1.15.2009

Did you notice?

Matthew chapter 9

Did you notice?
*The statement Jesus makes (vs. 2) is that why the paralytic came to Jesus?

Did you notice?
*Jesus calls a tax collector to follow him (vs. 9). What is the significance of a tax collector?

Did you notice?
*Similar to the story of the leper, Jesus comes in contact with two more things that according to Jewish Law defile or cause to become unclean.
(Vs. 18-26) A hemorrhaging woman touches Jesus, and then he himself touches a corpse.

Did you notice?
*Jesus tells the blind men who have been healed to not tell people about Jesus (vs. 30). Why does Jesus want them to be quiet?

Did you notice?
*The healed blind men immediately disobey Jesus (vs. 31) and spread the news. Is that okay? ☺

Did you notice?
*The abuse Jesus takes from the Pharisees, teachers of the law and John’s disciples?
Vs. 3 This fellow is blaspheming!
Vs. 11 Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?
Vs. 14 How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?
Vs. 24 But they laughed at him.
Vs. 34 It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.
Each statement comes in response to the work of Jesus.

Once again, Matthew was written to a Jewish audience. Imagine what the first recipients of this book were thinking as they read these stories.

This Jesus does things a little differently.
This authority is different from the authorities of our world.
This Jesus has authority to do things only God does.
Posted by Jared D.

6 comments:

  1. GESJanuary 15, 2009 at 7:55 AM

    Two verses within this chapter particularly struck me as I read through the scriptures. Verse 13 (in context with 12) which reads; On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Jesus exhorts us through this illustration to reach out to the sick (in body and spirit), the poor, the disenfranchised and the "least of these" in our society. "These" are largely considered (by many in our culture) as the unwanted or the pariah of our time. Even within our churches we often quote the scriptures which call for us to reach out without condition but are repulsed by those that don't conform to our views of who is and isn't "socially acceptable". A call to mission is all encompassing, not to minister exclusively to those that are "healthy" but rather to seek out those that are unhealthy. A strong and challenging exhortation. Likewise v. 37 (in context 38) reads; Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Although the specific reference is to His disciples at that time, this again is a call to His followers to join in the mission of spreading the Good News. This strikes me as a broad and sweeping beckoning to all who believe in Him; a call to those who are His disciples to be part of the global mission of outreach. We are exhorted to join the "mission team" to "preach the gospel" to all people (Judea, Samaria and the utter most parts of the earth). If our divine purpose is to glorify Him, this clearly is an act of worship and obedience that does just that!

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  2. Pam SmithJanuary 15, 2009 at 3:38 PM

    Well said, Grant! I got most of it. And I definitely got the heart! I'm right there with ya.

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  3. Pam SmithJanuary 17, 2009 at 2:53 PM

    Dan and I have been noticing who may oppose us as we follow Jesus. Jesus talked about us being opposed by the government, religious people and our family. It's mind blowing that Jesus experienced this, and He was perfect. So, He said we shouldn't be surprised when it happens to us. But, it's still really hard for me to feel falsely accused or misunderstood.
    I love how verse 10:20 says not to worry about what to say in response. He will speak through us!
    I also love how verses 29-31 describe how valuable we are to Him. :)
    And how He will reward even our simple acts of kindness. (v. 42)

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  4. Pam SmithJanuary 19, 2009 at 7:58 PM

    I love 11:25.

    At the end of this chapter Jesus talks about how gentle He is with us. I so love that about Him. Then, the note in my Bible about those verses says, "The rest that Jesus promises is love, healing, and peace with God, not the end of all labor. A relationship with God changes meaningless, wearisome toil into spiritual productivity and purpose." That's the only way I can go on.... when I know there's a purpose!

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  5. MattJanuary 20, 2009 at 8:55 AM

    Great thought Pam. Here's a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
    “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven will pause to say, 'There lived a great street sweeper who did his job well'."
    We all have a purpose, we all have meaning. May we live on purpose and do it well.

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  6. PhilJanuary 26, 2009 at 9:27 PM

    The verse that Grant commented on struck me as well. "I desire mercy, not sacrifice."

    This always makes me think of people who deny themselves something and just assume that the act of denial in itself is glorifying to God. Much like the person who doesn't eat anything for a day, but hasn't spent a single minute in prayer or meditation believes they are "fasting" when really...they just didn't eat.



    There are families who don't buy something because they want to live more simply (which is fantastic), but then they don't do anything else with the money. They just sit on it.

    At lent, people give up chocolate, tv, alcohol, insert your vice here, and then tell others about the great will power it takes to deny yourself. That's great, but its not the point. We should be reliant upon God for the strength to get through times such as that. When denying ourselves something, we should also be filling ourselves with something to take its place. The easiest thing to do is occupy our time with something else so we don't think about it. We should be thinking about it and thanking God for our continued strength. We should be helping the community with the time we would otherwise spend eating, drinking, indulging, etc.

    I'm not friends with someone simply because I refrain from calling him names. People don't call me a friend because of all the things I don't do. Friendship requires action.

    I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

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