The Power of Jesus
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The Power of Jesus
9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.
10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Matthew 9:9-13
Confession Of Faith: I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel.I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God The victory is mine! - I have it Now!I can see it through the eyes of my faith
In Matthew Chapter 9
We meet several groups and individuals
1. The committed friends who bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus to be healed
2. The religious folks or the scribes
3. Tax Collectors
4. Sinners
5. Disciples
6. Synagogue ruler or leader in the church who just had a family member die
7. A Very Sick Woman with an issue of blood
8. Some Blind Men – seeking mercy
9. A man who could not talk (mute man) – possessed by a demon
Matthew
This is Matthew's personal testimony.
In verse Chapter 9:1-8 Matthew wrote about the experiences of others. Now he comes to his own personal experience.
I need to tell you about Matthew and them kind of folks
The people who lived in the region did even consider Matthew as a man. But they referred to him as a tax collector for the Romans. They hated him and every other tax collectors. There are three reasons why tax collectors were so bitterly hated.
1. They served the Roman conquerors. Most tax collectors were Jews, but in the people's eyes they had denied their Jewish heritage and betrayed their country. They were detested, completely cut off from Jewish society and excommunicated from Jewish religion and privileges.
2. They cheated, were dishonest and unfair men. Most tax collectors were extremely wealthy. Because, The Roman government compensated tax collectors by allowing them to collect more than the required amount for taxes. Tax collectors abused their right, adding whatever percent they wished and felt could be collected. They took bribes from the wealthy who wished to avoid taxes, tricked the average citizen, and swindled the government when they could.
3. In the eyes of the Jews, God and the ruling High Priest were considered to be the head of Jewish government. Therefore, taxes were to be paid only to God and His government. To pay taxes to earthly rulers was an abuse and a denial of God's rights. Therefore, tax collectors were excommunicated from Jewish religion and privileges. Tax collectors were viewed as cursed, and an abomination.
Matthew was bitterly talked about, people gossiped about him. He was hated, not by just a few, but by everyone. He was so detested that he was classified with the worst of sinners
1 By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently.
In verse Chapter 9:1-8 Matthew wrote about the experiences of others. Now he comes to his own personal experience.
1 NOW THE tax collectors and [notorious and especially wicked] sinners were all coming near to [Jesus] to listen to Him.
I need to tell you about Matthew and them kind
He was collecting taxes as a Jew for the nation that had rule over the Jewish Community. He had become wealthy by extortion, so wealthy that he was able to own a house large enough to handle a huge crowd and a large feast.
He was immoral, unjust, money-hungry, and worldly-minded. He cared more for possessions and wealth than for people. Through the years he had become unloving, hard, difficult, bitter—and worst of all, without love, purpose, meaning, and significance in life.
The people who lived in the region did even consider Matthew as a man. But they referred to him as a tax collector for the Romans. They hated him and every other tax collectors. There are three reasons why tax collectors were so bitterly hated.
What is so interesting when you read this chapter is that he shares his own personal conversion in one simple verse, and then he moves on to share how Jesus came to save sinners just like him.
1. They served the Roman conquerors. Most tax collectors were Jews, but in the people's eyes they had denied their Jewish heritage and betrayed their country. They were detested, completely cut off from Jewish society and excommunicated from Jewish religion and privileges.
9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.
2. They cheated, were dishonest and unfair men. Most tax collectors were extremely wealthy. Because, The Roman government compensated tax collectors by allowing them to collect more than the required amount for taxes. Tax collectors abused their right, adding whatever percent they wished and felt could be collected. They took bribes from the wealthy who wished to avoid taxes, tricked the average citizen, and swindled the government when they could.
What is so interesting when you read this chapter is that he shares his own personal conversion in one simple verse, and then he moves on to share how Jesus came to save sinners just like him.
Jesus "saw a man" named Matthew. Jesus saw where he was sitting and what he was doing. Jesus aw everything about Matthew. He saw his heart, his mind, his thoughts, his hurt, his pain, his loneliness, his lack of purpose and meaning in life. Jesus saw a useless life, a life being wasted.
3. They were assuming rights that belonged only to God. In the eyes of the Jews, God and the ruling High Priest were considered to be the head of Jewish government. Therefore, taxes were to be paid only to God and His government. To pay taxes to earthly rulers was an abuse and a denial of God's rights. Therefore, tax collectors were excommunicated from Jewish religion and privileges. Tax collectors were viewed as cursed, and an abomination.
But Jesus "saw a man," a man who needed a Savior, a Savior who could meet every need of his existence.
Jesus called the man. He said “Follow me."
It was forceful and to the point. There were no questions asked, no hesitations, no buts, no allowances, no half-heartedness, no delayed decision.
It was to the point. The man had to follow immediately without hesitating.
This Follow me required Matthew’s immediate and total commitment or nothing
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
1 “Listen to me, all you who are serious about right living and committed to seeking God. Ponder the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were dug.
1 WAIT and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing].
isaiah
isaiah 51:
Matthew’s one act He got up and followed Jesus. He got up and left everything to follow Jesus.
He left all and committed himself totally to Christ.
35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
33 “Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.
Luke
Matthew was a working man, a very hard-working man. He was not a lazy person. But he was not satisfied. You can have money and cars and homes and clothes and still be dissatisfied!
