4. (a) What was one of the most important aspects of Jesus’ ministry? (b) How did the apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, show the true relationship of sinners to God’s mercy?

⁴ Thus it is evident that Jesus was not accepting people in their sins as they were. Rather, one of the most important aspects of his ministry was to cure men of their spiritual illnesses, enabling them to be accepted by God because of their changed way of life. (1 Pet. 3:12; Mal. 3:18; Acts 10:34, 35)

Hearing them, he said: ‘Persons in health do not need a physician, but the ailing do. Go, then, and learn what this means, “I want mercy, and not sacrifice.” For I came to call, not righteous people, but sinners.’”​—Matt. 9:10-13.

MERCY NOT A CONDONING OF SINS

3. What do Jesus’ own words in answer to his critics show as to his attitude toward sinners, and how did his deeds demonstrate this further?

³ Would this not, in casual reading, appear to indicate that Jesus approved of sinners in that he was willing to associate with them, and criticized the Pharisees for objecting to it? Note, however, Jesus’ introductory statement: “Persons in health do not need a physician, but the ailing do.” Would this not rather suggest that Jesus’ reason for associating with them was to cure them and not simply to accept them in the ailing condition in which he found them as sinners?