Matthew 9:12-14

Expanded Bible

¹² When Jesus heard them, he said, “It is not the healthy people who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³ Go and learn what this means: ‘I ·want [desire; require; am pleased by] ·kindness [compassion; mercy] ·more than I want [^Lnot] animal sacrifices [Hos. 6:6].’ [^LFor] I did not come to ·invite [call] ·good people [the righteous; ^Cmeaning the “self-righteous” who feel no need to repent] but to invite [call] sinners [^Cthose who recognize their need to repent].”

Jesus’ Followers Are Criticized^(A)

¹⁴ Then the ·followers [disciples] of John [^Cthe Baptist] came to Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees often fast [^Cgiving up eating for spiritual purposes], but your ·followers [disciples] don’t?”