Matthew 9:9-13

Jesus Calls Matthew

9 ¹As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called ²Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him.

10 And as Jesus^[a] reclined at table in the house, behold, many ³tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.

11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ⁴"Why does your teacher eat with ⁵tax collectors and sinners?"

12 But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

13 Go and learn ⁶what this means, ⁷'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For ⁸I came not to call the righteous, ⁹but sinners."