9 As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him. 10 As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12 When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. 13 But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’✡ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Matthew 9:9-13 - World English Bible

Almost a third of the way into Matthew's gospel, Jesus called the famous tax collector. Why did it take so long to introduce the gospel's namesake? I believe the evangelist wanted to define the person and mission of the Messiah before he described the people the holy man served. Jesus, the Son of his Father Almighty, came to call sinners to repentance. He came to break the barriers of kosher quarantine to break bread with the less desirable in society. He came to fulfill Hosea 6:6, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” He came to give these lost souls the medicine of metanoia, the call to turn away from their sins and back to God.

How has God called you back to himself?