SHOWERS

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Matthew 12:38 – Then some of the Scribes and Pharisees answered him saying, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."

The insolence of these religious leaders is astonishing!  How dare they ask Jesus for yet another sign?  Jesus had already performed a large number of signs and wonders which proved he was the Messiah.  Indeed, the religious leaders had just witnessed Jesus healing the demon possessed man.  What further proof was needed to establish that Jesus was the Son of God?

Jesus is going to deny their request for an on-demand sign/miracle.  Why do you suppose he does this?  After all, the bible is full of instances where people asked God for a sign, and He willingly and lovingly gave them one (example: Gideon and his fleece).

Well in this case, it seems as though their request was not for the purpose of actually discerning the truth, but more for the sake of contention.  My guess is that one more miracle would still not have been enough.  Because their hearts had already rejected Jesus, they were looking for a reason NOT to believe, as opposed to looking for a reason TO believe.  They weren't really searching for the truth. 

Matthew 12:39 – But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah."

What does Jesus mean when he says the Jews are evil and adulterous?

The relationship of the Old Testament Jews to God was often represented as a marriage contract – God being the husband and the Jewish nation being his wife.  All unfaithfulness and disobedience were considered a breach of the marriage contract (adultery).

Jeremiah 3:20 – Surely, as a treacherous wife leaves her husband so have you been treacherous to me, O house of Israel.

We know the religious leaders had ample signs confirming Jesus as the Messiah.  These included the witness of John the Baptist, the voice from heaven when Jesus was baptized, numerous physical healings/miracles and evidence of authority over demon spirits.  To ask for an additional sign at this point was nothing more than an indicator of rebellion.  Clearly, they didn't want to believe!  

So, in light of the fact that none of his former miracles would convince the religious leaders, one final sign - different from all the rest - would be given to these obstinate, 'adulterous' people:  the sign of Jonah.

Matthew 12:40 – For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

In case you are unfamiliar with the story of Jonah, let me give you a brief synopsis.  Jonah was a prophet in Israel.  He was commissioned by God to go and preach repentance to the wicked city of Nineveh, a sworn enemy of Israel. Jonah did not want this assignment.  In fact, he ran the opposite direction by entering a boat bound for Tarshish. 

While on the ship, God stirred up an immensely powerful storm and eventually, the sailors tossed Jonah overboard where a big fish swallowed him.  He was inside the belly of this fish for three days and three nights.  Afterwards, the fish vomited him up on land.  He then went and shared the message of God with the people of Nineveh and they subsequently repented of their sin and avoided destruction.

Jonah being swallowed by the fish was a picture of death.  Death was also going to "swallow" Jesus when he died on the cross. 

Entering into the fish's belly was a picture of being under the earth, or beneath the land of the living or in a grave.  After his death, Jesus was buried in a cave/tomb. 

Jonah was in the fish's belly three days and three nights, then he was vomited back onto dry land or the land of the living.  Jesus was in the grave three days and three nights, then he rose from the dead and returned to the land of the living. 

After his release from the fish (death), Jonah went and proclaimed repentance to the sinful nation of Nineveh.  After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples and commissioned them to preach the gospel to the whole world, including Gentiles.

This is the second time that Jesus has publicly announced his death and resurrection.  The first was during the Passover, after he cleansed the temple:

John 2:18-19 – So the Jews said to him, "What sign do you show us for doing these things?"  Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

Side Note: The term 'three days and three nights' doesn't necessarily mean the same thing to us as it did to the Jews.  The Jews counted any part of a day as a whole entire day if it occurred at the beginning or end of a specified time period. 

For example, Jesus was in the grave part of a day on the day he was crucified, then that night, then the whole next day followed by a second night.  He rose the next day, which means that he was only in the grave for part of that third day.  That is a total of one full day and two partial days.  However, by the Jewish method of counting, this means Jesus was in the grave 3 days. 

The phrases 'on the third day', 'after three days' and 'three days and three nights' all refer to the same thing – a three day period where two of the days may be fractional days. 

Matthew 12:41 – The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

The Ninevites were wicked people who knew nothing of the true God.  They heard a message of repentance from a single prophet, a foreigner, who delivered his message for a 40 day period without the benefit of any miraculous signs.  Yet, this message brought them to repentance and their repentance saved them from destruction.

The Jews, on the other hand, know all about God. They were in covenant with him.  They had a long, long history with him.  They heard Jesus preach for three years and saw his message confirmed with countless miracles.  Yet, his message caused them to harden their hearts, and the rejection of Jesus will result in their eternal destruction!

In the general resurrection, the men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment as witnesses against these Jews because Jesus was superior to Jonah in every way, yet the Jews did not believe in him.

Matthew 12:42 – The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

The queen of the South, or the queen of Sheba ruled in Arabia or possibly Ethiopia.  She came to visit King Solomon because she heard rumors about his great wisdom. She traveled over 1000 miles to meet with Solomon, hear his wisdom and discuss what was on her mind.  He answered all her questions; the bible says there was nothing Solomon could not explain to her. 

After meeting with King Solomon, she declares:

I Kings 10:6-7, 9 – "The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it.  And behold, the half was not told me.  Your wisdom surpasses the report I heard; because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king that you may execute justice and righteousness."

She made a long, arduous journey in order to get wisdom.  She was astounded at what she heard and she treasured the wisdom Solomon shared with her.  She had great respect and reverence for Solomon, declaring that God has made him king in order to bring about justice and righteousness. 

Let's contrast that with the actions of the Jews.  One infinitely wiser than Solomon, the Son of God himself, was in their midst.  He was not wise like Solomon; He was wisdom incarnate, but rather than revering and respecting him, they slandered and despised him.

Solomon was a fallen man, like all of us.  He could only bring about imperfect justice and righteousness.  However, Jesus is a perfect King who will rule with absolutely perfect justice and righteousness.  The Scribes and Pharisees despised Jesus because he failed to raise and army and defeat the Romans, but had they listened to him, they would have discovered that his kingdom was first going to manifest as a spiritual one, and later a physical one.

By rejecting Jesus, the Jews also rejected all opportunities to hear the wisdom Jesus could have given them.  For this reason, the queen of Sheba will testify against those Jews at the judgment.

Matthew 12:43-45 – When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'  And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.  Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first.  So also will it be with this evil generation.

The parable found in verses 43-45 is a continuation of the warnings that Jesus is giving to the Jews.  First, we will take a look at how the parable applies to them.  Then, we will also see how it might apply to us as well.

