How Does the Great Physician Heal Our Hearts in Matthew 9:12?

      Probably not that many people think of the Lord as a doctor.  I know years ago I didn't. A few days ago I read Chapter 27 of the Life-Study of Matthew  about how after Matthew's calling he made a great feast for the Lord and invited some of his tax collector friends.  

My husband and I like to catch a summer sunset

    The only problem the Pharisees saw with this was these friends were tax collectors and sinners. Many times in the Life-Study messages Witness Lee gives the historical background in order to help the reader understand why it's important to the passage. This is on pages 328-329:  

"A tax collector was a despised person.  Nearly all tax collectors abused their office by demanding more than they should by false accusation (Luke 3:12-13; 19:2, 8).  To pay taxes to the Romans was very bitter to the Jews.  Those engaged in collecting them were despised by the people and counted unworthy of any respect (Luke 18:9-10).  Hence, they were classed with sinners (Matthew 9:10-11)" (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Matthew. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1977, Print).

       The Lord certainly realized more than anyone that all He had to work with were sinners, and maybe that's why the Lord called the Pharisees blind in Matthew 23:16 and 26. They just didn't get it. Even though they were so religious and righteous, they didn't realize that because of man's fall in Genesis 3, all men are sinners, not just the bad ones.  This makes me think of Romans 5:12 and 19 where Paul says in Adam all have sinned.


     In this chapter  I saw the Lord imploring those religious Pharisees to see their need of Him. He was pointing out that they were so quick to be judges not physicians.  What I'm seeing here is that it seems the Lord ordains environments for us that unravel our sicknesses so we can personally get to know Him as our divine Physician!

Other blogs on the Life Study of Matthew:

You can listen to excerpts from the Life Study of Matthew along with excellent commentary by tuning into the Life Study of the Bible with Witness Lee.    

Do You Skip the Genealogy in Matthew?
What is the Focus of the Gospel of Matthew?
What is the Sermon on the Mount Really About? (Part 1)
What is the Sermon on the Mount Really About?  (Part 2)
Why is the Crucial Significance of Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13?
How Does Jesus Calm the Stormy Sea in Matthew 8:23-27?
How Does the Great Physician Heal our Hearts in Matthew 9:12?
Have You Seen the Battle Between the Two Kingdoms in Matthew 12:26-28?
What is the Connection Between the Kingdom & the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:3-23?
What is the Significance of the Parables on the Treasure & the Pearl of Great Value in Matthew 13:44-46?
What is Walking By Faith All About in Matthew 14:22-33?
What Lesson Did Peter Learn on the Mount of Transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-13?
How Does Matthew 18 and 19 Relate to the Kingdom?
What Does Peter's Denial of the Lord Teach us in Matthew 26:69-75?