The mercy rule

We asked what you thought of Matthew 9:13, where Jesus advises: "But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'"

Jesus actually quoted there from the Old Testament book of Hosea (6:6) -- and He used it to explain why He ate with local "sinners" (Matt. 9:11). Jesus added to His statement about mercy: "For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

A few churches have started "poker nights" for men, to build bonds of fellowship in a wholesome atmosphere. We think that's a great idea, and wish more churches would do it. But let's face it -- a lot of poker is played in smoky bars, where "sin taxes" are collected from sales of cigarettes and alcohol. The people most likely to gather there are the people Jesus came to call.

(Matthew 9:9-10 shows Jesus met the sinners at the home of a tax collector named Matthew -- one who had recently become a follower of Him. We know of no verse specifically saying Christ went into a bar or nightclub. But we're honestly not sure those things existed 2,000 years ago.)

Our point is this: Jesus was willing to step outside the synagogue walls to meet people who needed Him. The Lord was perfect at all times, yet was willing to sacrifice a little "perfect atmosphere" to interact with the imperfect who needed a Savior.

Eugene Peterson's paraphrase The Message puts the last part of verse 13 this way: "'I'm after mercy, not religion.' I'm here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders." That's what we try to do at poker tables. And in the process, we encourage those who show aspects of godliness. As James 3:17 says, "The wisdom that comes from heaven is.... full of mercy and good fruit...."