Matthew
“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Matthew 9:13
Matthew 9:13 (KJV) speaks to God's mercy, repentance, and God's grace — words set in Matthew, the Gospel that presents Jesus as the promised King. Read it unhurried, and let it become a prayer you return to.
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Verses that sit beside this one
“And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”
Joel 2:13“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 5:32“For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.”
2 Chronicles 30:9“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”
Psalms 51:1“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.”
Micah 7:18“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
John 3:17
Common questions
What does Matthew 9:13 mean?
In the King James Version, Matthew 9:13 reads: "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." The verse speaks to God's mercy, repentance, and God's grace. To read it well, take it in the flow of Matthew 9 rather than on its own, and let the words settle slowly — reading it aloud, or turning it into a short prayer, is often what makes its meaning land.
Is Matthew 9:13 in the King James Version?
Yes. "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." is Matthew 9:13 in the King James Version (KJV), found in Matthew chapter 9.
What are some related Bible verses to Matthew 9:13?
Verses that sit beside Matthew 9:13 include Joel 2:13, Luke 5:32, and 2 Chronicles 30:9. Reading them alongside Matthew 9:13 deepens the theme of God's mercy.
How can I pray with Matthew 9:13?
Read Matthew 9:13 slowly, take a breath, and turn it into a short prayer in your own words — thanking God for what it promises, or asking for what it points to. Keep it somewhere you will see it today, and let it be a companion rather than a task to finish.