THE DEEPEST DESIRE

 OCTOBER 31, 2022

Matthew 9:11-13

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus consistently modeled spending time with and developing relationships with those who were far from God; or at least those who were considered sinners by the religious elite.  In fact, Jesus was harshly criticized for such a focus.

Jesus responded to that criticism by sharing His purpose and challenging the critics to “go and learn" what Hosea 6:6 means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Jesus, here in this passage reveals the very heart of God to those present.

God desires mercy, not sacrifice, is not just telling us that God wants us to love people more than he wants us to observe ritual holiness. It's telling us that his deepest desire, the thing that is most important to him in all the world, is that people come to him, experience his love, and find themselves embraced and welcomed home where they belong. It's not only a message to us, but also a message for us. God is a God of mercy. God doesn't want or look for perfection for us; rather, in my view, we see that God wants people to experience his forgiveness and to draw near him and his son Jesus. I believe that is good news for all of us, both for those of us who already know him and those who don't but will find their way to him one day. As Lamentations 3:22-23 teaches,

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Jesus came to bring healing to those who were sick in heart and spirit; those who were adrift because of the consequences of their choices. And to minister to people like that, He needed to be with them. Not in some condescending rescue mission, but in building a genuine and authentic relationship with them and showing His love and care for them.

In this week’s devotions we will explore the many ways that Jesus did that, in order that we may be prompted and provoked to do the same.