Matt3-2

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Get up and walk'?

5. How did Jesus answer his own question? v.6,7

But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . ." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." And the man got up and went home.

6. What was the response of the crowd? v.8

When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.

B. Think:

1. How was Jesus claiming divinity?

2. What were the man's two needs and how did Jesus meet them?

3. What did Jesus obviously consider the greater need?

C. Comment:

More power and authority. A paralysed man is brought to Jesus and Jesus immediately declares forgiveness for him. Now sin is wrong against God and only the person offended can forgive, so only God can forgive sins, but Jesus forgives him. Is that clear? It was to the teachers of the law.

Very well, says Jesus, if you have a problem, which is it easier to do, to speak words of forgiveness or to actually heal. Now that is a two sided question when you think about it, because on one hand, in the human context it's easy to say words but impossible to bring instant healing, but on the other hand actually bringing forgiveness of sins can only come from God, so both things are equally impossible for mere man to do. Did the teachers of the law get the message? We aren't told, but Jesus shows that he was quite capable of bringing the healing and so the inference must be that he is also capable of proclaiming the forgiveness as well!

In this episode we see the two primary needs of man: to receive forgiveness and to receive wholeness and frequently the one follows the other. Guilt or unforgiveness often causes sickness or at the very least hinders the healing coming.

D. Application:

1. Jesus has the authority to forgive all sins. Believe it?

2. Jesus also has the power to bring healing. Believe it?

Chapter: Matthew 9

Passage: Matthew 9:9-13

A. Find Out:

1. Who did Jesus see, what did he say and with what response? v.9

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

2. Where did Jesus go, who joined him and for what purpose? v.10

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples

3. Who heard about this? v.11a

When the Pharisees saw this

4. Who did they ask what? v.11b

they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and `sinners'?"

5. What was Jesus' reply to this? v.12

On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

6. What did he tell them to do? v.13

But go and learn what this means: `I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' A For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

B. Think:

1. How, obviously, did the Pharisees view Matthew and his friends?

2. How did Jesus view them?

3. Who might we view today like the Pharisees viewed?

C. Comment:

Matthew, otherwise known as Levi, was a tax collector. In Jesus' day these were Jews working for the Romans who were generally considered to be cheating scoundrels. The friends of tax collectors were also at the bottom of the social scale, just being referred to as “sinners”. They were not the “nice people” of society. First of all Jesus calls a tax collector to follow him. What sort of religion is it that recruits the “untouchables” of society? But next Jesus goes even further and has a meal with Matthew and all his friends. In the eyes of the religious people of the day this indicated that Jesus was completely off the rails and was a hopeless judge of people.

Quite to the contrary, says Jesus (by implication). I am the perfect judge of mankind and I have come expressly to save those who are lost. It's like I'm a doctor. Who needs me? Those who are (spiritually) well or those who are sick.

Much of our western Christianity today would align itself with the Pharisees and yet the world around us is desperately in need of Jesus' love and power, and we are to be the ones who bring it to them. If we remain in our comfortable, cosy and mainly middle class religious ghettos, we will never be Jesus to them.

D. Application:

1. Jesus still wants to come to the (spiritually) sick of the world.

2. Will we be Jesus or Pharisees to them?

Chapter: Matthew 9

Passage: Matthew 9:14-17

A. Find Out:

1. What did John's disciples ask Jesus? v.14

Then John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"

2. How did Jesus refer to his disciples and himself? v.15a

Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them?

3. What did he then infer about himself and about them? v.15b

The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

4. What picture did he then use about old things? v.16

"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.

5. What did he say about old wineskins and why? v.17a

Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins.

6. What did he say had to happen to new wine? v.17b

If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

B. Think:

1. What point was Jesus making, referring to a bridegroom?

2. What point was he making referring to patching an old garment?

3. What point was he making referring to new wine storage?

C. Comment:

The disciples of John the Baptist come and ask why Jesus and his disciples aren't being religious like John had trained them to be. Jesus' answers are highly instructive.

He first refers to himself as a bridegroom and his disciples as guests at a wedding. When the bridegroom is there it is always a time for rejoicing. When the wedding is over and the bridegroom is gone, then it may be a time for sorrow. Now, he is saying, is a time for rejoicing, not for sorrow. Fasting was inappropriate when joy was the order of the day!

He then talks about patching an old garment, reminding them that you don't use new unshrunk material on an old garment, else when you wash the garment the new will pull the old out of shape. This is his first real hint at the impossibility of mixing the new that he brings with the old religious and formal religion that was already there.

His third illustration makes the point even more strongly. New wine is still fermenting and gives off bubbles and needs space to expand. Old rigid wineskins (used for holding the wine) would only burst. No you need new flexible skins to hold new wine. Again he is saying, a new flexibility is needed to handle what he brings!

