Matthew 9:12

Friday, 11 April 2025

 

When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Matthew 9:12

 

“And Jesus, having heard, He said to them, ‘Not they have need, the “being strong,” of a physician. But the ‘having evil’” (CG).

 

In the previous verse, Jesus was asked by the Pharisees why He ate with taxmen and sinners. Now, Matthew records, “And Jesus, having heard, He said to them.”

 

The question would seem logical to the people. They were to be separate from sin and to be a holy nation, but the fact is that people sinned and lived sinful lives. To this point in the history of Israel, there had not been a time that the law had done what it was set forth to do.

 

With the turning of the kingdom from a bad king to a good one, there would be temporary relief from idolatry and wickedness, but within the turn of a page, a new king would arise who would plunge the land back into evildoing. Rather than the law, it was the heart of the king towards the Lord that would turn the people to the right path.

 

But kings come and go. The Messiah had arrived to fix this ongoing dilemma. Jesus, the great and final King of Israel (though they did not yet know it) was to be the cure for the sin problem. His response to the Pharisees begins to reveal this, saying, “Not they have need, the ‘being strong,’ of a physician. But the ‘having evil.’”

 

In these words, the iatros, physician, is introduced. It will be seen seven times, all in the synoptic gospels, with the exception of the last use which will be in Colossians 4:14 when referring to Luke the physician. The word is derived from iaomai, to heal. Thus, it refers to a physician who is there to heal the people.

 

Jesus equates these sinners to sick people. By implication then, He is claiming to be the Physician who is there to heal them. There is a bit of irony here. The Pharisees were just as sick as the taxmen and sinners they stood accusing Jesus of attending to. However, without acknowledging their state that was sickened with sin, there was no remedy for their ills.

 

Life application: In the way Jesus is presented in the gospels, there are several overall types that He has come to fulfill. As noted, it is the king who directs the people as they bend to his will. The people followed good kings and bad kings. The law didn’t change, but the heart of the people did.

 

Jesus is thus the greater King being presented who has come to direct the heart of the people under the law and yet apart from it. In other words, it is not their obedience to the law that makes them right. It is Christ’s.

 

Likewise, there is the prophetic aspect of how Jesus is presented. The prophets spoke to the people concerning their need for being right with the Lord. Jesus, claiming to be the fulfillment of the words of the prophets, is thus the greater Prophet who directs the people to God through Himself.

 

He sums up everything that the words of Scripture point to. Thus, He is the embodiment of the written word, even to its finest details. It is “Christ in the contents” being fully fleshed out in Him.

 

A third aspect of Jesus’ major roles is the priestly line which was designated to administer the law on behalf of the people. Jesus, in fulfillment of the law, and through the shedding of His blood, instituted a New Covenant. This is fully explained in Hebrews, but in the initiation of a New Covenant, there must be a new Priest to minister to the people.

 

The line of Aaron was not appointed to minister except under the Old Covenant. Therefore, Jesus, in fulfillment of the law and in the introduction of the New Covenant, is the greater High Priest.

 

As you continue through the gospels, pay heed to these three roles. Consider how He is leading the people to understand His position as the One who embodied or would embody them as His work was completed.

 

What Israel was anticipating is fully realized in the coming of Jesus Christ to heal the sick and bring about an eternal restoration for His people.

 

O God, You have done it! You sent Jesus Christ our Lord to accomplish all Your word spoke about the coming One, the Messiah of Israel. In Jesus, it is all accomplished. Praise You, O God, for what You have done! Hallelujah and Amen.