The parable concerns the spiritual life of the Jewish nation.  It implies that there was a man who had an unclean spirit at one point.  The man represents the Jewish nation and the unclean spirit is the spirit of idolatry that plagued the Jewish nation from the time they entered the Promised Land until their exile. During this time, they consistently rejected Jehovah as their God and chose to serve Satan in the form of false idols.   Their idolatry is well documented in the Old Testament. 

Because of this besetting sin, God sent them into exile.  Once the Jews returned to their land, they never had a problem with idolatry again (notice its absence in the New Testament).  So, the exile set them free from the sin of idolatry. This corresponds to the part in the parable where the unclean spirit has departed out of the person.

Spiritually speaking, the heart of the nation is 'empty, swept and put in order'.  They are rid of the unclean spirit of idolatry and ready for Jehovah to 'move in'. 

Unfortunately, when the Messiah comes, they reject him, or at this point they are on the verge of rejecting him.  This leaves their heart/house empty; but spiritual hearts cannot stay empty.  They must be filled.  Seeing an opening, Satan gathers his forces and makes a move to re-enter. 

The 'seven other evil spirits' which entered the spiritual hearts of the Jewish nation and replaced Jehovah as Lord were things like ceremonial religious acts, outward shows of piety, worship of money, bitterness, pride, divorce, self righteousness, etc. 

Since they have rejected Jesus and opened themselves up to Satan once again, they are worse off than they were before. This makes sense, because they have heard and rejected the only thing that will set them free – the grace of God!  Subsequently, we see the downward progression of this particular generation:  They despised God's messengers, scorned the miracles of Christ and eventually crucified him on the cross.  

After this the temple, the capital and the people were given over to the Romans who virtually destroyed them.

What can we learn from this example? I believe it is a warning to all nations, not just the Jews.  If God begins a work of reformation in the midst of nation, those people needs to see it through.  They need to cast out evil and fully open themselves to righteousness.  If they do not, their end state will be worse than the first, because they too, like the Jews, will have rejected the one thing which can set them free.

Do you think America fell into this trap following the 9/11 disaster?  Why or why not? 

Do you think that Americans will turn to God during the current Covid 19 crisis? If so, do you think these changes will be permanent or will people return to their old habits once the crisis is over?

If nothing else, this parable should call us into prayer for our nation.  We need God to send a spirit of revival into our midst that will free us from the bondage of Satan.

This parable might be applied to the church as well.  Look what Jesus says to the church at Ephesus:

Revelation 2:2, 4 – I know your works, and your labor, and your patience.  Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love.

In our individual churches as well as our individual lives, we need to renew and focus on our relationship with Christ.  The closer we stay to him, the more righteous we will become.  We will welcome ever deeper levels of intimacy with him.  However, when we lose our ardent love for God, we fall into the same trap as the Pharisees, substituting pious acts for true relationship.  Take a minute and re-evaluate yourself.  Return to your first love, if you need to!

Matthew 12:46-47 –While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.  Someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside asking to speak to you."

There is some discussion about whether these are the natural brothers of Jesus or some of his close male relatives (cousins).  There is also much discussion about the motives of his relatives. It has been speculated that they feared Jesus was offending the religious leaders which could lead to his arrest and death, or that they feared for his physical health, because the crowds were so great that he couldn't even stop to eat (Mark 3).  However, to dwell on either one of these points is to miss the main lesson of this passage.

The fact is his relatives were actually a hindrance or an obstruction to his teaching!  Notice that they were 'standing without' as opposed to being inside listening to his preaching.  While Jesus is busy with his heavenly Father's business, his earthly relatives disrupt him!   It is likely that this disruption was both unnecessary and unwelcome.  Had this happened to any of us, we might have reacted in anger or frustration.  However, Jesus, full of wisdom and love, respectfully turns the disruption into a teaching moment for the kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 12:48-50 – But he replied to the man who told him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"  And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!  For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.

Those who accept Jesus and obey the Father are grafted into the family of God.  As a disciple of Jesus we wear his name (Christian), bear his image, reflect his love, and display his nature.  We are children of God.  We are joint heirs with Christ.  Jesus has promised that there are many 'rooms' in his Father's house; he will prepare a place there for us.  He is our kinsman redeemer.  Clearly, we are one of the family!  

Let me give you some encouragement and strength:

If you are a Christian, you are a member of the family of God!  Your heavenly Father loves and cares for you!  You don't need to fear when events around you seem to spiral out of control, for he holds your future in his hands.  The Psalmist tells us this:

Psalm 84:11 - For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

When you are a child of God, the Lord is your sun – he provides light, beauty, direction and fruitfulness.  He is also your shield – protecting you throughout all your earthly life and working things out for your eternal good.  He will give you grace and glory – unmerited favor, mercy and kindness which are yours forever.  God, in his eternal wisdom, knows what is best for you; he will never fail to bestow instruction, correction, strength, support, guidance, wisdom or any other thing that we need to be victorious in Christ!

Let me give you some relief:  

Do you ever lay awake at night wondering what the future holds?  Does the current world situation make you uneasy?  Do you worry because you don't have any answers?  As we learned from our study today, Jesus is not wise, He is wisdom incarnate!  If you are uncertain as to what you should do, where you should go or what decisions you need to make, just ask him!

James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally, and reproaches not; and it shall be given him.

Notice that James does not say that God MIGHT give us wisdom, but that he WILL give us wisdom.  You don't have to go through life wondering if you are on the right path – just ask your heavenly Father, and he will tell you!

 

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Matthew 12:22 – Then a demon oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw.

We are plainly told that the cause of this man's physical ailments was a demon.  The demon prevented the man from seeing or speaking.  He could not see Christ nor cry out/pray to him.  Thus, he needed someone to physically bring him to Jesus.

Most scholars see a spiritual parallel in what happened to this man in the physical realm.  Satan blinds the spiritual eyes of sinful people so they cannot see their need for a savior.  He makes them deaf to the gospel message.  He fills their mouths with all manner of awful speech, while rendering them unable to pray or cry out to God.

That means that the Christian, with the help of the Holy Spirit, must lead sinners to Christ.  Think back to your own salvation experience.  Who did God use to bring you to himself?  Are you ready to help someone else?

Matthew 12:23 – And all the people were amazed, and said, "Can this be the Son of David?"

By the phrase 'Son of David', they mean the Messiah.  Two things bring them to this conclusion.  One, Jesus was clearly a descendant of David.  Two, Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would open blind eyes and heal deaf ears:

Isaiah 35:5 - ...then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;                                                                                                          

It is interesting to note that the crowds of ordinary Jews, who had no prejudice against Jesus, clearly saw the truth of who he was.  The Scribes and Pharisees, who already decided to reject him, denied even the most obvious signs that he was the Messiah.

Matthew 12:24 – But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons."

