Today’s gathering began with gratitude and blessing for the mothers and women among us, recognizing the unique gifts, sacrifices, and love they pour into our lives. We acknowledged both the joy and the complexity of Mother’s Day, holding space for those who celebrate and those who grieve. In prayer, we thanked God for the women who have shaped us, whether biological mothers or those who have been motherly figures, and asked for God’s continued blessing and encouragement for them.

Turning to Matthew 9, we reflected on the story of Jesus calling Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. This act was radical—Jesus invited someone considered an outcast, a traitor, and morally unclean by his community, to become his disciple. The scandal deepened as Jesus dined with Matthew and his friends, a group labeled “tax collectors and sinners.” The Pharisees, serious students of the law, questioned why Jesus would associate with such people, referencing their understanding of purity and separation from the wicked as taught in the Old Testament.

Jesus responded with both logic and scripture: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” He challenged the Pharisees to understand the heart of God’s law, quoting Hosea: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Jesus was not dismissing the importance of holiness or being set apart, but he was redefining what it means to be holy—not through separation alone, but through mercy, relationship, and restoration.

We explored how Jesus, as the embodiment of God’s holiness, reverses the flow of purity. Instead of being contaminated by the impure, his presence brings healing and transformation. The holiness that once required strict boundaries now moves outward, like living water, to bring life to the world. We are called to participate in this movement—not by hiding from those who are hurting or lost, but by sitting at the table with them, rooted in Christ, and extending the mercy we ourselves have received.

This is not a call to reckless living or abandoning wisdom about the company we keep, but an invitation to be agents of restoration, always returning to the source—Jesus—for our own healing and strength. As we come to the table, we remember that we are still in need of grace, still being made new, and still called to share the living water with others.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Mercy Over Sacrifice: God’s heart is not satisfied with outward acts of purity or religious performance alone. True holiness is expressed in mercy—entering into the lives of others, even those considered “unclean” or unworthy, and offering them the same grace we have received. This challenges us to move beyond self-preservation and into sacrificial love. [41:38]
• 2. The Transforming Presence of Christ: Jesus does not become unclean by associating with sinners; instead, his holiness brings healing and restoration. When we are rooted in Christ, we become conduits of his life-giving presence, able to enter difficult spaces without fear of being overcome, but with hope of bringing transformation. [48:05]
• 3. The Tension of Separation and Engagement: There is wisdom in being mindful of the influences in our lives, but the call of Christ is not to isolation. We are to be set apart in our character and devotion, yet deeply engaged with those who need hope, trusting that our strength comes from remaining connected to Jesus, not from our own resolve. [52:41]
• 4. The Power of Invitation and Community: Like Matthew, we are not meant to follow Jesus in isolation. Inviting others into our circles—where Christ is present and community is strong—creates opportunities for transformation. Our tables, homes, and lives become places where the love and mercy of Jesus are made tangible. [39:03]
• 5. Continual Return to the We are all in process, still in need of healing and restoration. The invitation to the table is ongoing; we return again and again to Jesus, surrendering more of ourselves, receiving his mercy, and being renewed so that we can participate in his work of making all things new. [61:41]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [09:37] - Announcements and Student Ministry Updates
• [11:36] - Honoring Mothers and Women
• [14:23] - Prayer of Blessing for Mothers
• [18:15] - Treats and Encouragement for All Ladies
• [18:53] - Introduction to Matthew 9
• [21:13] - The Call of Matthew the Tax Collector
• [24:04] - Understanding the Outcast: Tax Collectors in Context
• [26:58] - The Radical Invitation: “Follow Me”
• [28:48] - Jesus Dines with Sinners
• [30:48] - The Pharisees’ Objection and the Seriousness of the Law
• [34:50] - “It’s the Sick Who Need a Doctor”
• [39:03] - The Power of Invitation and Community
• [44:07] - The Shift in Holiness: Bible Project Video
• [49:59] - Mercy, Relationship, and the Outpouring of Holiness
• [52:41] - Wisdom, Engagement, and Being Set Apart
• [55:36] - Faith, Works, and the Call to Participate
• [56:18] - Jesus at Your Table: Reflection and Prayer
• [61:26] - Coming to the Table: Communion and Ongoing Restoration

Bible Reading

Matthew 9:9-13 — As 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. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

- Hosea 6:6
“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”

- Psalm 1:1
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers.”

Observation Questions

1. What was Matthew’s occupation before Jesus called him, and how was he viewed by his community? (see [24:04])
2. What did Jesus do after calling Matthew, and who joined them at the table? (see [28:48])
3. How did the Pharisees react to Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners, and what Old Testament ideas were they referencing? (see [31:58])
4. What scripture did Jesus quote in response to the Pharisees’ question, and what was his main point? (see [41:38])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose to call someone like Matthew, who was considered an outcast and a “sinner,” to be his disciple? What does this say about the kind of people Jesus invites? (see [27:47])
2. When Jesus says, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick,” what does he mean about his mission and the people he spends time with? (see [35:08])
3. The Pharisees were concerned about purity and being set apart. How does Jesus’ response challenge or expand their understanding of holiness? (see [42:12])
4. In what ways does Jesus’ presence “reverse the flow of purity,” bringing healing instead of being contaminated? How does this change the way we think about engaging with people who are struggling or far from God? (see [48:05])

Application Questions

1. Jesus said, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” In your daily life, what does it look like to choose mercy over just “doing the right religious things”? Can you think of a recent situation where you had the chance to show mercy? (see [41:38])
2. Matthew invited Jesus and his friends to his table. Who are the “tax collectors and sinners” in your life—people who might feel like outsiders or unworthy? What would it look like to invite them into your circle or to your table? (see [39:03])
3. The sermon talked about the tension between being set apart and being engaged with those who need hope. Are there places or relationships where you tend to withdraw out of fear of being “contaminated” or influenced? How might Jesus be calling you to step in, rooted in him? (see [52:41])
4. Jesus’ presence brings transformation, not contamination. Is there a situation or relationship where you’ve been hesitant to get involved because you’re worried about being pulled down? How could you approach it differently, trusting in Christ’s strength? (see [48:05])
5. The sermon reminded us that we are all still in need of grace and healing. How do you regularly “return to the table” with Jesus for renewal? Is there a practice or habit you want to start or return to this week to stay connected to him? (see [01:01:41])
6. Think about someone who has shown you mercy or been a “Jesus at the table” in your life. How did their actions impact you? How can you be that person for someone else this week? (see [57:58])
7. The sermon mentioned that our homes and tables can be places where the love and mercy of Jesus are made real. What is one practical way you can make your home or your life more welcoming to others who need hope and community? (see [39:03])