Matthew 9:13

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not [only] sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call righteous people [to be my followers] but sinners.”

Cross References

Mark 2:17

When Jesus heard [about] this, He said to them, “People who are healthy do not need a doctor, but [only] sick people do. I did not come to call those who do right, but sinners [instead].”

Luke 19:10

For the Son of man came to search for and save those who were lost.”

Luke 5:32

I did not come to call those who are doing right to repent [i.e., to change their hearts and lives], but [only those who are] sinners.”

Matthew 12:7

If you had [fully] understood what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not [only] sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned someone who was not guilty [of wrongdoing].

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow about keeping His promise, like some people are, but is [simply] being patient with you, since He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but He wants everyone to repent [i.e., change their hearts and lives].

Acts 3:19

Therefore, you people [must] repent [i.e., change your hearts and lives] and turn [back] again [to God] so that your sins will be blotted out and so that you may enjoy times of [spiritual] refreshment from the presence of the Lord [i.e., through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit].

Acts 11:18

So, when the apostles and the brothers from Judea heard these things, they stopped arguing [See verse 2] and gave honor to God, saying, “[This means] that God has permitted the Gentiles also [as well as the Jews] to repent [i.e., change their hearts and lives] so they, too, could have [the promise of never ending] life.”

Matthew 3:2

“You must repent [i.e., change your hearts and lives], for the kingdom of heaven will soon be here.”

Acts 5:31

But God exalted Him at His right side to be a Prince and Savior and to give the people of Israel [an opportunity] to repent [i.e., change their hearts and lives] and [receive] forgiveness of [their] sins [through Him].

Luke 24:47

And [the need for] a change of heart and life in order to receive the forgiveness of sins [from God] will be preached in Jesus’ name [i.e., by His authority] to people of all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Matthew 4:17

From that time onward Jesus began to preach, saying, “You people [must] repent [i.e., change your hearts and lives], for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Acts 2:38

And Peter replied, “Every one of you must repent [i.e., change your hearts and lives] and be immersed in the name of Jesus Christ [i.e., by His authority] so that your sins will be forgiven [by God] and then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit [to live in your hearts].

Matthew 3:8

Demonstrate by your lives that you have [really] repented,

Acts 20:21

[You know how] I testified to both Jews and Greeks [i.e., Gentiles], that they must repent [i.e., change their attitudes and behavior] toward God, and have faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 21:42

Jesus [then] said to the leading priests and elders of the Jewish people, “Did you not ever read in the Scriptures [Psa. 118:22-23], ‘The building block rejected by the builders is the same one that was made the principal stone by which the entire building was aligned. This was planned by the Lord and is a marvelous thing to us’?

Matthew 12:3

Jesus replied, “Have you not read what King David did when he and his men were hungry? [I Sam. 21:6]

Mark 12:26

But concerning those who are raised from the dead, have you never read in the book of Moses, in the incident about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying [Ex. 3:6], ‘I am Abraham’s God, and Isaac’s God, and Jacob’s God?’

John 10:34

Jesus replied to them, “Is it not written in your Law [Psa. 82:6], ‘I said, you people are gods’?

Matthew 19:4

And He answered them, “Have you not read [Gen. 1:27; 5:2] that when God created [mankind as] male and female,

Matthew 12:5

Or, have you not read in the Law of Moses that the priests in the Temple defiled the Sabbath day [i.e., by doing the ‘work’ of offering sacrifices] and were not held guilty [of wrongdoing]? [See Num. 28:9-10]

Luke 10:26

And Jesus said to him, “What is written in the Law of Moses? How do you read it?”

Mark 12:33

And that to love Him with all one’s heart, with all one’s understanding, and with all one’s strength, and to love one’s neighbor the same way he loves himself, are far more [important] than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices [in the world].”

Luke 5:31

And Jesus answered them, “People who are healthy do not need a doctor, but [only] sick people do.