Potential For God’s Kingdom

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Apr 28, 2016 1818

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’ [Hosea 6:6]. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. (Matt. 9: 9-13)

When Jesus came to town, he saw in Matthew someone with potential for God’s kingdom. He did not overlook the bad things Matthew was doing, but knew that if he was accepted as a son of God, his life would be transformed. What a lesson for us.

The religious leaders immediately pounced on Jesus for associating with such a ‘scum-bag’. Jesus told them straight that God desires mercy more than the sacrifices people make to be ‘perfect.’ In other words, God is much more interested in the way you treat and accept others, than he is in your so-called righteous living.

Matthew, who became one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, and who wrote the first book of the New Testament, gave evidence of his evangelistic drive, by calling his fellow tax collectors and other sinners together so he could introduce them to Jesus. And what better inducement could he provide than a splendid feast in his house.

We can learn from his example. If the sacrifice he made resulted in the in the salvation of just a small percentage of his guests, and just one of those guests became an evangelist for Jesus, then that would be treasure in heaven for Matthew.