Key Thought

It's one thing to minister to the outcasts and sinners in public preaching; it's quite another to go to their parties. Jesus did both. It made everyone in the religious power structure very nervous, and eventually, very beligerent. But Jesus came to earth on a mission. A little disapproval from some religious snobs didn't slow him down any. Jesus' purpose, however, was not to cause controversy but to share salvation and fellowship with his new disciple and his friends. To this day, the best way for people to come to Christ is through a friend who has recently become a Christian. True friendship always shares our fellowship with our friends and Jesus!

Today's Prayer

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Father, thank you that Jesus had his mission so clearly in mind when he served here. Thank you that criticism would not derail him from this ministry. And Father, I ask for eyes to see and ears to hear so that I might minister to others who are seeking for the answers only you provide. In the grace and the name of the Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

When Jesus was leaving, he saw a man named Matthew. Matthew was sitting at his place for collecting taxes. Jesus said to him, "Follow me." Then Matthew stood up and followed Jesus. Jesus ate dinner at Matthew's house. Many tax collectors and other bad people came and ate with Jesus and his followers. The Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with these people. The Pharisees asked Jesus' followers, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and other bad people?" Jesus heard the Pharisees say this. So Jesus said to the Pharisees, "Healthy people don't need a doctor. It is the sick people that need a doctor. I will tell you something. Go and learn what it means: 'I don't want animal sacrifices; I want you to show kindness to people.' I did not come to invite good people. I came to invite sinners." Then the followers of John came to Jesus. They said to Jesus, "We and the Pharisees fast often. But your followers don't fast. Why?" Jesus answered, "{When there is a wedding,} the friends of the bridegroom are not sad while he is with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will leave them. The friends are sad when the bridegroom leaves. Then they will fast. "When a person sews a patch over a hole on an old coat, he never uses a piece of cloth that is not yet shrunk. If he does, the patch will {shrink and} pull away from the coat. Then the hole will be worse. Also, people never pour new wine into old wine bags. Why? Because the old bags will break. The wine will spill, and the wine bags will be ruined. But people always pour new wine into new wine bags. Then the wine and the wine bags will continue to be good."

— Matthew 9:9-17 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.