Mercy, Not Sacrifice - Author Unknown

“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” - Matt 9: 9-13.

This short exchange of words between the Pharisees, the disciples and Jesus is one of the most profound small events to occur; yet the importance of Jesus’ words isn’t always fully realized by much of the Christian world. What do these few sentences say about the true meaning of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ? This isn’t only a story about Jesus evangelizing to the world, but much, much more.

This is a testament to Jesus’ great love for the ordinary man. He was making a point that the Kingdom of Heaven is open to all people including the un-churched, those who were not religiously pious, and even those who are considered morally corrupt…“sinners”.

Let’s look at Matthew first. Also known as Levi in the Gospels of Luke and Mark, he was a tax collector. Collecting taxes for the Roman government. Tax collectors were seen as traitors since the Romans were viewed as oppressors. They were also despised for inflating the taxes and stealing for themselves. Either way…not a group of people that were much liked or trusted. Matthew is gracious enough to have a feast for Jesus and his disciples in his home, inviting his own friends. Because of Jesus’ miracles and teachings, all sorts of people followed Him wherever He went, curious about what He might say or do next. And because Jesus had such authority, the Pharisees also kept an eye on Him. His mass appeal was a threat to the religious control that the Pharisees had.

So what about the Pharisees?

Well, though much is said about Pharisees, they were not originally such a bad bunch of guys. Pharisees wanted to serve God, following all the laws and commandments to the letter. They wanted to be sure that God’s truths were understood and obeyed. Their intentions were good. And because they wanted to do everything correctly, their desire to serve God turned into absolute perfectionism. They obeyed all Jewish laws of cleanliness, sacrifice and obedience for God. The life of a Pharisee was a life of sacrifice and servitude. They were the examples of how to serve God.

But something always goes wrong with this type of living.
When one strives for perfection…then one also rejects imperfection. So what happens is, because of this sense of looking out for imperfection, one also sees imperfection in people. And imperfection somehow turns into sin, and people who commit such acts become “sinners”. Not a good thing. And because they had sacrificed so much for God, they naturally became PROUD of themselves and set themselves apart from others…from “sinners”.

So here we have the Pharisees, who recognize Jesus’ authority and His connection to God, but they wrongly believe that Jesus must be striving for the same perfection as they are…but they then see Jesus dining with people of imperfection, the unclean…something they have taught themselves to AVOID. Why would Jesus hang out with “sinners” instead of the company of the Pharisees who’s lives were given to serving God? You see it seems the Pharisees would NEVER dine with sinners at the same table, but here Jesus was talking, eating and drinking with them. Naturally they are perplexed.

“Why is your teacher dining with tax collectors and sinners?”

It is the Pharisees who use the word “sinners” to refer to the unclean people that Jesus was being honored by. I suppose today someone might ask a Christian, “Why is Jesus dining with scam artists, prostitutes, drug addicts and homosexuals?”

And what about the disciples? They didn’t have a chance to answer the Pharisees, because Jesus cut into the conversation and answered for them. Why? Because it is Jesus who is making the decision to dine with them. Jesus is stating His position…not someone else speaking for Jesus.

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.”

Referring to the need for spiritual healing of mankind.
This is Jesus’ decision to fellowship with all people regardless of who they are. Just as it is today, it is not just some open church denominations who are including gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender people into their congregation, it is JESUS! It is Jesus who is including us and all people into His Kingdom! Jesus is speaking up to the religious world and saying…people whom you are excluding because you think they are “sinners”…I AM WELCOMING. And Jesus uses the word “sinners” back to the Pharisees so they will continue to believe that they are the righteous ones. Later rebukes and parables show He doesn’t consider the Pharisees righteous at all.

“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’
For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Jesus is referring to Hosea 6:6 which says:
“For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

The Pharisees taught themselves that serving God was about performing rituals, sacrificing burnt offerings and keeping traditions. Jesus was saying that the Pharisees judgment of the tax collectors, sinners …ordinary people…was wrong.

Today is no different than back then. Many religious Christians and churches of all denominations have decided that being gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender is a sin and that we are in effect…“sinners”. But Jesus is telling them that it is a SIN to view ANYONE with contempt and that the kingdom of God is about mercy, compassion and love for ALL His people. It is NOT about living a perfect life of sacrifice, but about people coming together and learning to love and accept each other.

This is His what He is saying. Praise and glory to Jesus our King!

Eng Hi Nge Piantharna Dik Chu Ni Ta Ang?

