Matthew 9:13 kjv

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Matthew 9:13 nkjv

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."

Matthew 9:13 niv

But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Matthew 9:13 esv

Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

Matthew 9:13 nlt

Then he added, "Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."

Matthew 9 verses

Matthew 9 13 Meaning

Matthew 9:13 presents Jesus's direct response to the Pharisees' criticism of His association with tax collectors and "sinners." It reveals God's profound desire for active compassion and covenant loyalty (mercy) over mere ritualistic adherence (sacrifice), especially when the latter is devoid of genuine spiritual and ethical intent. Jesus clarifies His mission is not to affirm the self-righteous, who perceive no need for salvation, but to invite those who recognize their sinfulness (sinners) to a transformative change of mind and life, known as repentance. He challenges His critics to understand the very heart of God, which prioritizes reconciliation and restoration over exclusionary practices.

Matthew 9 13 Context

Matthew 9:13 is spoken by Jesus in direct response to a controversy surrounding His association with "sinners." Immediately prior to this, Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector (Matthew 9:9). Tax collectors were considered social outcasts and collaborators with the Roman occupation, despised by pious Jews. After Matthew follows Him, Jesus dines at Matthew's house, where many other tax collectors and "sinners" (a term referring to those who did not adhere strictly to the Mosaic law and oral traditions as interpreted by the Pharisees, often implying moral transgressions or professional associations considered impure) are also present. The Pharisees, observing this, question Jesus's disciples: "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" (Matt 9:11). Jesus overhears their questioning and provides this profound answer in verse 12 and 13.

The broader historical and cultural context is one where the dominant religious authorities, particularly the Pharisees, placed immense emphasis on ritual purity, strict adherence to the Law, and separation from "unclean" elements of society. Eating with someone implied fellowship and acceptance, which the Pharisees viewed as compromising one's piety and sanctity, particularly when it came to notorious "sinners." Jesus's action directly challenged their exclusive and legalistic worldview, presenting a radical counter-cultural vision of God's kingdom that embraced the marginalized and the penitent.

Matthew 9 13 Word analysis

• But: Greek: δέ (de). A strong adversative conjunction, signaling a contrast or a rebuttal to the Pharisees' unspoken criticism implied in their question.
• go ye and learn: Greek: πορευθέντες μάθετε (poreuthentes mathete). An imperative, a direct command.
  • πορευθέντες (poreuthentes): "having gone," a participle indicating a prior action, "go." It implies a need for deliberate effort to understand.
  • μάθετε (mathete): "learn," an aorist imperative from manthanō, "to learn, to understand, to gain knowledge." It suggests a need for deeper comprehension, not just rote memorization or surface-level observance. It challenges their superficial religious understanding.
• what that meaneth: Greek: τί ἐστιν (ti estin). "what is" or "what means," urging them to grasp the significance or essence of the quote, not just its literal words.
• I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: Greek: ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν (eleos thelō kai ou thysian). A direct quote from Hosea 6:6, likely from the Septuagint.
  • ἔλεος (eleos): "mercy," "compassion," "pity," "kindness," "steadfast love." This is a key term representing God's active, covenantal love and loyalty. It goes beyond passive pity to include benevolent action, a willingness to help and show grace to the needy. In the Old Testament (Hebrew hesed), it denotes a loyalty that expresses itself in active concern.
  • θέλω (thelō): "I will," "I desire," "I wish." God's active preference.
  • θυσίαν (thysian): "sacrifice," referring to animal sacrifices and ritual offerings. While instituted by God, these rituals were intended to facilitate relationship and atonement, not to be a substitute for genuine heart-felt obedience, compassion, and justice. Here, it contrasts with what God truly desires when practiced mechanically.
• for: Greek: γάρ (gar). A particle providing explanation or justification for the preceding statement.
• I am not come: Greek: οὐ γὰρ ἦλθον (ou gar ēlthen). Emphasizes the purpose of Jesus's earthly ministry.
• to call: Greek: καλέσαι (kalesai). "to summon," "to invite," "to bid." A purposeful action of inviting.
• the righteous: Greek: δικαίους (dikaious). "just," "righteous." In this context, it refers not to those truly righteous before God, but to the self-righteous (like the Pharisees), who perceive themselves as morally upright and therefore in no need of God's mercy or repentance. They are the "well" who think they need no physician (Matt 9:12).
• but sinners: Greek: ἀλλὰ ἁμαρτωλούς (alla hamartōlous). "but," in contrast, "sinners." This refers to those who openly admit their moral failures or are categorized as such by society and, more importantly, are aware of their need for forgiveness and transformation. These are the "sick" who need a physician (Matt 9:12).
• to repentance: Greek: εἰς μετάνοιαν (eis metanoian). The ultimate goal of Jesus's call.
  • μετάνοιαν (metanoian): "repentance," a fundamental biblical concept. It signifies a radical change of mind, heart, and direction, a turning away from sin and toward God, leading to a changed life and actions. It's not mere regret, but a transformative change of allegiance and behavior.

