction [opposition] of sinners against himself.” And in another place he indicated it was necessary that Jesus have these experiences for his development.—Heb. 5:7,8; I Pet. 2:21-24

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