The Scribes and Pharisees had already determined to reject Jesus as the Messiah.  Indeed, they are confronting him at this moment in order to try and sway the masses into believing the same thing.

But it's going to be a tough sell.  The religious leaders cannot deny the actual miracle; the people are witnesses that the man can now see and speak.  They also cannot deny that there has been an unquestionable demonstration of power, clearly beyond the means of any mortal man.  This means that the Pharisees' version of events must acknowledge that the healing occurred, and that it was done by supernatural means, but not by the Messiah.

There is really only one scenario that would fit all three of those criteria – Jesus casting out devils by the power of Beelzebul (Beelzebub), the worst and vilest of the devils.  Beelzebub is the Lord of the flies, also known as the god of filth.

By putting forth this theory, the religious leaders were attempting to throw reproach or contempt on Jesus, as if this miracle was performed by some kind of evil magical enchantment (see Deuteronomy 13:1-3).

Matthew 12:25-26 – Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.  And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself.  How then will his kingdom stand?"

Jesus refutes their accusations by following their claims to a logical conclusion.

A kingdom (or a city or even a family), can only prosper by living in a state of unity.  If half of the kingdom is undoing what the other half does, it will accomplish nothing; it will fall apart.  This is plain common sense!

Look at it this way:  If a husband or wife is earning $75K a year, but the spouse is spending $75K in the same amount of time, what have they accomplished?  Nothing, because each is undoing the work of the other.

If the president of a club is recruiting new members while the vice president is kicking people out at the same time, what will happen to the club?  It will fall apart or cease to exist because the two leaders are working against each other.

In the same manner, if Satan is possessing people, but then gives Jesus authority to cure them, what has he accomplished?  Nothing; his kingdom will fail.

Clearly, Jesus is not casting out demons by the power and authority of Satan.  That leaves only one source for his power – Jehovah! And if Jesus has this supernatural power and authority from God then he is indeed the Messiah. 

Matthew 12:27 – "And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore, they will be your judges."

Apparently, there were some disciples of the Scribes and Pharisees that were also casting out demons.  So, if a man who casts out devils is in league with Satan, then by default the disciples of the religious leaders must also be in a league with the devil.  Ha!  We find that the religious leaders have ensnared themselves in their own trap!

Thus Jesus proves that the assertions of the Pharisees and Scribes are nothing more than lies, propagated by hatred and jealousy.

Matthew 12:28 – "But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."

Jesus uses the present accusation to draw attention to a much larger issue – the kingdom of God has come.  Since Jesus was casting out demons by the supernatural power of God, he was the Messiah.  It was the will of God that the Messiah would come to bring salvation and reestablish his kingdom on earth among men.

Has God given you the gift of encouragement, or teaching, or prophesy but you do not want to use that gift?  Have you considered that not using it is the same as rejecting it?

What are we afraid of?  Why do we hesitate to accept all that God has for us?  Remember, the body of Christ is a single unit.  So, if one person refuses to accept and operate in the gift God has given them, then the whole body will suffer.

 If you are not sure what your gift is, then pray about it.  Paul encourages all believers to seek the gift of prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:1), so that is a good place to begin.  God promises that if you seek, you will find!

Matthew 12:29 –"Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?  Then indeed he may plunder his house."

In this short parable, the strong man is Satan.  He has dominion over the earth (his house) because man gave it to him in the Garden of Eden.  The Messiah is the only one strong enough to bind Satan and restore men into the kingdom of heaven.  The concept of 'plundering' Satan's house speaks of the final and complete victory of Jesus over the devil.

Matthew 12:30 – Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Notice what Jesus is establishing here – there is no neutral ground.  There are only two camps; God Almighty or the devil.  You have to choose which side you are on.

The Pharisees were not helping to gather in God's harvest of souls, therefore, they were scattering or opposing God.

I know that we have all chosen to be in God's kingdom.  But what kind of kingdom workers are we?  If you fail to use your spiritual gift, are you helping or hindering God's great harvest?

Matthew 12:31-32–Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.  And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

These two verses have caused a lot of consternation among Christians.  Let's look at them together and see what we might discover.

Jesus speaks of 'this age' and 'the age to come'.  Remember that when these words were spoken, the old covenant (also known as the Law), was still in place.  This is what is being referred to when Jesus says 'this age'.

If 'this age' was the old covenant, the 'age to come' refers to the new covenant of grace, which began when Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead.

Before we talk about sin that cannot be forgiven (blasphemy), let's establish that all other insults directed at Jesus could be forgiven.  And insult him they did!  As you recall, the religious leaders scorned his humble birth and his citizenship in Nazareth.  They falsely accused him of being a glutton, reviled him for eating with publicans and sinners, criticized him for not fasting and publicly denounced him for allegedly breaking the Sabbath.  The list goes on and on.  Again, the religious leaders can be forgiven for denouncing/rejecting Jesus, assuming they repent.

Now, what is the sin that cannot be forgiven?  The sin which the Pharisees were committing was that of denouncing/rejecting the Holy Spirit.  They were maliciously and stubbornly giving Satan credit for the miracles clearly performed by divine power.  In essence, they were alleging that the highest displays of God's mercy and power were the work of the devil.  This is a direct insult to the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit by which Jesus performed his miracles.

Why is this transgression unforgivable, when all the rest can be atoned for?  It's not because there is a defect or a lack in the work of Christ; it is because the Holy Spirit is the only one who can convict men of sin, and lead them to the blood of Jesus for forgiveness.  Thus, if they scorn the Holy Spirit, they are rejecting the only possible means of forgiveness of sin.

The law is a powerful word from God.  The life of Jesus was a more powerful work; He was the Word incarnate.  The Holy Spirit is the most powerful work of all; it was by his power that Jesus was raised from the dead and it is He who convicts men of sin.  There is no greater or more powerful display of God yet to come to earth! No other path to salvation will be given!  Therefore, if men denounce the Holy Spirit, they have no door to salvation; they cannot be forgiven.

To blaspheme the Holy Spirit one must reject the conviction he brings to bear on one's heart.  By rejecting that call to repentance, we reject our only means of salvation and thus we cannot be forgiven.

So, if you are a Christian you do not need to be worried that you have committed the unpardonable sin of rejecting salvation.  Don't let Satan put a spirit of fear into you; whatever you have done, ask Jesus to forgive you and he will!

Matthew 12:33 – Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.

Jesus and the religious leaders are once again in conflict.  Jesus says his works are of God, the Pharisees say his works are of the devil.  How can the common people know who to believe?

So take a good look at both Jesus and the Pharisees.

Jesus' entire ministry has been to proclaim the kingdom of heaven, to heal all those who came to him, to cast out demons and to feed the crowds both physical and spiritual food.

