Week 10 - Matthew 9 v 9 to 13 Jesus calls Matthew

Matthew 9
New International Version

The calling of Matthew (Levi)
⁹As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
¹⁰While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. ¹¹When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’
¹²On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill. ¹³But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”^[^a^] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’
·        Why do you think Jesus chose a Tax Collector as a disciple?

·        What would be the result of Matthew leaving his tax booth to follow Jesus?

·        Matthew took Jesus home for dinner. Who did he also invite and why might that be so?

·        What became provocative about this choice?

·        Were the diners a good choice for Jesus reply to the Pharisees?

·        What did Jesus mean when he said ““I desire mercy, not sacrifice?

·        When Jesus said “For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’ What did this imply of the Pharisees?

Please email Brother Phil your answers and further discussion.