The Church is Not a Hotel for Saints, It Is a Hospital for Sinners! - Saint Augustine 4th century Matthew 9:10-13

The Calling of Matthew
As you probably know most Jewish people hated the tax collectors in Jesus' day. They were puppets of the Roman government and tried to collect as much taxes as they could to line their own pockets as well. 
"The Jewish people rightly thought of them as traitors because they worked for the Roman government, and they had the force of Roman soldiers behind them to make people pay taxes. They were the most visible Jewish collaborators with Rome." Guzik
Jesus saw Matthew, also called Levi, and immediately invited him to follow him.   Immediately Matthew the hated tax collector got right up and did so. Later he would write the gospel we are reading!
“He left his tax-collector’s table; but took from it one thing – his pen…this man, whose trade had taught him to use a pen, used that skill to compose the first handbook of the teaching of Jesus.” (Barclay)

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 

Apparently where Matthew followed him was to his own house.  Note that rather than being offended by Jesus' message and example, Matthew and his friends were drawn to Jesus and felt comfortable enough to eat with him.  Most people who are sinners think Jesus would never want anything to do with them, but Jesus shows us how he loves everyone equally and invites everyone no matter who they are to get to know him. 

Also note Matthew was comfortable inviting his old friends and business associates, who were probably a lot like him.  Jesus had made quite an impression on Matthew, and he wanted his friends to meet Jesus. He was unlike any rabbi he had met before.  Some of the best evangelists are those who we would consider sinners or cheats who come to Jesus and want to share him with their friends.

11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Of course, the Pharisees attitude toward sinners and tax collectors was diametrically opposite to Jesus friendship with Matthew and his friends.  They wondered why a rabbi would rub shoulders with such unsavory characters.  Though the Pharisees were sinners too, they preferred to look down their noses at others to feel good about themselves.  The most judgmental people may be religious but often never look in the mirror at their own faults.  Even a Christian can be highly judgmental and forget, "If not for the grace of God there go I!" 

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." 

Jesus didn't mean this literally but spiritually.  When you are physically sick usually you are smart enough to call a doctor and get help.  Jesus came to be a Savior of the world and deliver us from a "sin sickness". Like other serious illnesses if it is not treated by the Great Physician it will lead to death. Not just in this life, but the life to come.  

As Paul says in Roman 6:13, "The wages of sin are death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus."  Though salvation is a free gift some choose to refuse it by denying that they are sick and don't need a doctor.  They never get the cure for their sin disease. They are like the person who is physically sick but fails to do what the doctor prescribes for their condition.

13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

This is a quote from Hosea 6:6.  Since Jesus is the once and for all sacrifice, we don't need to offer any more sacrifices if we are in Christ.  But when we have received grace through faith, we need to extend that same grace and mercy to others.  The Pharisees didn't understand grace and mercy, because they had never received it themselves.  And even though the giver of it was right in their midst, they refused to come to him and have life.  

Jesus came for sinners like you and me.  Those who acknowledge that they have sinned and fallen short of God's glory.  This knowledge comes from the conviction of the Holy Spirit, who shows us our true need for a Savior.  Yet, there are those who reject the work of the Holy Spirit, because of their hardness of heart.  Though God loves them, they choose not to come to him for life and forgiveness.  They deny the cure and the curor. 

Where are you tempted to be judgmental of others?  How do you think your own understanding of the mercy and grace you have been given in Christ should affect this?  Do you think the church does a good job of reaching out to sinners?  Do you reach out to them?  Who are the sinners and tax collectors of our day?  Just picked out the most hated characters of his day.  Remember this, "The church is not a hotel for saints, it is a hospital for sinners." - Saint Augustine 4th century.