And as he sat at dinner in Levi’s house, many tax-collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax-collectors, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ When Jesus heard this, he said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’ (Mark 2: 15-17)

Jesus does not suggest that his colleagues are anything but sinners. Jesus is, nonetheless, in loving, caring relationship with them.

This little story is essentially the same in Luke and Matthew. But the gospel of Matthew - in whose home this story takes place - adds a crucial element.

In the first gospel Jesus also says to the scribes, "Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy not sacrifice.'" (Matthew 9: 13)

For many ritual sacrifice had become a principal path to righteousness. The Pharisees were advocates of infusing daily life with temple ritual.

Jesus does not deny the sins of his followers, but at this dinner Jesus first suggests that his understanding of righteousness will be unlike that of the Pharisees.

"Mercy not sacrifice" is a principle articulated in several books of Hebrew Scripture including First Samuel, the Psalms, and Hosea. In my judgment a better English translation for the ancient Hebrew concept of mercy - which may be what Jesus had in mind - is our modern concept of empathy. Above is Art Empathy by Richard Lazzara.