THE SARCASM OF JESUS!

THE SARCASM OF JESUS!

Matt 9:10-13

10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

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

Isa 1:5-7

5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

           The question of the Pharisees revealed their pride. They were so clean that others would make them dirty. They were so high that others would make them low. They were so right that others would make them wrong. Why then, would this Jesus lower himself to eat with sinners and tax collectors?

           The answer of Jesus dripped with sarcasm when he said: “Only the sick need the services of the physician. You people are all well and so I don’t need to associate with you.” The comment was so sarcastic that Jesus had to instruct them to go and research its meaning. Then he adds “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” The Pharisees were all about sacrifice but knew nothing of repentance. They did not think themselves to be lost and therefore could not be saved. Modern day Pharisees abound even in churches.

           The Pharisees would not have had our New Testament as a reference tool but they would have had their Old Testament and should have been familiar with the book of Isaiah which described their very condition. Their country was desolate and occupied by enemy troops. Their resources had been spoiled and that which remained was cruelly taxed. Their religion was flawed and made useless by the mixture of man-made ideas. They were sick and too sick to realize they needed a physician.

Oh, Great Physician, let me not think myself well and thereby refuse your healing. AMEN