Not The Righteous, But Sinners

Jesus says that he did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. The so called "righteous" people of Jesus' day looked down on him for eating with Matthew, a tax collector and "sinner." Matthew would be keenly aware of this. He writes about this in his gospel where the main theme has to do with the reader understanding that he is a sinner and is not worthy of salvation or heaven. We must have a righteousness that exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees because their righteousness is not enough, either. What kind of righteousness can we have? The answer is imputed righteousness. It does not come from us, but from our Savior. The point Matthew is making throughout the book is that Jesus is our only righteousness. Enter through the narrow gate (Jesus) or you do not enter at all.

We need a savior. That means all of us without exception. It was impossible for Jesus to save the "righteous" because they were so busy deluding themselves into thinking they had righteousness of their own that they would never come to Jesus Christ as a savior. Jesus came for the sinners who knew they needed help and could not make it on their own.