The Pharisees, on the other hand, have exhibited pride, bitterness and envy over Jesus ministry.  Their words and actions have been consistently corrupt, even to the point of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

It should be easy for the common people to decide who to follow.

This same truth is still applicable today.  We too can look at a person's actions and words to gain understanding of what is in their heart.

Matthew 12:34-35 –You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.

Again, we are told that wicked words and sinful actions spring from a heart of evil.

Holy words and good deeds spring from a heart that is righteous.

Notice that Jesus is not speaking out of anger or hate; he is merely declaring the true character of the religious leaders. Even in this present day we can discern the character of a person by examining their words and deeds.

Matthew 12:36-37 – I tell you, on the day of judgment, people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

What is an idle or careless word?  This refers to speech that is vain or useless; words that accomplish no good.  It also includes words that are false, malicious, injurious or otherwise wicked. This was the character of the Pharisees speech when they accused Jesus of casting our devils by the power of Beelzebub.

Before we point fingers and shame the Pharisees, we need to understand that we too are guilty of sinning with our speech.  Consider this:

Jesus is telling us that God takes notice of every word we say, even when we pay no attention.

How often do we speak without thinking?  Social media has created a platform where people can tell the whole world anything that they think or feel, the moment they think or feel it, without any buffer.  As a result, we find mass quantities of idle, frivolous, careless speech at work in the lives of people every day.

Again, take note:  If your speech is not profitable, that is, if it does not edify, instruct or lift up, then it is idle.  And while we can and should keep a watch on our lips, we also need to check our hearts.  We need to get a handle on our personal holiness.  If our heart is clean, our speech will be too.

Psalms 139:4 - Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.                                                                                                              

Not only does God take notice of every word we speak, he is displeased with talk that is vain, idle or trifling.  This includes words that are coarse, vulgar, scornful and rebellious.

Ephesians 5:4 - Let there be no filthiness, or foolish talk, nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.                                   

Not to beat the dead horse here, but Jesus just told the Pharisees this:  'For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks'.  Think back over today and yesterday.  Can you assess the words that came out of your mouth?  What conclusions can you draw about your heart based on the words you spoke?

Are our words really that important?  The bible says they are:

Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those that love it will eat its fruits.                                                                                              

It doesn't take much thought to realize that our words should be closely supervised!  My guess is that we can ALL be better stewards of our lips.

Let me offer you some encouragement:

Jesus says that a house divided against itself will fall.  The opposite must also be true - if a house is united, it will stand.  Is your house a Christian one?  Are you and your spouse both believers?  If so, I strongly encourage you to study the word and pray together.  It will bring you closer together and strengthen your marriage bond. 

I also encourage you to take time and decide in advance how to handle your finances or how to address issues with your kids.  Tough times will still come, but you will have so much more strength and peace in the midst of the storm if you are united in your decisions.

Let me offer you some relief: 

In this lesson, we noted that the religious leaders rejected the gift of salvation that God had prepared for them before the world began.  How tragic!  Yet, at the same time, God has prepared spiritual gifts for each one of us.  If we fail to use them, it is the same as rejecting them!

You don't need to be afraid to use your spiritual gifts.  I guarantee that you will make mistakes as you learn to walk in the gifts the Holy Spirit has placed within you.  But let me relieve some of your fears – it's okay to make mistakes!  Speak to a spiritual mentor and be open to advice on how to correctly begin to walk in the gifts of the Spirit.  That way, you don't need to be afraid to walk in them, and others don't need to be afraid of what you might do!

Let me offer you some strength: 

Our words and speech play a very significant role not only in our lives, but in the lives of those around us.  They can be a witness for Christ, or they can work for the devil.  Without doubt, it takes commitment to correctly steward the things that come out of our mouths.  But don't be discouraged; start small.  Begin by reading and meditating on the scriptures that deal with your tongue.  Make one small change at a time, and don't give up!  God will grant you the strength to win the battle of the tongue!

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Matthew 12:1 – At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath.  His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.

In chapter 12, we find a series of incidents that show the growing bitterness and antagonism of the religious leaders against Jesus.  Sadly, those who were the guardians of the old covenant refused to embrace the new and better covenant that God wanted them to experience.

This same narrative is found in Luke chapter 6.  Luke tells us that this particular Sabbath was between Passover and the Feast of Pentecost.  This means the time frame is somewhere between the end of the wheat harvest and the beginning of the barley harvest.  The grain most likely referenced here is barley, even though your translation may say 'corn'.

Matthew 12:2 – But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath."

First, take note of the true complaint of the Pharisees.  The contention raged around the Sabbath, not the barley.  It was not against the law to eat a handful of someone else's grain:

Deuteronomy 23:25 – If you go into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor's standing grain. 

At this point, we need to stop and make a distinction between the Law and the tradition of the elders. 

The Law was the covenant given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. It included the 10 commandments as well as other laws regarding property, marriage, individual rights, punitive damages, etc. 'Keeping the Sabbath' was one of the 10 commandments. It meant that you had to rest from regular work on that day and meditate on God.

The tradition of the elders was NOT law. It was a set of rules that the elders developed over time. These man-made rules were stricter than the actual law. The original intent of these rules was to stop you from crossing the line into actual sin. The problem is that the religious leaders became fanatical about these regulations. Eventually, they considered them to be more important than the law they were supposed to protect!

In this narrative, we find the Pharisees accusing Jesus and the disciples of reaping or working on the Sabbath, which was a sin according to the old covenant:

Exodus 35:2 – Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord.  Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.

When we think of 'reaping' in context of the Old Testament, what comes to mind?  The work of reaping the barley (or any other grain) began at sun up, continued through the heat of the day, and ended only at dark.  This went on 6 days a week, until the harvest was all gathered.  It was a backbreaking process that started with taking a scythe or sickle and using your whole upper body to slash the stalks down.

Eventually, the stalks must be transported to the threshing floor, where an ox and a sled were used to separate the grain from the stalk.  Then, someone would use a kind of pitchfork to throw the stuff up into the air, where the chaff would blow away and the grain would fall into a pile.  Finally, it was gathered up and stored for the winter months.

So let me ask you – does that sound like work?  It sure does to me!  I bet I would be exhausted after about 30 minutes of that!

Let's compare that process to what Jesus and the disciples did.  They walked into someone's field, picked off a few heads of grain in their hand, rubbed them together to remove the outer shell, and popped them into their mouths for a quick lunch.  The whole event probably lasted less than 15 minutes, and I seriously doubt that any of them even broke a sweat.

So, we find that Jesus DID NOT break the Sabbath law given by God.  He ignored the tradition of the elders, which was never a real law in the first place.  The accusations of the Pharisees were false.

