^10 (A)Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. ¹¹ And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with ^(B)tax collectors and ^(C)sinners?”

¹² When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ^(D)‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, ^(E)but sinners, ^[a]to repentance.”

Glory to God for His Grace^(A)

¹² And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has ^(B)enabled me, ^(C)because He counted me faithful, ^(D)putting me into the ministry, ¹³ although ^(E)I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an ^[a]insolent man; but I obtained mercy because ^(F)I did it ignorantly in unbelief. ^14 (G)And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, ^(H)with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ^15 (I)This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that ^(J)Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. ¹⁶ However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.