Mercy

Send us Fan MailSunday 7 June 2026We enter into the long time of learning the Way of Jesus in this time after Pentecost. First cab off the rank today is that moment when Matthew is called to follow Jesus.It must have been quite a surprise to Matthew, and to the two groups of people witnessing all this.There would have been people who never thought the mercy of God would get close to someone like this ostracised disliked man, Matthew. He was definitely a sinner with big sins for all to see. Every day he strengthened the oppression of the community under brutal rule of the Empire by taking taxes from the local community and then pocketing some of the tax money for his own life project.Some of the them would have marvelled at this flagrant mercy extended to such an obviously bad person with such big sins. Others would have been very upset that mercy like this should ever be extended to someone like that.Jesus does this mercy-act of calling Matthew and then deals with the eyebrow raising it caused – the good and the bad.To the bad people who are sensing joy that God could be this full of mercy to such a bad person (like they know they are), and to the good people who are deeply offended and angered that someone so bad could be treated as good (like they believe they have earned to be), Jesus reveals the heart of God.I desire mercy, not sacrificeAcknowledgement not burnt offerings (Hosea 6:6)May you know the heart of God for you this morning.Pastor Adrian