D. Application:

1. Is our “religion” formal and rigid? Beware!

2. We are called to new life with new flexibility in the Spirit.

Chapter: Matthew 9

Passage: Matthew 9:18,19,23-26

A. Find Out:

1. What was the ruler's “problem”? v.18a

While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, "My daughter has just died.

2. What did he ask Jesus to do? v.18b

But come and put your hand on her, and she will live."

3. How did Jesus respond? v.19

Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.

4. Who were at the house when Jesus got there? v.23

When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd,

5. What did Jesus instruct? v.24

he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep."

6. What did Jesus then do? v.25

After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up

B. Think:

1. How was the ruler's faith great in one way but limited in another?

2. How does Jesus accept this man's level of faith?

3. How does Jesus deal with the situation?

C. Comment:

Faith is a strange thing! It comes in different ways, to different situations and is expressed in different strengths. This ruler has faith for his daughter to be raised from the dead. There is no question of it, she IS dead and the professional mourners have been called. Yet he believes! Wonderful! And yet as wonderful as his faith is, it's not the same as the Centurion's that we saw in Matthew 8, where he believed that Jesus only needed to SAY a word for it to be done. However the lovely thing is that Jesus doesn't chide anyone for not having perfect faith. He did chide his disciples in the boat for having so little faith ( 8:26 ), but when faith is being expressed he always honours it and goes with it.

Note also how Jesus dealt with the situation when he arrives at the house. He gets rid of the professional mourners who are convinced by the facts before their eyes: she is dead! In their eyes there is no hope what so ever. So Jesus removes them and their unbelief from the situation. Unbelief hinders a situation, so remove it! Then he simply goes in and does what the man believed for: he touched her and raised her up. Was it the Holy Spirit who gave the man his faith, showing the way God wanted to move? The Lord honours it and life comes forth.

D. Application:

1. God constantly wants to bring new life to deadly situations.

2. Hindering unbelief needs to be removed first.

Chapter: Matthew 9

Passage: Matthew 9:20-22

A. Find Out:

1. What had been wrong with the woman? v.20a

Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years .

2. What did she do? v.20b

came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak

3. What had she said to herself? v.21

She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed."

4. What did Jesus say to her? v.22a

Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you."

5. What happened to her? v.22b

And the woman was healed from that moment.

B. Think:

1. Read Mark 5:25-34

2. Why do you think the woman had not spoken to Jesus?

3. What was special about her faith?

C. Comment:

When we compare Gospel accounts of this healing we find that Matthew gives the most concise and brief account. Mark gives a much fuller account, but then it is believed that Peter told Mark what had happened and Peter was much closer to Jesus than Matthew and thus perhaps had talked with the Master about his side of it.

Here, however, we are given very basic details. The woman had a long term problem of a very personal nature which would inhibit her approaching Jesus publicly about it. However there is a measure of desperation about her and so she determines to do something about it. As she considers the situation she concludes that simply touching Jesus should be enough to heal her, and in that she was quite right. What she hadn't bargained for though, was the fact that power would go out of Jesus and he would be aware of it. Thus she does come to Jesus' attention. He simply and gently gives his approval of what she has done and confirms her healing.

Others needed a word or a touch from the Master, but this lady simply needed to touch him. Here indeed is a beautiful picture. If we can only “touch” Jesus we will be blessed. He is the source of all life and healing. Whatever we need, he will be the source of it. Can we reach out (in prayer and submission) and touch him today?

D. Application:

1. Jesus doesn't mind how we come as long as it's in faith.

2. To touch Jesus is to touch life.

Chapter: Matthew 9

Passage: Matthew 9:27-31

A. Find Out:

1. What had the two men been doing? v.27

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"

2. When did they come to Jesus? v.28a

When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him

3. What did he ask them and what was their reply? v.28b

he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied.

4. What did he then do and say? v.29

Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"

5. What happened and what did he tell them to do? v.30

their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this."

6. Yet what did they do? v.31

But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

B. Think:

1. Why do you think Jesus waited until he was in doors to minister to

these two men?

2. How was that confirmed by what he told them afterwards?

3. How, in some ways, does that seem an impossible instruction?

C. Comment:

Matthew continues his testimonies to Jesus' power to heal and raise the dead, by recounting the episode involving two blind men. They, apparently, had been following Jesus, calling out, but he had not responded. Eventually Jesus comes to his or someone else's home and goes in doors. The two men eventually follow. The first example these two men give us, is that of persistence. They kept going until they met Jesus. Yesterday we considered a woman who kept going until she touched Jesus. The same challenge is there for us.

Perhaps Jesus didn't minister to them straight away for two reasons: first he wanted them to prove their persistence in faith, and second, perhaps he just didn't want to perform another miracle in public. Perhaps the crowds turning up for healing were getting too much. His instructions to them go unheeded; it's just too much to ask!