Jesus and his disciples were just eating a quick, much needed lunch.  By this time in his ministry, people were no doubt closely following Jesus wherever he went.  Great crowds were coming to him all day long looking for healing and deliverance.  There was no time for Jesus and the disciples to even pack a lunch, much less sit down for a meal.  Hence, they were grabbing a handful of barley in order to keep up their strength and continue ministering to the people.

Matthew 12:3-4 – He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:  how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?"

The tradition of the elders had gone way beyond the extent of the Law.  This was the case with most of the traditions; they had become a serious burden and a snare to the Jewish people.

Jesus has a lot to say about these traditions throughout his ministry on earth.  In this instance, he is going to denounce the tradition and show the Pharisees that the Law allows works of necessity and works of mercy to occur on the Sabbath day.

How will Jesus prove to the religious leaders that the law allowed works of necessity and mercy on the Sabbath?  By using scriptural precedents!  Jesus begins with David in 1 Samuel 21. Let's review the situation:

David is married to King Saul's daughter, Michael, and they live in the palace.  David is serving in the army, even though he has already been anointed as the next king.  Through his friend Jonathan, he discovers that King Saul is coming to kill him, so he immediately flees.  In his haste, he left with nothing - no weapons, no clothes, no food.  He seeks help at the tabernacle from Ahimelech the priest.

When David asks the priest for a sword, the priest gives him the sword of Goliath (which was David's anyway.  The priest was just holding it for him).

When David asks the priest for food, the priest says that there is nothing available, except the bread from the table of showbread also called the bread of Presence.

This bread actually consisted of 12 loaves (one for each of the tribes of Israel), which were baked once a week and set on the table of showbread, in the Holy Place.  When the new bread was brought in, the week-old bread was given to the priests for food.  It was to be eaten only by them, and it had to be eaten in a holy place. 

But the priest, seeing David's necessity, gave him the bread.

Do you see the comparison between David and Jesus?

• David has been anointed as king, but is not yet serving in that capacity.  Jesus is the same.
• Those with David are hungry; they have set upon an urgent mission without taking time to pack food.  Jesus and his followers are also on an urgent mission – to spread the gospel – and did not take time to pack food.
• Saul and Doeg the Edomite were anxiously looking for David to condemn him.  Likewise, the Pharisees were looking for reasons to condemn Jesus and the disciples.

If only the Pharisees had been looking at the disciples needs instead of their faults!  They could have blessed the disciples by providing food for them.  They missed an opportunity to meet a need/do a good work because they were focused on their own man-made traditions.

My point is that through scriptural precedent Jesus is proving that Sabbath observance must bend to personal necessities.

Matthew 12:5 – "Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?"

Jesus does not rest his case on a single event, he now gives another instance where works of necessity are performed on the Sabbath.  As a side note, did you notice that the Pharisees offered no scriptural basis for their traditions? 

Yet, this was not considered breaking the Sabbath.  Why?

Because it was done in the temple, as part of divine service.  The sanctity of the temple and its service exempted it from the operation of the law.  God not only permitted this work, but he directed it. Clearly, all work was not unlawful on the Sabbath.

So, what Jesus and his disciples did (eating the grain) was not only acceptable because they were in need, but also because they were engaged in divine service – the preaching of the Kingdom of Heaven to sinners. 

Matthew 12:6 – "I tell you, something greater than the temple is here."

The Pharisees delighted in the temple and in its rituals.  What they failed to realize was that Jesus the Messiah was the fulfillment of all that the temple stood for.  As John the Baptist so clearly pointed out, he was the Lamb of God sent to take away the sins of the world!  Not only is he the Lamb of God, he is Lord of the Sabbath! (See verse 8).

If the Lord of the Sabbath (the One who was the very fulfillment of all temple service), sanctioned the activities of the disciples, who were the Pharisees to question it?

Jesus rebukes the religious leaders who had rejected him as Lord and Messiah.

Matthew 12:7-8 – "And if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.  For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."

Jesus now gets to the root of the problem, which is the hearts of the Pharisees.  If they had grasped the true meaning of the religion they professed, they would have known that mercy and love were the true foundations of religion, not just ritual worship done for the sake of ritual.

If they operated under the guidelines of mercy and love, they would have seen the hunger of the disciples and responded to that need, assisting them in their labors for God.

Let me give you a 'heads up' here:

I can tell you from first- hand experience that whenever you move out into ministry for God, you will find both disciples and Pharisees.

The disciples are the ones who see your vision.  They are the ones who understand how your ministry strengthens and encourages the body of Christ.  They see how the gospel touches the lives and hearts of lost or hurting people through your ministry.  They are happy to assist and partner with you to see people come into the Kingdom of Heaven.  They encourage, support and strengthen you along the way.

But, alas, there will also be Pharisees.  These are people who look for reasons to criticize your ministry.  They tell you how they could have done it so much better!  They never offer any tangible help, nor do they encourage or strengthen you in your labors.  In fact, they sometimes tell you how unqualified you are for the job you are doing!

Don't let the Pharisees influence you.  Stand firm, and continue to do as God has directed you to do, until he tells you to cease and desist.  He is the one we answer to!

Matthew 12:9-10 – He went on from there and entered their synagogue.  And a man was there with a withered hand.  And they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"

We began chapter 12 by saying that Jesus was going to denounce tradition and show the Pharisees that the Law allows works of necessity and works of mercy to occur on the Sabbath day. 

The last instance focused on 'works of necessity'.  This narrative focuses on 'works of mercy'. 

Jesus and his disciples have now entered into the synagogue.  Among the worshippers is a man with a withered hand.  It seems as though he had been purposely placed there by the Pharisees.

It's a very strange and pathetic circumstance, if you think about it.  They are using this man as bait to try and draw out Christ's compassion.  This means that they believed Jesus could to miracles and they want him to perform one, but not for confirmation of their faith or out of pity for the afflicted man.  They want to see the miracle in order to accuse Jesus of breaking the law (specifically working on the Sabbath).  Hatred and malignity become the motivations for seeing a miracle.  How weird is that?

When religion ceases to be a matter of the heart and only exists for outward observance, absurdity and cruelty are the result.  It should be noted that the Pharisees are looking for material that they can use in a legal process before the local tribunal.  And once again, it is the tradition of the elders, not the actual law that a healing would have broken.

Matthew 12:11-12 – He said to them, "Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep!  So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

Jesus appeals to their natural sense of compassion to confirm that works of mercy are permitted on the Sabbath. 

It was a regular and accepted practice among the Jews to rescue an animal that had fallen into a pit or a ditch on the Sabbath.  No one would have condemned them for doing so. 

