The Divine Physician
Jesus says, “Those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are sick.” The whole context of what was taking place leading up to this one-liner by Jesus is below and worth reading to get the full context of the scene. Jesus talked to, hung out, and ate with the worst sinners of his day — tax collectors, prostitutes, and others who were deemed unclean by the Jewish standards. This was a no – no. Think of today’s worst sinners. Are they shunned? Do you feel shunned by others who deem your sins too great? Well Jesus died for all of us, but mostly he has a heart for the worst sinners. No one is beyond God’s love, forgiveness and mercy if the person only reaches out to Jesus for love, understanding, forgiveness and healing. The key here is healing. Jesus is our divine physician. Read below from Matthew’s Gospel (9:1-13) the passages that highlights this reality.
Father Mark Goring really puts this so well. Check out this video. (Below the video are the Scripture versus worth reading.)
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
2 And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 Then some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.” 7 And he stood up and went to his home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.
The Call of Matthew
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[a] in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting[b] with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”