Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 on biblegateway.com
Verse 9As 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. Verse 10And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. Verse 11When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Verse 12But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Verse 13Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."
Verse 18While 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." Verse 19And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Verse 20Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, Verse 21for she said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well." Verse 22Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well. Verse 23When Jesus came to the leader's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, Verse 24he said, "Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. Verse 25But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. Verse 26And the report of this spread throughout that district.
Devotion
I’ll bet you’ve said it: “I can’t forgive him for that.” But forgiveness was the whole point of Jesus’ life. He came to seek the lost. He offered forgiveness to a woman accused of adultery and to dishonest tax collectors. His astonishing words from the cross – “Forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing” – sum up his entire ministry.
His greatest parable was the story of a wayward son who came back home filled with regret for sin and was received with forgiveness by his waiting father. Jesus wants us to know that God is like that father. He is a forgiver.
But the grand plan is to let the forgiving spirit of Jesus loose in this world today. Planted in the heart of every believer, it is totally unstoppable. It’s in the middle of the Lord’s Prayer. “I will forgive as I have been forgiven.”
Prayer
O Lord, forgiveness is so surprising and so illogical, but it sure is nice. How wonderful it is that it’s the main thing that happens in church. We are surprised by forgiveness and we are surprised by joy. Thank you, Lord, for your rich mercy, for the consolation of your love, for forgiveness and for joy. Amen.