Notice that Jesus does not say 'it is lawful to heal' on the Sabbath, but 'it is lawful to do good'.  This widens the scope of his statement to cover an infinite number of good works, not just healing.   

Matthew 12:13 – Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."  And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.

Notice the perfection with which Jesus heals this man:  By healing him with just a word, both the Sabbath and the tradition of the elders remained unbroken.  The religious leaders are foiled in their attempt to bring legal charges against Jesus.

At the same time, Jesus proves his divinity with this miracle.  Who but God could heal with just a word?  The mercy and power of God are both demonstrated, but they fell on the blind eyes of the Pharisees.  Rather than draw them to God, it hardened their hearts.  They left with more hostility than they came with. 

Matthew 12:14 – But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

Here we find the most influential, educated religious leaders of the day actually plotting to kill someone.  Those who were up in arms over breaking the Sabbath seemed totally unfazed by the prospect of murder!

What happened?  How did these men find themselves in a position where they are literally fighting against God?

I think the roots of their unbelief lay in their pride.  The religious leaders were revered and respected by the rest of the Jews because they knew more about the covenant than anyone else.  After all, the covenant defined who they were as a people.  It gave them their national identity.  Yet, the leaders were poor stewards of the knowledge they had.  Instead of assisting the 'ordinary' Jews in understanding and obeying the covenant, they made it much harder for them to abide by the law.

Matthew 23:4 – They [the Scribes and Pharisees] tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.

Then, they portrayed themselves to be in a special class that was more spiritual and more holy because of their knowledge of the law.  By doing this, they increased their own power, influence and authority. They came to see themselves as actually being better than their fellow Jews. 

But then Jesus came along.  Ordinary citizens could hear and understand the word of God.  They marveled at the teaching of Jesus.  They saw miracles that testified that Jesus was the Messiah.  They no longer had any reason to hold the Pharisees in such high honor.

So the Pharisees were losing popularity, honor, influence and power.  That caused their pride to rise up in rebellion.  Pride brought along some of its friends: envy and hatred.  Because they believed Jesus had caused them to lose what they held so dear, he became the object of their fury.

They were so blinded by their pride and envy, they did not use their reason.  If they had objectively looked at the scriptures they were stewarding, they would have known that Jesus was the Christ.  Instead, they were looking for a way to kill him!   

Matthew 12:15-16– Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there.  And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known.

Jesus did not withdraw out of fear.  He operated in the fullness of the Holy Spirit and he was just as courageous at the moment he withdrew as he was when he voluntarily presented himself to die.

He withdrew because his 'hour had not yet come'.  Since Jesus still had a lot of work to accomplish before his death, he prudently withdrew, preserving his life for that further work. 

Even though Jesus withdrew from that place, he went to another district and preached the gospel there, healing all who needed it.  The religious leaders could not stop the gospel message. 

Matthew 12:17-18 - This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:  "Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.  I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

Verses 17 through 21 are a translation or declaration of Isaiah 42:1-4.  Matthew does not quote that scripture verbatim, but he captures the essence or intent of the verses. Please read the actual scripture, if you wish.

Keep in mind that the Pharisees (and indeed many of the disciples at first) were expecting the Messiah to come and reveal himself as a conquering hero.  They expected him to come, raise an army, attack the Romans and set up his kingdom.  While it is true that Jesus will someday return to earth to set up his kingdom, that is still a future event. 

His first coming was as a servant.  He is called the Lord's servant because he took upon himself the form of a servant and became obedient unto death, for the sake of our salvation.  

Philippians 2:7-8 - ...but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

In being a servant, he brings forth justice to all men, even the Gentiles.  The word for 'justice' means law, commands, doctrine or truth.  Here it is understood to mean that Jesus would reveal the gospel or the full truth of the new dispensation to all men, Jews and Gentiles alike.  

Matthew 12:19-21 – He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope."

These two verses find their fulfillment in the events of this narrative about the man with the withered hand.  Jesus did not quarrel or strive with the Pharisees; he meekly silenced them then quietly withdrew from their presence.  Unlike the Pharisees, he does not seek publicity or popularity but only to do the will of God.

The phrases 'bruised reed' and 'smoldering wick' are symbolic of weakness/feebleness/helplessness.  The images show the gentleness with which Jesus brings the truth of the gospel into the hearts of his followers.  He is not pround, unforgiving or cruel, like the religious leaders.  He is not harsh or unkind.  Rather, he gives strength, healing and pardon, both in the physical and spiritual realms.  He will take time to flame the smallest ember of holiness into a blaze, using the oil of grace.

Rest assured – he will be victorious in bringing the truth of the gospel message to the earth.  The gospel will never be vanquished or subdued, no matter who or what fights against it for Jesus will conquer!

Let me offer you some encouragement:

The Pharisees were hyper-vigilant in looking for things they should not do.  I imagine they had giant scrolls full of things that were prohibited, because they considered them sinful.  While it is true that we 'commit' sins, the bible tells us that we also 'omit' sins.  That means if we see some good work that needs to be done and we ignore it, we are sinning!

James 4:17 - Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin. 

How often do we go about our business never paying any attention to those around us?  Worse yet, how many people (besides me) have purposely walked through the store or the park with their head down because they didn't want to see or notice or speak to anyone around them?  I encourage all of us to begin noticing those around us and to begin looking for opportunities to strengthen and give hope to others.

Let me offer you some relief:

In this passage, Jesus talks about sheep.  He goes on to say, "Of how much more value is a man than a sheep!"  I want you to understand that you are incredibly valuable in God's sight.  Furthermore, your value is not based on what you have accomplished for God, or how many/few sins you have committed.

Therefore, your value does not increase if you do more good works and it does not decrease when you make a mistake.  Your value is based on the simple fact that God made you, and he loves you.  So breathe a sigh of relief.  You don't have to 'perform' well in order to be valuable to God!

Let me offer you some strength:

Sometimes it seems as though our world is filled with all manner of drama and chaos like lethal flu viruses, plunging stock markets, job losses and ugly political antics.  Sometimes we get weary of it all.  But don't lose hope.  No matter what opposition or chaos the enemy brings to our door, he has no real power over us because Jesus is our refuge and strength during times of trouble!

Psalm 46:1-2 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore, we will not fear [even] though the earth gives way.

 

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Matthew 11:1 – When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.                                           

Having finished his instructions to his followers, Jesus sent them to teach in Judea, while he continues to preach in Galilee. It's comforting to know that Jesus does not sit in idle luxury while sending us out to do his work.  Instead, he invites us to partner with him. We have the opportunity to share in his toil, trials and tribulations, but also his glory when he finally assumes Lordship over all things.

