Daily Bible Verses by Book

‘And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.’

Matthew 9:10–13

Meals matter. They’re more than just food: they’re moments of connection. Who we invite…

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.  (Matthew 9v10)

https://www.thefuelcast.com/library/2025-06-23-around-us-part-2-get-close-r25

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’  Matthew 9:10–11

Jesus’ most consistent social action was eating in new ways and with new people, encountering those who were oppressed or excluded from the system.…

Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew’s house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus’ followers. “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and misfits?”  Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not…

Heavenly father
give us grace to mourn in all situations where the absence of your grace and love is most accute

¹⁴ Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?”
¹⁵ Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?
But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 
 

Heavenly father
give us grace to make sure that our lives always have room for you. 

¹⁶ No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment;
for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made. 
¹⁷ Neither do people put new wine into old wine skins,
or else the skins would burst, and the wine be spilled, and the skins ruined.
No, they put new wine into fresh wine skins, and both are preserved.”

Heavenly father
give us grace today to face up to both our deepest needs and also your love and power

¹⁸ While he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshipped him, saying,
“My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”
¹⁹ Jesus got up and followed him, as did his disciples. 

Heavenly father
give us grace to trust in the wholeness flows from you

²⁰ Behold, a woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; 
²¹ for she said within herself, “If I just touch his garment, I will be made well.”
²² But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, “Daughter, cheer up! Your faith has made you well.” 
And the woman was made well from that hour.

Heavenly father
give us grace to receive and give your life giving touch  today. 

²³ When Jesus came into the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd in noisy disorder, 
²⁴ he said to them, “Make room, because the girl isn’t dead, but sleeping.”
They were ridiculing him. 
²⁵ But when the crowd was sent out, he entered in, took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 
²⁶ The report of this went out into all that land.

Heavenly father
give us grace to believe and trust in you today.  

²⁷ As Jesus passed by from there, two blind men followed him, calling out and saying, “Have mercy on us, son of David!” 
²⁸ When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
They told him, “Yes, Lord.”
²⁹ Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”…