Matthew 9:13

εἰς μετάνοιαν after καλέσαι. An insertion due to the parallel passage, Luke 5:32. The tendency to harmonise is a frequent source of error.

13. πορευθέντες μάθετε. A translation of a common Rabbinical formula.

Ἔλεος θέλω. ‘I desire mercy.’ I require mercy rather than sacrifice, Hosea 6:6. It is a protest by the prophet against the unloving, insincere formalist of his day. It is closely parallel to our Lord’s injunction, ch. Matthew 5:23-24. Sacrifice without mercy is no acceptable sacrifice. To love sinners is a better fulfilling of the law than to stand aloof from them. See note ch. Matthew 12:7, where our Lord again quotes these words.

The neuter form ἔλεος is late: cp. κατὰ τὸ πλοῦτος corrected from κατὰ τὸν πλοῦτον, Philippians 4:19.

καλέσαι. The underlying thought is invitation to a banquet; the word has a special significance in the circumstances: cp. the important Christian derived terms κλῆσις, (1) ‘the invitation,’ 2 Peter 1:10; (2) the body of the ‘called,’ 1 Corinthians 1:26, and κλητὸς as Romans 1:1, κλητὸς�.

It was from scenes like this that Jesus was named φάγος καὶ οἰνοπότης τελωνῶν φίλος καὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν, ch. Matthew 11:19.