As Jesus passed by from
there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office.
He said to him, "Follow me." He got up
and followed him. It
happened as he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners
came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw it, they
said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors
and sinners?"
When Jesus heard it,
he said to them, "Those who are healthy have no need
for a physician, but those who are sick do. But you go and learn what this
means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' for I came not to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance."