Luke 5:31
And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus isn't just saying the obvious here; he's subtly highlighting the self-deception of the religious leaders. By using the word for "in health" instead of "strong," he points out that their perceived spiritual wellness is a dangerous illusion, and they're the very ones who are truly sick but don't know it.
Jesus has just called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. Matthew immediately hosts a large banquet for Jesus and his disciples, inviting many other tax collectors and sinners. When the scribes and Pharisees see Jesus eating with these "undesirables," they question his disciples, prompting Jesus' famous response about needing a physician for the sick, not those who are well.
Why would Jesus call himself a physician? It’s a powerful image, but it hinges on us understanding something about ourselves. What does it mean to be spiritually 'sick'?
Jesus uses a common analogy: a physician is for the sick, not the healthy. When the religious leaders questioned why Jesus associated with tax collectors and 'sinners,' Jesus’ response was direct.
The Illusion of Health
The scribes and Pharisees saw themselves as 'well.' They prided themselves on following the Law and maintaining a respectable outward appearance. Compared to the openly sinful, they felt they were healthy and didn't need Jesus' intervention.
The Deeper Malady
But Jesus saw a more dangerous sickness – a spiritual pride that masked a deep need. This 'health' was a false one, blinding them to their true condition and their desperate need for God's healing. True sickness, in God's eyes, isn't just outward sin, but an inward rebellion and self-sufficiency that rejects His grace.
Jesus didn't come for the 'righteous' in their own eyes. His whole purpose was to bring healing and restoration. What does this mean for those who feel far from God?
Jesus’ choice to eat with 'sinners' and tax collectors wasn't casual; it was a deliberate act flowing from His core mission. He was actively seeking out those who recognized their need for His divine touch.
The Physician's Call
The core of Jesus' ministry was to call sinners to repentance. This 'calling' wasn't just an invitation to change behavior, but a profound declaration that He came specifically for those burdened by sin, those who knew they couldn't heal themselves.
A Foundation for Mission
This principle—that Jesus came for the sick—becomes the very foundation for all ministry and outreach. It’s the driving force behind efforts to reach out with love and compassion to those on the margins, echoing Jesus' own actions. He came to mend the brokenness of humanity.
Understand the original words
iatros · Greek Noun
In a biblical context, this term refers to one who practices medicine, metaphorically signifying Jesus as the divine healer who addresses the spiritual sickness of sin. It denotes someone who brings restoration, wholeness, and life to the broken.
Jesus' famous saying about physicians and the sick arose from a specific, tense encounter where he defended his association with 'sinners' against the judgmental gaze of the religious elite.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples. His actions and teachings challenge the religious establishment.
c. AD 27-30
Call of Levi (Matthew)
Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow him. This occupation was deeply despised by many Jews.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Feast in Levi's House
Levi hosts Jesus and many other tax collectors and sinners in his home, creating a scene that draws criticism from Pharisees and scribes.
c. AD 27-30
Pharisees' Criticism
The scribes and Pharisees question Jesus and his disciples about why he associates with 'sinners,' implying hypocrisy or moral compromise.
c. AD 27-30
This passage directly parallels Luke's account, with Jesus stating the same principle about physicians and the sick, underscoring his mission to call sinners.
Mark 2:17Similar to Luke and Matthew, Mark records Jesus' famous saying, highlighting that his purpose was to minister to those who recognized their spiritual need, not those who felt self-righteous.
Hosea 6:6Jesus quotes this Old Testament passage to the Pharisees, emphasizing that God desires mercy and a recognition of need over outward religious observance, which directly supports his actions of reaching out to 'sick' sinners.
1 Timothy 1:15Paul echoes the sentiment of Jesus' ministry when he calls himself the 'chief of sinners,' illustrating how those who understand their spiritual sickness are the ones Christ came to save.
cambridgeLuke 5:31: "And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick."
31 . They that are whole ] Our Lord’s words had both an obvious and a deeper meaning. As regards the ordinary duties and respectability of life these provincial scribes and Pharisees were really “whole” as compared with the flagrant “sinfulness” of the tax-gatherers and “sinners.” In another and even a more dangerous sense they were themselves “sinners” who fancied only that they h…
pulpitLuke 5:31: "And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick."
Verses 31, 32. - And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. This was one of those sayings of the Lord which sank very deep into the hearts of the hearers. All the three, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, repeat it with very slight variations; it was evidently a favourite t…
Jesus isn't just saying the obvious here; he's subtly highlighting the self-deception of the religious leaders. By using the word for "in health" instead of "strong," he points out that their perceived spiritual wellness is a dangerous illusion, and they're the very ones who are truly sick but don't know it.
Jesus has just called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. Matthew immediately hosts a large banquet for Jesus and his disciples, inviting many other tax collectors and sinners. When the scribes and Pharisees see Jesus eating with these "undesirables," they question his disciples, prompting Jesus' famous response about needing a physician for the sick, not those who are well.
Jesus has just called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. Matthew immediately hosts a large banquet for Jesus and his disciples, inviting many other tax collectors and sinners. When the scribes and Pharisees see Jesus eating with these "undesirables," they question his disciples, prompting Jesus' famous response about needing a physician for the sick, not those who are well.
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Jesus' Response
Jesus uses the analogy of a doctor and his patients to explain his mission: he is here to call sinners to repentance, not the self-righteous.
"And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick." — Jesus isn't just saying the obvious here; he's subtly highlighting the self-deception of the religious leaders. By using the word for "in health" instead of "strong," he points out that their perceiv…