When the two men confirm their faith Jesus restores their sight for them. It simply needed a touch and a word. Perhaps the touch to focus their faith and the word to bring it about. Our faith doesn't do the healing, but it does show Jesus that we are in earnest and it opens the door for him to come and bring the healing to us.

D. Application:

1. Faith opens the door to allow Jesus in.

2. Persistence or perseverance is also sometimes needed.

Chapter: Matthew 9

Passage: Matthew 9:32-34

A. Find Out:

1. What was wrong with the man? v.32

While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus.

2. What did Jesus obviously do? v.33a

And when the demon was driven out

3. What effect did this have on the man? v.33b

the man who had been mute spoke

4. What effect did this have on the crowd and why? v.33c

The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel ."

5. What did the Pharisees say about it? v.34

But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."

B. Think:

1. What do we learn about the cause and effect of this man's problem?

2. What does that teach us about demons?

3. What does the Pharisees comment indicate about them?

C. Comment:

In Matthew's Gospel we have had general references to Jesus casting out demons (4:24 & 8:16) and we have seen him deliver the two demoniacs in the area of the Gadarenes, but this is the first instant of a single demon possessed person being delivered. It is instructive in its simplicity!

First, we are not shown HOW Jesus cast it out; we are simply told it was cast out, the inference being by Jesus. Presumably he just spoke a word. Second, we see that in this case demon possession was directly linked with the man being unable to speak. In other words the presence of the evil spirit stopped the man communicating at all by speech. Third, we see that the effect of this deliverance was to completely amaze the crowd. It was obviously something that had not happened in the land before. Fourth, we see the effect of the deliverance on the religiously biased Pharisees: they are not impressed!

Lessons? The power of an evil spirit when allowed into a person can be to totally restrict their life. This is not a problem to Jesus who speaks a word and deliverance occurs. Deliverance, as wonderful as it is, will not impress the hard hearted; they will see what they want to see.

D. Application:

1. The enemy seeks to bind lives and hinder communication. If he is

allowed in, that may be total.

2. Our hard heartedness can also blind us to the truth.

Chapter: Matthew 9

Passage: Matthew 9:35-38

A. Find Out:

1. What three things was Jesus doing? v.35

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

2. What did he feel for the crowds when he saw them? v.36a

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them,

3. Why? v.36b

because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 3

4. What did he say to his disciples was the problem? v.37a

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

5. What did he tell them to do? v.38

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

B. Think:

1. What do you think is the difference between preaching and teaching?

2. Why do you think Israel was described like it was?

3. In what positive way did Jesus see it though?

C. Comment:

First of all observe what Jesus was doing. First he was teaching in the synagogues. Teaching imparts information to bring knowledge and understanding. The Jews who went to synagogue were already used to receiving teaching so that's what he did there. Next he was also preaching about the kingdom. Preaching proclaims in such a way that it requires a response of the will. Jesus wanted the hearers around the country to gladly submit to the rule of his Father. Finally he healed people, as a sign that the power or rule of God had come. Can he still do all these things through us today?

Next observe how Israel was described: harassed and helpless like sheep with no one to look after them, prey to the wolves. There was no one taking genuine spiritual lead in the land and so the people were sick and many oppressed by demons.

Finally note how Jesus viewed this situation. He felt strong compassion for the crowds he came across, but much more than simply that. We tend to see such situations and criticise the state of the nation but Jesus looked on it very positively. This is just a harvest waiting to be reaped, was his view of it. All we need is more people to harvest these crowds. They are desperate and want reaping, we just need others like you to join in and bring them into the kingdom!

D. Application:

1. People need both teaching and convicting to bring change.

2. The Lord is looking for workers - every Christian!

RECAP: Power Healing - Matthew 9

SUMMARY :

In this second group of 8 studies we have seen :

- 5 healings

  - the paralytic on the mat (v.1-8)

  - the ruler's daughter (v.18-26)

  - the woman with bleeding (v.20-22)

  - two blind men (v.27-31)

  - the demon possessed mute (v.32,33)

- the calling of Matthew

- the grumbling of the Pharisees

- the questioning of the disciples of John

- the teaching of Jesus

    - about the sick needing him

    - about not trying to mix new with old things

    - about the need for workers in the harvest

COMMENT :

A mixed chapter that mainly continues to show us Jesus as the one who has power to bring the kingdom or reign of God onto the earth by combating the works of darkness in the form of healing and deliverance. There are also the first rumblings of misunderstanding by the religious followers of John and the Pharisees.

LESSONS?

1. Sin and sickness are so often linked

2. Jesus came to bring mercy to the needy

3. It is impossible to operate Spirit life in old forms of religion

4. Jesus came, and comes, to bring the kingdom

5. Jesus looks for workers to be used by him.

PRAY :

Declare your availability to Him this day.

PART 3 : "Preparing the Workers"

In this next chapter it is entirely Jesus' instructions to the disciples as he sends them out on their own for the first time. It is therefore especially important to note what he says.