the real focus

 It seems that every time I've heard anyone speak on this passage, it's been about Jesus' words about "healthy people don't need a doctor...

I think the real focus should be on 2 things:

that Jesus WANTED to hang with "disreputable sinner,"

and

that these same "disreputable sinner" WANTED to hang with Jesus.

Jesus evidently communicated that He cared about them, & that they knew it & responded.

I've always thought that this passage should challenge us to consider whether we have enough of Jesus in us that we would WANT to hang with what our world considers to be "disreputable sinners" AND that they would WANT to hang with us.

It seems we have become confused with what our job is? 

Maybe it's not to judge people & call them to task (the job of the Father & the Holy Spirit, respectively). 

Rather our job is to love them? (I think Jesus mentioned this a few times?)

Matthew 9 

9 As Jesus was walking along, 

he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. 

“Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. 

So Matthew got up and followed him.

10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”