Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 9:13

"But go ye and learn what [this] meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." — Matthew 9:13 (ASV)

But go you and learn what that means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Let us never forget that Jesus is the sinner's Savior. He does not come to save saints; he comes to save sinners, and the saints who are saved are kept from becoming sinners by his almighty love.

May God bless this reading of the Scriptures to us! Amen.

Our Lord, having gloriously defended Himself from the insinuations of the proud Pharisees, now carries the war into the enemies’ territory. He says to them, Go ye and learn, and this alone would be distasteful to men who thought they knew everything already. They were to learn the meaning of a Scripture in Hosea 6:6, and this would teach them that to have mercy upon sinners is a work more pleasing to God than presenting expensive sacrifices or performing religious exercises. They would learn that He would rather do mercy Himself and have them do mercy to others, than accept their most punctilious observances.

The Lord Jesus also gave them a clear word as to His object in coming among men. He came not to be served by the good, but to save the evil. He had come to call to repentance those who needed repentance and not those just ones who required no amendment, if such there were. This was a very just satire upon the Pharisees’ self-opinionated notions, but, at the same time, it was, and is, and forever will be, a grand consolation for those who own their guilt.

Our Savior King has come to save real sinners. He deals not with our merits, but with our demerits. There would be no need to save us if we were not lost. The Son of God does no unnecessary work, but to those who need repentance He has come to bring it.

Lord, I am one who needs Your call, for surely if anyone has need to repent, I am that one. Call me with Your effectual call. Turn thou me, and I shall be turned.