"Jesus Chooses Matthew"

As Jesus was leaving, he saw a tax collector named Matthew sitting at the place for paying taxes.  Jesus said to him, "Come with me."  Matthew got up and went with him.

Later, Jesus and his disciples were having dinner at Matthew's house.  Many tax collectors and other sinners were also there.  Some Pharisees asked Jesus' disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and other sinners?"

Jesus heard them and answered, "Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do.  Go and learn what the Scriptures mean when they say, 'Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others.'  I didn't come to invite good people to be my followers.  I came to invite sinners."

                                                                                         Matthew 9:9-13

Contemporary English Version The Holy Bible (New York , NY: American Bible Society 1995)