Matthew 9 13 Bonus section

• Rabbinic Context: The phrase "go and learn" (often in Hebrew, lekh u-lemod) was a common rabbinic idiom, urging deeper study and understanding of a text beyond its surface meaning, often implying a deficiency in the student's current knowledge. Jesus employs this teaching method to challenge the Pharisees directly, implying they need a more profound grasp of scripture's true intent.
• Hosea 6:6 Recurrence: The fact that Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6 twice in Matthew (here and in Matthew 12:7 during a Sabbath controversy) underscores its fundamental importance to His teaching on God's heart. It consistently addresses scenarios where religious practice becomes a barrier to genuine love and compassion.
• Covenant Fidelity: The Old Testament concept of hesed (translated as mercy/steadfast love in Hos 6:6) implies loyalty and faithfulness within a covenant relationship. Jesus is implying that God desires His people to be faithful to the covenant through active mercy and ethical living, not just through ritual adherence, particularly when their actions contradict God's character.
• The Physician Analogy (Matt 9:12): This verse (Matt 9:13) directly follows the "physician" analogy. Just as a physician treats the sick, not the healthy, so Jesus's mission is directed towards those who recognize their spiritual sickness, not those who deem themselves spiritually healthy (the self-righteous).
• Practical Application: This verse encourages believers to look beyond superficial religiosity to the heart of God's desires. It prompts self-reflection on whether one is truly living out compassion and seeking out the lost, or simply adhering to external religious practices without inward transformation or love for neighbor. It also reminds that the church should be a hospital for the spiritually sick, not a museum for the self-righteous.

Matthew 9 13 Commentary

Matthew 9:13 encapsulates Jesus's core mission and directly challenges the prevailing religious mindset of His day. When questioned about associating with societal outcasts, Jesus pivots from a defensive posture to an offensive theological declaration. He uses the Hosea 6:6 quote, a familiar passage to the Pharisees, to expose their misunderstanding of God's priorities. God does not value religious rituals or outward displays (sacrifice) above genuine compassion, active love, and ethical living (mercy). Their scrupulous adherence to purity laws had ironically distanced them from God's very heart for humanity.

Jesus reveals that His presence and ministry are for the broken and contrite, not for those blinded by their own self-righteousness. Those who believe they are already righteous, and thus have no spiritual sickness, would never seek the "physician" or respond to a call for repentance. Therefore, Jesus directs His invitation precisely to those who are conscious of their sin, their brokenness, and their profound need for God's grace. His table fellowship with sinners was not an endorsement of sin but an embodiment of God's active mercy—a visible expression of welcoming them to repentance. It signified that God's grace precedes and enables repentance, rather than merely following it. The "call to repentance" is not just for individual reformation but also for inclusion into God's new community, founded on grace and mercy. This verse fundamentally reshapes our understanding of righteousness and reveals God's profound, redemptive pursuit of the lost.