Obedience to the Truth
Replying to the Pharisees who asked his disciples: why is your master eating and drinking with the sinners and tax collectors, Jesus said: " Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice .' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners " [Mathew 9:13] paraphrasing the text from prophet Hosea " For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings " [6:6] Mathew was a literate, dutiful employee of Herod Antipas who collected tax from the Jews on behalf of the Romans. Jews considered such men an outcast because they extorted their own people. Jesus invites him to be his disciple and he obeys. This obedience involves a great sacrifice especially considering the riches and the lucrative profession Mathew is leaving behind to follow the son of man who has no place to lay his head. Jesus in saying that he has come seeking not the righteous, but sinners reiterates that he searches out for hearts that ...