The Outsiders: “The Outsider’s Outsider” (Matthew 9:9-13)

In our sermon, we will continue our journey through Lent as Jesus encounters “outsiders.” In today’s passage, we see Jesus take grief from the religious leaders for eating with tax collectors and sinners, the “outsiders” of the first century Jewish community. Jesus responds to these objections by telling the leaders that they should learn the meaning of Hosea 6:6, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” This is a provocative, grace-filled claim that can unsettle us as much as it unsettled the Jewish religious leaders. But if you’ve ever felt like an outsider, you know how good grace can make you feel. I hope we all experience the grace of Jesus Christ today!