But when Jesus heard that, he said to them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
They that be whole.
Psalm 6:2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
Psalm 41:4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
Psalm 147:3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Jesus said
The authority of Jesus' words is emphasized here. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus speaks with authority, often contrasting with the teachings of the Pharisees and scribes. His words are not just responses but teachings that reveal deeper spiritual truths.
It is not the healthy who need a doctor
This metaphor highlights the purpose of Jesus' mission. The "healthy" refers to those who perceive themselves as righteous, often the religious leaders who believed they were spiritually well. The imagery of a doctor is significant, as it portrays Jesus as a healer, not just of physical ailments but of spiritual brokenness. This aligns with His role as the Great Physician, a theme seen in His healing miracles throughout the Gospels.
but the sick
The "sick" symbolizes those who recognize their need for spiritual healing, such as the tax collectors and sinners with whom Jesus associated. This phrase underscores the inclusivity of Jesus' ministry, reaching out to those marginalized by society. It also reflects the prophetic fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1, where the Messiah is described as bringing good news to the poor and healing the brokenhearted. Jesus' association with the "sick" demonstrates His mission to seek and save the lost, as further emphasized in Luke 19:10.
Jesus overheard the Pharisees asking His disciples why He would eat with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:11). He does not ignore the criticism; He addresses it directly, showing He is fully aware of both spoken words and hidden motives (Matthew 12:25; John 2:24–25). Mark 2:17 and Luke 5:31 recount the same scene, confirming that this moment was purposeful, not incidental.
The Lord responds with calm authority, turning a social accusation into a teaching moment. Whenever Jesus speaks, truth and grace converge (Matthew 7:29; John 7:46). His words are never wasted; they cut through superficial religiosity and reach the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
Here “the healthy” represents those who perceive themselves as righteous—like the Pharisees—yet in reality “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12). Jesus isn’t declaring some people truly sinless; He is exposing self-confidence that masks spiritual need (Luke 18:9-12; Revelation 3:17). Thinking we’re fine keeps us from the Savior’s healing.
Jesus likens Himself to a physician. The Old Testament promised a Healer: “I am the LORD who heals you” (Exodus 15:26). Isaiah 53:5 foretold that “by His stripes we are healed,” a prophecy Peter applies to Christ’s atoning work (1 Peter 2:24). Just as a doctor diagnoses, treats, and restores physical health, Jesus diagnoses sin, applies grace, and restores souls (Luke 4:18; Jeremiah 8:22).
“The sick” are sinners who admit their brokenness. Paul echoes this truth: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). Jesus seeks them out, “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). When we confess our need, He provides forgiveness and new life (Romans 5:8; Ezekiel 34:16). The Pharisees’ refusal to see their sickness left them outside the remedy that sat at their table.
Matthew 9:12 shows Jesus confronting spiritual pride with a simple medical illustration. Those who think they are healthy—self-righteous—see no need for a Savior, but those who know they are sick—aware of sin—run to the Great Physician. Acknowledging our need is the doorway to His healing grace, the very reason He came.
(12) They that be whole.--Literally, They that are strong. St. Luke gives, with a more professional precision, "They that are in health." That, speaking from the thoughts and standpoint of those addressed (which in another than our Lord we might term grave irony), which enters so largely into our Lord's teaching, appears here in its most transparent form. Those of whom He speaks were, we know, suffering from the worst form of spiritual disease, but in their own estimation they were without spot or taint, and as such. therefore, He speaks to them. On their own showing, they ought not to object to His carrying on that work where there was most need of it. The proverb cited by Him in Luke 4:23 shows that it was not the first time that He had referred to His own work as that of the Great Physician.Verse 12. - But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole. Οἱ ἰσχύοντες (so also Mark) may include an arriere-pensee of moral self-assertion which St. Luke entirely loses by his alteration to οἱ ὑγιαίνοντες: cf. 1 Corinthians 4:10. Need not; have no need of (Revised Version). These are the emphatic words in the sentence. Christ takes the Pharisees at their own estimate of themselves, and, without entering into the question of whether this was right or wrong, shows them that on their own showing he would be useless to them. A physician, but they that are sick. "Sed ubi dolores sunt, air, illic festinat medicns," Ephr. Syr., in his exposition of Tatian's 'Diatess.' (Resch, 'Agrapha,' p. 443).