Matthew 11:2-3 – Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?"

We are going to look at John's imprisonment very soon (Matthew chapter 14), but since it is mentioned here, let's briefly review what has happened so far.  Herod the tetrarch had decided to 'take' or marry his brother Philip's wife.  John spoke out against this situation, basically telling Herod it was a sin.  Because of this, Herod had John arrested and put in prison.  His original intent was to kill him, but he feared the masses of people, who respected John as a prophet.  So at the time of Matthew 11, John the Baptist is languishing in prison.

Now, we know from earlier scriptures that John the Baptist recognized Jesus as being the Messiah.

John 1:29 –The next day he [John] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

In light of that, how do we explain John's actions?  Why would he, from his prison cell, send his followers to ask Jesus if he was the Messiah?

One opinion is that John is looking for confirmation of Messiah's physical kingdom coming to earth.  Part of the Jews understanding of the coming of the Messiah was that the Messiah would set up a literal kingdom on earth.  At the same time, their enemies would be defeated and they would be vindicated for their belief in the true God.

While these are true beliefs/expectations, the Jews of Jesus day did not understand that the coming of the Messiah and his literal reign on earth would be separated by hundreds and hundreds of years.  To be fair, we would not have understood that either.  Prophesy is always easy to understand once it has become history!  Anyway, some people speculate that John was asking if the Romans were soon to be overthrown.

Another possibility is that John was trying to transition his disciples into disciples of Christ.  Remember John's miraculous birth?  The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and prophesied that John would be a great prophet, turning the Jewish people back to God.  Eventually, John began to preach that the kingdom of Heaven was at hand.  He called the people to repentance, and baptized whole crowds of Jews.  His ministry was huge!

We can easily see how he would have many devoted disciples, who would be hesitant to leave him, even when he told them to follow Christ.  Obviously, this is going to be a problem.  John will soon be dead, and if these followers do not accept Jesus as Messiah, they are in great danger of falling from the faith and rejecting salvation.  So, by sending his followers to Jesus, John was making a last-ditch effort to satisfy them that Jesus was the Messiah.  He hopes they will now switch their allegiance to Jesus.

In a way, this incident speaks to modern day Christians.  We must place our trust in Christ (our bridegroom), not a particular minister or evangelist (friends of the bridegroom).  Men may die or fail, and if we have placed more trust in them than in God, we will be in danger of falling away from the faith.  It is okay to be fed by a ministry, but make sure you are firmly rooted and grounded in Christ.

In a way, this incident speaks to modern day Christians.  We must place our trust in Christ (our bridegroom), not a particular minister or evangelist (friends of the bridegroom).  Men may die or fail, and if we have placed more trust in them than in God, we will be in danger of falling away from the faith.  It is okay to be fed by a ministry, but make sure you are firmly rooted and grounded in Christ.

Do you ever wonder why Jesus seems to give an indirect answer to this question?  Why didn't he just say "Yes, I am the Messiah", and leave it at that?  Why point to the works he was accomplishing?

Remember, we are looking at the situation from a different perspective.  In our minds, there can be no question that Jesus was the Messiah.  However, the Jews were not so sure, especially at the beginning of Jesus' ministry.  Back in that day, other men had already come forward claiming to be the Christ.

Acts 5:35-37 - And [Gamaliel] said unto them, You men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do concerning these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and came to nothing. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.

These verses show that there had been several antichrists who tried to get the Jewish people to follow after them before Jesus came into ministry.

So at this point, there was no way that a simple verbal claim would convince the Jews. They needed proof before they would accept that Jesus was the 'one who was to come'.  His must be able to fulfill all of the messianic prophesies of the covenant (Old Testament).

Did he?  What did the evidence show?

Isaiah 35:5-6 – Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.

Isaiah 61:1 – The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.

Here we have two very well-known messianic prophesies from the book of Isaiah.  There are many more throughout the old covenant.  It's easy to see that the miracles of Jesus were a fulfillment of these prophesies.

So, by answering the question of John's disciples in this manner, Jesus gives them (and everyone else!) clear, unambiguous proof that he is the Christ.  The scope and magnitude of Jesus' miracles was a much better witness than just a verbal 'yes' would have been.

It is interesting to consider that the physical miracles of Jesus were symbolic of what he would do in the spiritual realm after his resurrection.

• The Blind: Sinners are spiritually blind.  Before Christ, our understanding is so darkened by sin that we cannot know truth or comprehend the ways of salvation.
• The Lame:  Sinners are unable to walk in the paths of righteousness.  We will always turn to the right or the left seeking the wide road of sin, unless we walk with Christ.
• The Lepers:  Spiritually speaking, fallen man is like a leper.  His soul is defiled with sin, which results in death.  Just as man had no cure for leprosy, he has no cure for sin apart from Christ.
• The Deaf:  Sinners are deaf to the voice of God, the truth of his word and our own consciences.  Only when we are his sheep can we hear his voice.
• The Dead:  Man is dead in trespasses and sin. Nothing but the blood of Jesus can reunite us with God, who is the source of all life.

Matthew 11:6 – "And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."                                                                                                                                            

The word 'offended' means stumbling block.  This verse could be correctly translated 'Happy is he to whom I shall not prove a stumbling block'.

The answer is that the Jews were not just judging by the facts.  They were also judging by their own opinions and traditions.

Since the Messiah would be a king, the Jews felt he would be rich and powerful, just like other earthly kings.  When Jesus came he was neither rich nor influential; this caused the Jews to question his claim to be the Christ.

Likewise, since Jesus was despised and humiliated on the cross, he could not be the glorious triumphant Messiah he claimed to be.

The Jews believed that the Messiah would immediately set up his kingdom on earth.  Because Jesus did not form an army and overthrow the Romans, the Jews questioned his claim to be the Messiah.

Here's the part that can be really tough to swallow:  Even Christians can stumble and be offended at Jesus.  What if you prayed and asked God for something, but you didn't get the answer you were expecting?

Maybe you were asking him to heal your mom or dad from cancer, but it did not happen.  Maybe you asked him for material wealth, but you remained poor.  Maybe you asked him to give you relief from a bad situation, but you're still in it.  I know it's tough, but don't be offended!  Stay in faith, believing that God has all things working together for your good, even if you cannot see it right now. Jesus says that you are blessed if you can do so!

Matthew 11:7 – As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?"

As John the Baptist's disciples leave, Jesus now turns his attention to the Jewish crowds before him, who were probably listening to their conversation.

Using John the Baptist as a starting point, Jesus is going to point out to the Jews that they have some serious flaws in their reasoning.

