Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26, I have come to call not the righteous but sinners, for Sunday, June 11, 2023,

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26, I have come to call not the righteous but sinners, for Sunday June 11, 2023

The Calling of Matthew

NRSV Translation

9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him. 10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. ¹¹When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ ¹²But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’

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The Gospel for Hearers translation

9 When Jesus went on a bit further,

he saw a man sitting in the tax-office, Matthew by name,

and he said to him,

"Follow me."

Getting up, he followed him.

10 And as he was at table in the house,

many tax collectors and sinners were sitting at table

with Jesus and his disciples.

And the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to his disciples,

"Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

Hearing this, Jesus said,

"It is not the strong but the sick who need the doctor.

Go and learn what this means ... 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice';

I did not come to call righteous people, but sinners.'

What are the serious issues raised by Matthew 9:9-13?
(An AI response: Note that AI here provides opinion, not fact and should not be taken as authoratative)

Matthew 9:9-13 is a passage from the Bible, which raises several serious issues that are still relevant today. In this passage, Jesus calls Matthew, who was a tax collector, to become one of his disciples. This event resulted in Jesus dining with Matthew and other tax collectors and sinners, which upset the Pharisees and scribes. This passage raises ethical, social, and religious issues that are still relevant today.

One of the significant issues raised by this passage is the ethical dilemma of associating with sinners. Tax collectors in Jesus' time were seen as unclean and unrighteous individuals who collected taxes for the Roman Empire. The Pharisees and scribes of the time saw Jesus' association with tax collectors and sinners as a violation of God's law. However, Jesus saw them as individuals in need of salvation, and he associated with them to bring them closer to God.

The social issue that arises from this passage is discrimination and judgment. The Pharisees and scribes judged tax collectors and sinners, and they looked down upon them. This judgment and discrimination still exist today, with people looking down upon others based on their social status, ethnicity, or beliefs. Jesus was inclusive, and he saw everyone as equal in the eyes of God. The passage reminds us that we should not discriminate or judge others based on their social status or identity.

The religious issue raised in this passage is the conflict between the law and faith. The Pharisees and scribes followed the law, and they interpreted it strictly, which led them to judge and condemn others. However, Jesus saw beyond the law and saw the hearts of individuals. He was accused of breaking the law by associating with sinners, but he saw it as an opportunity to bring them closer to God. This conflict between the law and faith is still prevalent today, with religious institutions interpreting religious texts strictly, which leads to conflict and division.

In conclusion, Matthew 9:9-13 provides us with a somber reminder of the ethical, social, and religious issues that exist in our society. It is a call for us to be inclusive, non-judgmental, and to see beyond the law. We should embrace diversity and appreciate individuals for who they are. The passage reminds us that the true essence of faith is to love and serve one another, and we should strive to practice this in our daily lives.

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A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

NRSV Translation

18 While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.’ ¹⁹And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. ²⁰Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, ²¹for she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.’ ²²Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And instantly the woman was made well. ²³When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute-players and the crowd making a commotion, ²⁴he said, ‘Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. ²⁵But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. ²⁶And the report of this spread throughout that district.

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The Gospel for Hearers translation

18 As he was saying this, one ruler came up, bowed to him, and said,

"My daughter has just died.

But come and put your hand on her and she will live."

And Jesus got up and followed him with his disciples.

20 And a woman who had a haemorrhage for twelve years

came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak,

for she was saying to herself,

"If I could only touch his clothing I will be healed."

But Jesus turned around and, seeing her, said,

"Courage, daughter! Your faith has healed you!"

And the woman was healed from that moment.

23 When Jesus came to the ruler's house,

he saw the funeral musicians and the crowd milling around, and he said,

"Clear the house! The girl is not dead, she's asleep."

They laughed at him.

When he had got rid of the crowd,

he went in and took hold of her hand,

and the girl woke up.

And this story spread throughout that country.

From “The Gospel of Matthew”, Chapter 28, verses 16-20, 

in The Gospel for Hearers

(Translated from the Koine Greek by Elizabeth B. Edwards, Formatted by the Rev William A. Johnston), 2013, Diangellia Press.

What are the serious issues raised by Matthew 9:18-26?
(An AI response: Note that AI here provides opinion, not fact and should not be taken as authoratative)

In Matthew 9:18-26, there are several serious issues that are raised. The passage starts with a ruler approaching Jesus and pleading for him to come and lay his hand on his daughter, who was already dead. Jesus then follows the ruler to his house, where he heals the daughter. On the way to the ruler’s house, a woman who had been suffering from a bleeding condition came up to Jesus and touched his cloak. Jesus then heals the woman and tells her that her faith had made her well.

One of the issues raised in this passage is the issue of faith. Both the ruler and the woman who had been suffering from the bleeding condition had faith in Jesus’ ability to heal them. The ruler believed that Jesus could raise his daughter from the dead, and the woman believed that by just touching his cloak, she would be healed. This shows that when people have faith and believe in Jesus’ power, he is able to perform miracles in their lives. However, this also raises the issue of faithlessness. Some people may not believe in Jesus’ power and as a result, miss out on receiving his blessings.

Another issue raised in this passage is the issue of social status. The ruler was a well-respected man in the community and was able to approach Jesus with confidence, begging for his help. On the other hand, the woman with the bleeding condition was considered an outcast in society because of her illness. She had to approach Jesus in secret and touch his cloak without drawing attention to herself. This shows that in society, people are often judged based on their social status, and this can affect their ability to access help and resources they need, even in matters of health.

Lastly, this passage raises the issue of compassion. Jesus was able to heal both the ruler’s daughter and the woman with the bleeding condition because he had compassion for them. He understood their suffering and was moved to help them. This raises the question of how much compassion people have for those who suffer around them. Often, people can be more focused on their own needs and desires, and overlook the needs of those around them. This passage reminds us that we must have empathy and compassion for others if we truly want to make a difference.

In conclusion, Matthew 9:18-26 raises important issues concerning faith, social status, and compassion. The passage reminds us of the power of faith in Jesus, the importance of not judging others based on their social status, and the need for compassion and empathy in our interactions with others.

Some questions raised by the text:

• Who is Jesus talking to?
• Who was the evangelist talking to?
• Why does the lectionary ask us to consider these three stories (the calling of Matthew, the healing of the haemorraging woman and the raising of the ruler's daughter) at the same time? What do they have in common? Is it about faith? Is it about inclusiveness? Is it about displaying the power of Jesus?
• What can we "take away" from these stories. Are there situations in our lives when we want to put ourselves in the place of Matthew, or the sick woman or the dying child? Do the stories strengthen us?