The answer is: Great physician

Matt 9:10-13

When you dive into Matthew 9:10-13, it’s crucial to see the backstory. Picture a feast at Levi’s—a tax collector often seen as a double traitor in his culture—and there Jesus sits, mingling with the “undesirables” of the community. This fellowship is heretical in the eyes of the religious leaders, who clutch tightly to their ideas of purity and sacrifice. But Jesus flips the script with this quote, drawing from the thought-provoking words of Hosea 6:6—reminding everyone that deeds of compassion hold eternal significance over ritualistic sacrifice.

Did you know that this notion of mercy over mere sacrifice reappears throughout the Scriptures? In Micah 6:8, we find that God seeks justice, kindness, and humility as a way to embody righteousness! It illustrates a clear pattern in Jesus’s teachings: focusing less on laws and more on the lubricating oils of compassion and understanding.

Calling Himself the "great physician," Jesus positions Himself not as a judge against sinners, but as a friend and healer. This resonates with the idea that everyone is more than just their mistakes and misdeeds. The invitation to sit at His table symbolizes an open and continual offer of grace, showcasing the radical love that seeks to transform lives, shedding the ashes of shame for a crown of celebration to all wandering souls. Isn’t it refreshing that in the divinely orchestrated tapestry of humanity, everyone has a seat at the Heavenly banquet?