When Jesus heard this, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I also have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
This saying touches the heart of the Gospel. Christ presents Himself as the Physician, and sinful humanity as the sick. This is a very deep image, because sin is not only a legal accusation, but also a spiritual sickness that cripples the whole person. Those considered healthy are the ones who are righteous in their own eyes and do not feel the need for salvation. But true healing is received by those who know that they are sick. The words “I have not come to call the righteous” are hope for the sinner, and a warning for the one who considers himself righteous. The purpose of Christ’s coming was not to leave people in their comfortable self-righteousness, but to bring them to repentance and renew them.