Matthew 9
v.4
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?
v.13
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The sense in which our Saviour applies it is this: “You Pharisees are exceedingly tenacious of the “external” duties of religion; but God has declared that he prefers benevolence or mercy to those external duties. It is proper, therefore, that I should associate with sinners for the purpose of doing them good.”
v.35
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
v.38
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”