As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” [Matthew 9.9-13]
Idols give man a false sense of righteousness. This is the very reason so many refuse to see the truth about idols of our day. Religion has validated modern idols to the point that, few people, if any, see their need to repent for the curses that they can remediate with idols.
The idols of our day are finance, insurance, medicine and technology (to name to main categories). Sadly, religion could be included in this list because it promotes these idols.
To remediate curses (preventative or restorative), people today turn to idols instead of God. They turn to idols for reprieve instead of turning to God in repentance. Again, idols, fueled by false religion, give man a false sense of righteousness - a false sense that all is well.
Every life inconvenience for which man turns to finance, insurance, medicine and technology is a curse. Curses are God's way to confirm that man has disobeyed Him and needs to repent. When man turns to man-made industries for relief from curses declaring those industries as "gifts from God," man effectively denies his spiritual guilt thus falsely declaring himself "healthy" (as Jesus put it) and not in need of a "doctor." Jesus' "call" then (as the doctor) does not even reach the ears of the "healthy" in this regard.
While Jesus' statement, "I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices," seems out of place, it actually speaks directly to us today in our time (as if He knew the meaning would mature with society). In contrast to repentance - a plea for mercy, all the idols of man require payment - a costly sacrifice.
In the midst of man's need (for money, protection, health and knowledge), man's corresponding idols make people think they are righteous, while in contrast, God's true people know they are not (recognizing the true source of their curse) and need to repent. Idols offer remedies for curses that are God's call to repentance. But God's call to repentance is not heard by those whose curses are remedied by idols.
To the point of what is said here, today's One Year Chronological Bible reading gives further evidence:
Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” [Matthew 9.5-6]
The man's need in Matthew 9.5-6 was not remedied by a man-made idol, but by coming to Jesus. Jesus dealt with the spiritual problem that had the man bound to a curse (in mercy, forgiving him) and physical healing was the result. Jesus proved that healing is not the result of a costly sacrifice (like the price paid to the then-current religion, or the price paid today to finance, insurance medicine or technology) but the result of God's mercy (when we humbly come to Him in repentance - turning away from every idol and turning only to Jesus).
Idols are man's way to remedy curses. Jesus is God's way to remedy curses.
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]
Do we see ourselves as spiritually "healthy" because we make our sacrifices to finance, insurance, medicine and technology (even religion)? Or, do we see ourselves sick and in need of Jesus? We need the remedy provided by God's mercy, not the remedy provided by our sacrifices to idols.
Father, I can only pray that readers will see this as You have revealed it to me today. Help us to see that our self-declaration of "health" because we make sacrificial payments to finance, insurance, medicine and technology is the plot of Satan to damn us to hell. Help us to see that we only need the "doctor," Jesus, that we might receive Your forgiveness, and therefore, relief from curses. I know our current secular and even spiritual societies don't see curses as a call to repentance... but Your Word is clear. May our pursuit be only of You, as we follow Jesus, giving up our way of "sacrifices" to idols, and taking up our cross of "mercy" denying idols any place in our lives. So be it.
