12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
12 But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
12 Jesus, overhearing, shot back, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick?
12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
12 When Jesus heard this, he said, "Healthy people don't need a doctor-sick people do."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 9:12
Commentary on Matthew 9:10-13
(Read Matthew 9:10-13)
Some time after his call, Matthew sought to bring his old associates to hear Christ. He knew by experience what the grace of Christ could do, and would not despair concerning them. Those who are effectually brought to Christ, cannot but desire that others also may be brought to him. Those who suppose their souls to be without disease will not welcome the spiritual Physician. This was the case with the Pharisees; they despised Christ, because they thought themselves whole; but the poor publicans and sinners felt that they wanted instruction and amendment. It is easy, and too common, to put the worst constructions upon the best words and actions. It may justly be suspected that those have not the grace of God themselves, who are not pleased with others' obtaining it. Christ's conversing with sinners is here called mercy; for to promote the conversion of souls is the greatest act of mercy. The gospel call is a call to repentance; a call to us to change our minds, and to change our ways. If the children of men had not been sinners, there had been no need for Christ to come among them. Let us examine whether we have found out our sickness, and have learned to follow the directions of our great Physician.