They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. pt 1

In one of the earlier posts I talked about symptoms being our best friend.


They show us that there is a compromise in our health, that something is amiss. Without them we would not know that we have a problem. Without symptoms we can die slowly from a disease without realizing it. I don't know about you but I would want to know if I have something serious taking place in my body so that I can deal with it in time and while I still have a chance to possibly stop and maybe even reverse the process.


So if you are well or think you are well, you don't need to see a physician because there is no problem or seems to be no problem. When you start having symptoms of an illness is when you decide to consult a physician. But there are also times when we might have symptoms but not recognize them as symptoms. The symptoms might just come to be accepted as natural or normal, but nevertheless they are still symptoms.


So it is a blessing to be able to realize that we are sick through symptoms or to be able to identify what we might not think to be symptoms as that. In the following passage, we see why symptoms are important.


[10] And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
[11] And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
[12] But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
[13] But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Matthew 9:1-13.


Christ sat with publicans and sinners and that offended the pharisees. In their profession of righteousness or self righteousness, they felt that they were better than everyone else. But in God's eyes we are all sinners whether we profess religion or not, and God knows our hearts as is written;


[7] But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7.


Based on outward appearance the pharisee appears righteous compared to the one who professes no religion and lives a life of open sin. The pharisee forgot that 


[23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23.


He was included in the "all" which encompasses all humanity, pharisee and publican alike. 


Christ then says they that are whole need not a physician but they that are sick. The publicans realized their "sick" sinful state and knew that in their presence was one who could heal them of this sickness, even the great Physician Christ himself. They sat with Him because they realized they were sick with sin.


The pharisees on the other hand because they professed religion and were self righteous did not see the need to sit with the Physician Christ. Since they considered themselves righteous, they did not think themselves sick with sin. They felt no need to be healed because they thought themselves to be whole.


So Christ came for the sick, those who like the publicans realize that they are sinful and need to be healed of this sickness of the soul, sin. Those who are sick seek a Physician, but those who are well need not one. The self righteous feel well, spiritually and so do not feel the need to be healed of sin, because they don't realize that they are also sinful, we are all sinful.


So Christ came for the sinners, the sick and not for the righteous or whole spiritually as they have no need for Him. Are you well, or are you sick? We are all sick because we are all sinful whether we acknowledge it or not but to be healed by the True Physician Christ, we have to acknowledge that we are sick like the publicans and need to be healed. He can not force His healing procedures upon us, but we have to acknowledge that we are sick, and ask Him to be healed. 


So Christ came to call the sinners to repentance and not the righteous. He doesn't need to heal the righteous because they are whole already and don't need His service, but we know that:


[10] As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:10.


So we all need to be healed because we have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory. Only when we acknowledge that we are sick with sin can He heal us of our sins.