It is hard for rich men or people who are comfortable to enter heaven because they are so attached to the material world or become so comfortable that they don’t care. Matthew was one of the few who had been willing to give up all in order to follow Jesus. Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven became his
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’
19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’
19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
What are you holding on to?
Matthew committed himself totally to Jesus. Once he began to follow Jesus, he never turned back.
Matthew's conversion shows that Jesus saves anyone who will truly follow Him:
⇒ the hated
⇒ the bitter
⇒ the non-religious
⇒ the unjust
⇒ the dissatisfied
⇒ the lonely
⇒ the traitor
⇒ the traitor
⇒ the thief
⇒ the immoral
⇒ the one without purpose or meaning
I see Matthew represents all these and more.
10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Witnessing: the sinner who introduced his sinful friends to the Savior.
The very first thing Matthew did was witness to his friends. He arranged a "great feast" for Jesus to share with his friends
29 Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them.
.
The party was apparently very fruitful: "there were many, and they followed Him"
15 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.
19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Why are we failing to witness our sinful friends.
As believers, don’t boast about your past but boast in Jesus.
People want to know your why, your testimony, tell them – but put your emphasis in Jesus!
Mathew lifts up Jesus Christ, not his past life. Matthew didn’t even talk about how much money he had – we have to find that out in the Gospel of Mark and Luke!
You know this -
1) Jesus went where the sinners were. He did not avoid or shy away from them. He sought them out.
2) Sinners felt comfortable coming to Him. They did not shy away nor feel unwelcome.
3) Jesus had meals with sinners, immoral people whom society and church folks rejected and avoided.
4) Jesus and sinners were close friends. Look at the scene here: there was a large feast and a party of shady, immoral characters, and Jesus was right in the midst of them. Of course, the purpose of the feast was for Jesus to bear witness. This is important: we are to be out in the world witnessing to sinful men, but we are not to be of the world.
2. The religious folks questioned Jesus' fellowship with sinners. They (the Pharisees) "saw it"; that is, they saw Jesus sitting and eating with sinners. It is almost like they were watching, looking for wrong-doing so they could pounce on Him.
The religious didn’t not speak to Jesus Himself, but to His disciples. They would not dare approach Him personally, but they readily attacked Him through those closest to Him.
Many love to hear news that is bad, tragic, or immoral. In fact, the more immoral and unjust, the juicier the attack, the talk, and the gossip in their minds.
Church folks, people who are the moral, the strict, the law-abiding, often find it difficult to understand and forgive those who fail. They just cannot understand how a person can be so undisciplined and live such an immoral life. How often we convey thoughts that God has nothing to do with sinners.
Church folks and religious people can be the most judgmental. A judgmental and disapproving spirit does more to hurt people than any other single thing. But note what God says: the person who judges others shall be shut out of the Kingdom of God
1 Those people are on a dark spiral downward. But if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors.
2 But God isn’t so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you’ve done.
3 You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard?
Mission: the Savior who saved the sinner
Matthew was testifying that he, his sinful friends were spiritually lacking and they needed the mercy of God. They needed a Savior and they believed that Jesus was that Savior. They believed that Jesus had come to save them.
Jesus was warning the religious and those who think they are more acceptable to God than others...
• Jesus warned that He came to be where the spiritually sick are. He had come to earth for the same purpose as a physician to help the sick. But just like the physician, He can minister only to the sick who call Him to come into their homes and heal them.
• Jesus warned that He came to have mercy and not to lead people to make sacrifices. What He wants is not the sacrifices of the righteous, but the lives of those who need His mercy. Sacrifices offered in religious worship are not what He came for. He came to show and give mercy upon sinners—any person who knows that he is a sinner and desires the mercy and acceptance of God.
• Jesus warned that He came to call sinners to repentance. If a person does not know that he needs changing (repentance), Jesus cannot help him. But if he knows he is a sinner and wants to be changed, Jesus can lead him to repentance (to change).
Note that the threefold purpose of Jesus is given.
1. Jesus came to be where the spiritually sick are.
10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Many are walking about with the fatal disease of sin, but they are...
• ignoring it
• neglecting it
• feeding it
• denying it
• abusing it
2. Jesus came to have mercy, not to gain sacrifice.
6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
God's call is to mercy, not to sacrifice. A person can make sacrifice after sacrifice and gift after gift and still not please God. What God wants first of all is a person's life. God wants to cleanse you and make you acceptable for heaven. Once God has the person's life, He has all he is.
Sacrifice and gifts are wanted by God, but they are not enough. God demands all that a person is and has. He wants to have mercy, to forgive and to cleanse and to make the person acceptable for heaven.
3. Jesus came to call men to repentance
19 “Now it’s time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you,
22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
Jesus does not call the self-righteous and the self-satisfied. They feel that they are good enough to be acceptable to God. Jesus calls the sinners to repentance, the ones who are deeply aware of their need for a Savior (
15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
).
The call of Jesus is to repentance: to a changed life
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
The person whom Jesus calls.
The person whom Jesus calls.
1) The person who is spiritually sick.
2) The person who needs mercy.
3) The person who is a sinner.
4) The person who needs repentance.
Jesus receives the following persons (a close reading of the Scripture will reveal these facts):
1) The person who knows that he is a sinner.
2) The person who acknowledges that he is a sinner.
3) The person who confesses that he is a sinner.
4) The person who truly repents.
Matthew was bitterly talked about, people gossiped about him. He was hated, not by just a few, but by everyone. He was so detested that he was classified with the worst of sinners