...but God Ministry
  • Home
  • NT in 2023
  • Jesus 365 Daily Devos
    • Jesus 365 Daily Devos
  • Year of Gratitude
  • 30-Day Scripture, Prayer & Gratitude Series
  • Come, Meet Jesus: John Study
  • Resources & Studies
    • Prayers for our Children
    • Seasons
    • Imprint for Teens >
      • Imprint Resources
    • Launch Prayers for our Children >
      • Launch Resources
      • Launch Groups
    • Well Hello
    • Background Images
    • Turn North: A Jesus Girl's Guide to College >
      • Turn North Resources
    • Path to Purpose
    • Colossians
    • Ruth: The Harvest is Coming
    • Worship Playlists
    • Renew Your Mind Studies >
      • God's Truth
    • Psalm 119
    • I See you
  • About
    • Need Prayer?
    • Payments
Purchase Jesus 365

134 of 365 - Mercy over Sacrifice

5/13/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
​But when he [Jesus] heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:12-13
 
In speaking this to the Pharisees, Jesus is fully aware that all of us are sick apart from Him. The difference is the Pharisees didn’t know it. In their minds, they had nailed the whole righteous religious thing. Jesus tells them to go and hear the meaning of these Scriptures they love and know so well, specifically pointing them to Hosea 6:6, ”I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.”

In Hosea’s time, the Jewish people were going through the motions. They were offering sacrifices religiously. But they were far from God. They had no love; no mercy. These Pharisees would know Hosea by heart as Jesus quotes it.

Bound up in their religious ritual and favored social status, the Pharisees had no love; no mercy. Only rigid laws and judgment.

On the outside, the Pharisees looked perfect. Inside, their heart was hard.

On the outside, Matthew, the sinner at the tax collector booth, looked hopeless. Inside, his heart was open. He immediately follows Jesus and wants his friends to do the same.

Substance vs. show; Mercy vs. more religion; Grace vs. guilt; Love vs. lists.

Jesus invites sinners to His table. Not to judge or condemn or lecture or have their bad behavior rub off on Him, but to love in order to save. And at this table, the invited find healing, life, hope. As they get up from this table, they desire nearness to God, obedience, a life that bears good fruit, and for their friends to join them at the table.

​Questions: What do you think it means to someone to have a person love them in their mess? Why do you think love and relationships are so important to people seeing and knowing Jesus? How can we display this in our lives?
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    1 Corinthians
    1 John
    1 Kings
    1 Peter
    1 Samuel
    1 Thessalonians
    1 Timothy
    2 Corinthians
    2 Peter
    2 Samuel
    2 Timothy
    Acts
    Colossians
    Daniel
    Deuteronomy
    Ecclesiastes
    Ephesians
    Esther
    Exodus
    Galatians
    Genesis
    Habakkuk
    Hebrews
    Hosea
    Introduction
    Isaiah
    James
    Jeremiah
    Joel
    John
    Join Us
    Jonah
    Joshua
    Jude
    Judges
    Leviticus
    Luke
    Malachi
    Mark
    Matthew
    Micah
    Numbers
    Philemon
    Philippians
    Proverbs
    Psalm
    Ref: 12 Sons Of Jacob
    Ref: Divided Kingdom
    Ref: OT Timeline
    Ref: Timeline Of Judges
    Revelation
    Romans
    Ruth
    Titus

    Jesus 365 Home

    Archives

    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Devo + Journal Part 1: Old Testament
    Picture
    Devo + Journal Part 2: Gospels
    Picture
    Devo + Journal Part 3: Letters
  • Home
  • NT in 2023
  • Jesus 365 Daily Devos
    • Jesus 365 Daily Devos
  • Year of Gratitude
  • 30-Day Scripture, Prayer & Gratitude Series
  • Come, Meet Jesus: John Study
  • Resources & Studies
    • Prayers for our Children
    • Seasons
    • Imprint for Teens >
      • Imprint Resources
    • Launch Prayers for our Children >
      • Launch Resources
      • Launch Groups
    • Well Hello
    • Background Images
    • Turn North: A Jesus Girl's Guide to College >
      • Turn North Resources
    • Path to Purpose
    • Colossians
    • Ruth: The Harvest is Coming
    • Worship Playlists
    • Renew Your Mind Studies >
      • God's Truth
    • Psalm 119
    • I See you
  • About
    • Need Prayer?
    • Payments