Bible Passage: Matthew 9:9-13
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: June 7, 2026

Bulletin – June 7, 2026

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

Erdmann Neumeister.  Ever hear of him?  Erdmann Neumeister was actually Pastor Neumeister.  He was a pastor in Germany around 1700.  He is also the writer of a hymn that in the last few years has become kind of popular in our circles.  Erdmann Neumeister wrote the hymn “God’s Own Child I Gladly Say It.”  Remember that one? It is a beautiful and very memorable baptism hymn.  The third verse contains some of my favorite poetry in a hymn:  “Satan, hear this proclamation: I am baptized into Christ!  Drop your ugly accusation; I am not so soon enticed.  Now that to the font I’ve traveled, al your might has come unraveled, and against your tyranny, God, my Lord, unites with me!”  That’s good poetry…and good theology!

Erdmann Neumeister wrote another hymn that we have been singing in our circles for generations.  He also wrote “Jesus Sinners Does Receive.”  We’re going to sing that hymn this morning.  This hymn, too, contains some beautiful poetry, and beautiful theology.  Poetry and theology that seem perfectly to sum up our text today.  For our text today is all about this:  Here is Hope for All who Grieve – Jesus Sinners Does Receive!

Our text begins with Jesus receiving a sinner.  We are told that Jesus approaches a man sitting in his tax-collector booth.  The man is Matthew, the author of our text.  Matthew was a tax-collector.  He worked for the Roman government, who ruled over Israel at this time.  Rome imposed heavy taxes on the nations they ruled.  To collect these taxes they would utilize locals, like Matthew.  Many tax collectors were thieves and cheats.  The Jews hated the Roman occupation of their country, and they despised any of their countrymen who would collect taxes for Rome!  Tax-collectors were not welcome in some synagogues.  Some rabbis said God did not hear the prayers of tax collectors.  Matthew probably didn’t have many people approach his booth with a smile and “Shalom!”  But Jesus does.  Follow me (v. 9).  Matthew does.

Matthew invites Jesus to his home.  There is a word in the Greek text that sometimes isn’t translated in English.  It is the word “behold.”  It’s a word that grabs the reader by the lapels and says, “You’re not gonna believe this!”  Literally, the text says,  Behold!  Many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples.  (v. 10)  “Sinners” were people who were known to be living at odds with God’s Law.  They have strayed from the path.  There is sin in their lives.  We might say these are people “with a reputation.”  But can we go back to the word “behold”?  Behold!  Look at them all!  And there is Jesus breaking bread with them!  Fellowshipping with them!  Here is hope for ALL who grieve!  Jesus “sinners” does receive!

What table are you going to sit at at the luncheon?  Are you going to sit with the tax collectors?  Have you been dishonest and deceitful in your dealings with people?  Are you going to sit at the table with the prostitutes?  Are sins of the flesh your “thing”?  You going to sit at the “rotten husbands” table?  Is there a spot for you at the “petty and peevish wife” table?  Maybe you’re at the “rebellious teen” table.  Perhaps they can find room for you at the “incredibly self-absorbed and self-serving” table.  Maybe you just say to Matthew, “Just seat me anywhere.  I’ll fit in at any table.”  What sins trouble you?  What sins grieve you?  Here is hope for all who grieve – Jesus sinners does receive!  Sinners like you!  There is Jesus at the table with you!  There is Jesus on the cross for you!  Suffering, dying, rising to save you!

The Pharisees can’t stand “beholding” this!  They sidle up to Jesus’ disciples, Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? (v. 11)  Jesus overhears and answers, The healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. (v. 12)  These people are sin-sick and Jesus is the Physician of souls!  Where else would he go?  Can you imagine criticizing a doctor by saying, “Ew!  I would never go to that doctor!  He always has so many sick people coming to him!”  Being with sick people is kind of the point of being a doctor!  Being with sinners is kind of the point of being the Savior!

Then Jesus says something to make us all think.  Go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” (v. 13)  To learn what this means, the Pharisees would have to get their Bibles and turn back to Hosea because Jesus has just quoted to them Hosea 6:6.  In this section of Hosea the Jews are acting very contrite for their sins.  Come, let us return to the LORD, they say (6:1).  Maybe show up at the Temple with a bunch of sacrifices in hand.  The LORD sees their sham-repentance.  I desire mercy, not sacrifice.  The word he uses for “mercy” means “faithful love.”  The Lord wanted the love of his people, not their bulls and goats and sheep!

Jesus says the same to the Pharisees in our text.  But the Pharisees didn’t want to love a Savior; they wanted to appease their God.  They wanted to schmooze him, impress him, obey their way into his good grace.  They didn’t want real “grace.”  And that’s why they have contempt for all the “sinners” at Matthew’s house!  All those “sickos” at Matthew’s house hadn’t done anything to appease God!  Not like they had!   But these “sickos” came with their hearts – with repentance, and faith, and love.  They loved their doctor!  Because he loved them first!

It is at another dinner party that we see the depth of love that is born of forgiveness.  A woman who was a known “sinner” in that town came to Jesus at the table.  She begins to sob.  Tears streak down her cheeks and drip onto Jesus’ feet.  She lets down her hair – a scandalous move! –  and wipes Jesus’ feet, kissing them again and again.  She opens a jar of very expensive perfume and pours it onto Jesus’ clean feet.  Jesus himself tells us what had happened:  Her many sins have been forgiven; that is why she loved so much. (Luke 7:47)  Forgiven friends, don’t ever be ashamed to let the world know that Jesus has your heart!  For we have come to know what this woman knew, what the tax collectors and sinners in our text knew, what Erdmann Neumeister knew:  Here is hope for all who grieve – Jesus sinners does receive!

Amen.