Words of Grace

By Rev. Mahlon Nevel

As Jesus was sitting down to eat a meal, a number of publicans and sinners joined him. When the pious Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why is your Master eating with publicans and Sinners?” (Matthew 9:10, 11)

Jesus overheard the question, and then he said to them, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” In the Bible, sickness is a description of sin. Jesus, the Great Physician, came to save a sin-sick world.

The Pharisees thought that they were not sinners because of their religion. That’s why Jesus said that those who are well do not need a doctor. They saw no need of a Savior to save them from their sins.

“I will have mercy and not Sacrifice,” Jesus said. Then he told them to go and learn what that meant. He was referring to the prophecy of Hosea, 6:6. God is a God of mercy who desires to have mercy. The Pharisees refused God’s mercy and attempted to make their own sacrifices.

God, in his mercy, sent Jesus his Son for sinners. “But this man, after he had offered one Sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12).

Hymn writer Charles Wesley pictures our merciful Savior seated at his Father’s side :

“Depth of mercy! can there be Mercy still reserved for me? Can my God His wrath forbear – Me the Chief of sinners spare?

“There for me the Savior stands, Holding forth His wounded hands; God is love! I know, I feel Jesus weeps and loves me still.”