THE CALL OF MATTHEW

9 As Jesus went on from there,q he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him.r

10 While he was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples.s 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”t

12 Now when he heard this, he said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick.u 13 Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.H,v For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”I