So he stepped into a boat, crossed the lake again and came to his own town. 2 Some people brought him a paralyzed man lying on a mattress. When Yeshua saw their trust, he said to the paralyzed man, “Courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.” 3 On seeing this, some of the Torah-teachers said among themselves, “This man is blaspheming!” 4 Yeshua, knowing what they were thinking, said, “Why are you entertaining evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Tell me, which is easier to say — ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But look! I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” He then said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, pick up your mattress, and go home!” 7 And the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck and said a b’rakhah to God the Giver of such authority to human beings.
9 As Yeshua passed on from there he spotted a tax-collector named Mattityahu sitting in his collection booth. He said to him, “Follow me!” and he got up and followed him.
10 While Yeshua was in the house eating, many tax-collectors and sinners came and joined him and his talmidim at the meal. 11 When the P’rushim saw this, they said to his talmidim, “Why does your rabbi eat with tax-collectors and sinners?” 12 But Yeshua heard the question and answered, “The ones who need a doctor aren’t the healthy but the sick. 13 As for you, go and learn what this means: ‘I want compassion rather than animal-sacrifices.’[
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Matthew 9:13 Hosea 6:6
] For I didn’t come to call the ‘righteous,’ but sinners!” (Complete Jewish Bible).While Jesus tells the Pharisees to think more deeply on the meaning of Hosea 6:6, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” the surrounding story gives us a pretty good idea of what Jesus understood the meaning to be. The healing of the paralytic is the climax of the first story, but the focus is primarily on the forgiveness of sins. In the second story we see Jesus defiling himself, according to the Pharisees, in order to eat and fellowship with sinners. Together, these two stories demonstrate Jesus' understanding of Hosea 6:6 to be that God desires the forgiveness of sinners more than proper rituals.
Certainly, there is a need for proper rituals. Whether formal or informal, rituals play an important role in discipleship and spiritual formation. However, Jesus reminds us that the rituals should not impede the first work of offering forgiveness to sinners and welcoming them into the presence of Christ within the community of faith. Are there “rituals” or unspoken expectations within our churches that impede our first work of offering forgiveness? If so, may the Lord give us eyes to sees.
Hymn for Today: "I Love to Walk with Jesus" by Charles F. Weigle.
1. O I love to walk with Jesus
Like the publicans of old,
When He gathered them about Him
And the blessèd tidings told;
How He came to bring deliverance
To the captives in distress,
Take away our ev’ry burden,
Giving perfect peace and rest.
Refrain: I will follow where He leadeth;
I will pasture where He feedeth.
I will follow all the way, Lord.
I will follow Jesus ev’ry day.
2. O I love to walk with Jesus
Like the man of long ago
Who had tarried by the wayside
Near the gates of Jericho,
Jesus heard his cry for mercy,
Gave him back his sight that day,
And immediately he followed
Jesus all along the way.
Refrain: I will follow where He leadeth;
I will pasture where He feedeth.
I will follow all the way, Lord.
I will follow Jesus ev’ry day.
3. O I love to walk with Jesus
All the way to Calv’ry’s brow,
Gaze upon that scene of suffering
While my tears of sorrow flow.
There He tells me how He loves me—
Takes my ev’ry sin away;
So I follow Him so gladly,
Lead me anywhere He may.
Refrain: I will follow where He leadeth;
I will pasture where He feedeth.
I will follow all the way, Lord.
I will follow Jesus ev’ry day.
4. O sometime I’ll walk with Jesus
In that land of endless day,
When our journey here is over
And we’ve reached our home to stay.
Then I’ll walk with him forever,
Sing His praises o’er and o’er,
And with all the saints in glory
Love, and worship, and adore.
Refrain: I will follow where He leadeth;
I will pasture where He feedeth.
I will follow all the way, Lord.
I will follow Jesus ev’ry day.
enter his courtyards with praise;
give thanks to him, and bless his name. (Psalm 100:4)(Complete Jewish Bible).
Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Taiwan.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
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Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Taiwan.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
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