Tun hma atang tawhin, mi tam takin piangthar duhin gospel campingahte kan luat luai luai thina, a then chu mahni duh thuin kan luta, a then chu nu leh pate nawr luihna a vangin kan luta, mahse eng mah tak tak ang lovin kan chhuak leh thina. A then azar chu lo piangthar awm thin mahse, a then chu piangthar thei miah lote kan awm bawk ani. Kan pianthar tum dante hi in enchian chu angai hlein ka hria.

Camping hi ka sawiselna ani lova, a that lai rengin a that lohna pawh a awm ve tho ani. Pianthar kan tumna luata, campinga in nghat tawpte kan awma, a leh pekah chuan ngei ngeiin ka in hmuchhuak tawh angte kan ti mai mai thin hi chu a pawi ani. Pathian kan hmuh tum dante hi a in ang lo nual awm e. 2Chronicles 7:14, “Ka hming pu ka mite chuan inngaitlawma an tawngtai a, min zawna, an awm dan sualte an hawisan chuan, van atangin ka lo ngaithla ang a, an sualte ka ngaidam ang a, an ram chu ka ti dam leh ang.” He tianga ti mite hi ani Lalpan a ngaihdam turte chu.

Pathian hi thinlung tak taka kan zawn thin loh avang in alawm, zawn hmuh a har kan tih thin em em ni. Campingah pawh vawi za tam lut tlut tlut mah ila, a chunga Bible chang a in ziak ang a Pathian hming kan lam loh chuan a ngaite ang bawkin kan hlawhchham fovang. Piangthar da leh kan tithe pawh hi engdang mah ani lova, a camp boruak avanga piangthar anni fo thin ani. Simna tel lova pianthar hi piantharna dik tak ani lova, piangthar lo ani mai ani. Mi tu pawh Pathian thlarau thianghlim a chan tawh chuan chhunglam nun in thlak thlengna a lo awma, chuan zawi zawi in pawn lamah a rawn lang chhuak thin ani.

He ti hian Hosea 6:1-3 ah chuan ti hain a ziak ani, “Hawh u, Lalpa hnenah I kir leh ang u, min lo pawt sawm tawh na a, min tidam leh dawn si a. Min lo vaw tawh na a, min tuam leh dawn si a. Ni hnih chinah min tinung ang a, ni thum niah min kaitho vang a, a hmaah kan awm ang. Lalpa hriatna chu I um zel ang u khai, I hria ang u. Zing anga khel lovin a thawk chhuak ngei thin ani. Kan hnenah ruah angin, ruah hnuhnung, lei tihuhtu ang main a lo thleng ang.” He chang hi Pathian min kohna ani a, Israel fate ang a kan ring ti khawng tlat thin lovin, in ngaitlawma a hnen lama lungchhira kan kir chuan, Pathian in kan bawlhlawh na zawng zawngte min ngaidam ang a, sima a lam kan hawi chuan Pathianin kan Eden natna pawh Kalvari dawmdawi tha mi in min ti dam dawn ani.

He piantharna dik tak hi kan neih hunah chuan, kan hnenah ruah angin, ruah hnuhnung, lei tihuhtu ang mai in alo thleng dawn ani. He ruah hnuhnung kan tih hi Pathian kan neih china chuan Thlarau Thianghlim, kan nun tuihal ti reh turin Pathianin kan hnenah a rawn tir dawn tihna a nih chu. Thlarau Thianghlim kan neih chinah chuan piangthar nun dik tak kan nei tawh anga. Kan chenpuite emaw, kan thiante emaw, kan sikul kal puite, min dawr tute emaw, tu pawhin keimah niah Pathian hnathawh an hmu tawh dawn ani. Chu mi chuanin nasa takin, kan inchhung khurah, kan kohhranah, kan khawtlang nun thlengin thatna danglam tak a siam dawn ani.

A tawp ber atan, Kohhran pawhin engang pawhin camping huaihawtin tan la mahsen nangmah i in peih loh chuan eng tihna mah ani chuang lovang. Piantharna dik tak I chan duh chuan, in ngaitlawm tak leh tih tak tak na nun nen Lalpa hming lam la ti chuan Aman alo ngaithla ang chea, I sual a ngaihdam sak ang che. Tichuan I lo piangthar ve tawh dawn nia. Khawi hmunah pawh awm la, campingah I lut emaw I lut lo emaw , I hriat reng tur chu, Pathian hi I thawk lak ai khan a hnai zawk ani ti hre fovang che. Nangmahah a awm renga, I chet tir duh leh duh lo thu ani mai.