The Sick Need a Physician and Medicine
When the Pharisees came to Levi’s party and wondered why Jesus was eating with tax collectors, He replied, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.…” (Matthew 9:12) The setting is a great banquet Matthew has thrown in Jesus’ honor and a celebration of the transition in Matthew’s life from tax collector to disciple of Christ. Given all the grief Matthew had experienced as a Jewish tax collector funding the Roman Empire, this was, indeed, something to celebrate.
I asked in an earlier devotion the question, “How hard was it for Matthew emotionally to invite the Pharisees?” At first glance, it appears it may have been difficult. Probably more than any other faction, the Pharisees publicly separated all Jewish tax collectors from synagogue communal life and worship and from public acceptance in Jewish culture. They were outcasts. I suspect that Matthew suffered a great deal from years of alienation and public shame upon himself and his family. Maybe he was thinking, “I really don’t want to invite them, but they are here to see Jesus, so maybe I should.”
It is also possible that Matthew had very little struggle inviting the Pharisees. After years of not being accepted, Matthew and his tax collecting friends had been accepted by a man who was considered a great prophet and teacher by most people, and he did miracles, so his celebrity was profound. To be invited to be one of Jesus’ chosen disciples was an astonishing honor and sign of acceptance. Matthew was finally accepted, by the Person Who was the greatest spiritual leader in Israel. Maybe inviting the Pharisees to witness that acceptance was something Matthew was eager to do!
We know that Jesus had meals with Pharisees (Luke 7:36ff). Jesus is no hypocrite. He shows His love to all, even His self-righteous detractors. And having a meal with them was a powerful Middle Eastern sign of fellowship. When Jesus answered the Pharisee’s question at Matthew’s banquet, Jesus further explained His motive: “… I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32). This makes me wonder… is He still calling Matthew and his friends to repentance while at the meal, or is this a celebration that repentance has come, and faith in Christ is being celebrated?
The comment about “the sick needing a doctor…” (Matthew 9:12), is quoted twice in the Lutheran Confessions. Both times, it is under the heading of the “Lord’s Supper.” In the Large Catechism, Luther writes about the verse, “… that is, those who labor and are heavy laden with sin, fear of death, and the assaults of the flesh and the devil. If you are heavy laden and feel your weakness, go joyfully to the sacrament and receive refreshment, comfort, and strength. If you wait until you are rid of your burden in order to come to the sacrament purely and worthily, you must stay away from it forever.”
Holy Communion is the medicine of mercy for broken and contrite hearts. Matthew was not celebrating the sacrament with Christ, but he was certainly celebrating communion in the sense of being accepted. Communion is for the sick, not the healthy. In an even greater way than Matthew rejoiced in the presence of Christ at his banquet, we rejoice that Christ’s body and blood come to us to forgive our sin. This is Christ Himself medicating broken hearts. No wonder it’s called “the Eucharist!”
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, our Great Physician, we praise You for accepting us. Thank You for coming to us in the sacrament of Holy Communion. May we always approach Your table feeling ill with sin, but rejoicing that You have said to us, “Take and drink…for the forgiveness of your sins.” Amen.