The Jews cannot deny that they absolutely loved John the Baptist!  They flocked out to the wilderness in droves to hear him preach and to be baptized.  They considered him a true prophet of God.  Since this is the case, we would expect the people to believe the testimony of John, right?

Wrong – they don't!  Despite the fact that John was very clear and emphatic that Jesus was the Messiah, the Jews still rejected Jesus as the Christ.  Although John never wavered from his witness, the Jews still did not believe.

John 1:6-7 – There was a man sent from God whose name was John.  He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

Hence, Jesus asks the crowd if they considered John a "reed shaken in the wind" or a man who was of an unsteady mind, declaring something to be true today and not true tomorrow.

The obvious point is that the Jews can't have it both ways – if they believe that John was sent by God, they must also believe that Jesus is the Messiah, because that was John's testimony.  If they reject Jesus as the Messiah, they must also reject John's ministry.

Matthew 11:8 – "What then did you go out to see?  A man dressed in soft clothing?  Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king's houses."

Jesus now inquires why else they might have gone out to see John.  Did they go all the way out in the wilderness to see his fashionable, expensive clothing?  Obviously not, because those kinds of luxuries were only worn by kings and rich people.

Matthew 11:9-10 – "What then did you go out to see?  A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'"

Jesus next asks if they went out to the wilderness to see a prophet.  The answer is yes; that is exactly what they went looking for, and they were not disappointed.

But this particular prophet was a bit different from the rest.  He is the one spoken of in Malachi 3:1.  Prior prophets had the task of educating the Jews regarding the Messiah. John was the only prophet to actually see the Messiah and point him out!  He was the one who had the privilege of announcing Jesus to the world as "The Lamb of God Who Takes Away the Sins of the World".  What an honor!

Matthew 11:11 – Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist.  Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Jesus tells us that John was the greatest prophet.  This was because he knew and understood more about the Messiah than all the prophets who came before him.  But despite that, he was spiritually ignorant compared to any member of the kingdom of heaven.

In these verses, the kingdom of heaven refers to the era of grace, which began with the death and resurrection of Christ.  This is the dispensation we currently live in.  Grace allows people to be completely and totally forgiven of sin, due to the shed blood of Christ.  Grace allows us unprecedented free access to the throne room of God.  In this dispensation the Holy Spirit literally indwells each believer.

In every way, the age of grace is far superior to the old covenant.  Thus, even the lowliest Christian is spiritually superior to John, the greatest prophet of the old covenant.

Matthew 11:12 – From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

The original language gives us a picture of an army taking a city by storm, or a crowd bursting into a house.

People who realized they were sinners through the preaching of John the Baptist were filled with zeal and fervency.  This includes the tax collectors, harlots, heathen and all other sinners - people the Scribes and Pharisees think have no right to the kingdom!  Awakened by the Holy Spirit, these sinners storm into the kingdom of heaven eagerly seizing the mercy of God and accepting salvation.

It seems as though staying in the kingdom also requires some force/violence.  We must crucify our flesh, run our race, fight the good fight, renew our minds and take up our cross and follow Christ.  Clearly, salvation is not for the faint of heart!  Our task is made possible through Christ, who strengthens us to do all things as well as the indwelling Holy Spirit who leads, assists and protects us, until our course is finished and we enter his eternal rest.

Matthew 11:13-15 – For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

The expression "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" is a phrase that Jesus frequently uses.  It is a proverbial expression implying that the highest attention should be given to what was spoken.  We can be sure that Jesus is relaying a very significant truth here.

The phrase "if you are willing to accept it" is also significant.  It means that Jesus was telling the Jews something that was different from their common expectation.  It was something they never would have considered, and because it seemed so outlandish and contrary to their beliefs, they would be prone to rejecting it.

Please reward yourself if you answered correctly!

 

The difficulty centers on a prophesy from Malachi:

Malachi 4:5 – Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.                                                                                

If you heard this verse being prophesied, would you think it should be interpreted in a literal physical way, or in a spiritual way?

The Jews felt that it should be interpreted as being a literal event.  They were literally looking for the ancient prophet Elijah to make a physical reappearance in Israel for the purpose of proclaiming the coming of the Messiah.

But Jesus was trying to tell them that this should be taken in a spiritual sense.  The purpose of the prophet was to call attention to the coming of the Messiah and the new dispensation that he would usher in.  John the Baptist did these exact things as he preached repentance and baptized people in the wilderness, getting them ready to accept the new covenant.

Therefore, John the Baptist was the Elijah spoken of in the book of Malachi.

Matthew 11:16-17 – "But to what shall I compare this generation?  It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'

Using an analogy, Jesus now reproves the unbelieving Jews for their actions. He likens them to children playing a game in a public place.  When the flute was played, it signified a happy, fun time, like a festival or a wedding.  It would be natural for children to join in the fun by dancing, laughing, etc.

In this case, since no one joined in with the happy singing, the musician switched over to playing a sad, mournful dirge, thinking that this would please the nonparticipants, and they would join in.

But they did not.  Apparently, there was no way to please them; nothing that was done incited them to join in.

Matthew 11:18-19 – For John came neither eating or drinking and they say, 'He has a demon.'  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him!  A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.

Here we have the true meaning of the analogy.  John the Baptist was a Nazarene from birth.  This mean that he did not cut his hair, he did not drink wine, he abstained from certain foods and touching dead bodies.  As we have already mentioned, he lived an ascetic lifestyle – living alone, eating locusts and wearing camel's hair clothes.

He is the "mournful dirge' of the analogy.  He 'sang' a message of repentance, but many of the Jews refused to join in.  They rejected his message.

Then Jesus came.  He is the 'happy flute' of the analogy.  He came in a different manner.  He did not practice austerity, nor was he under a Nazarite vow.  He ate and drank the ordinary foods that everyone else ate.  He wore clothes similar to those around him.  He attended both weddings and festivals, yet the Jews rejected him as well!

The Jews were like sullen children who could not be made happy, no matter what was offered to them.  Regardless of how the gospel was presented to them, they rejected it.

They have hardened their hearts against God just as surely as Pharaoh did.

Romans 2:4-5 – do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?  But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

Had they broken a moral law, they would have a remedy – the gospel would have provided forgiveness with repentance.

But what they have done is to sin against grace itself by rejecting it.  This is the most shameful, ungrateful thing they could possibly do.  They have chosen spiritual blindness, deafness and lameness, which will result in spiritual death.

Matthew 11:20 – Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.                              

What Jesus had just said in general regarding the current generation, he now applies to particular cities.  The main charge against them is the refusal to repent/rejection of the gospel message.

Matthew 11:21 – Woe to you, Chorazin!  Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Chorazin and Bethsaida were cities situated on the Sea of Galilee.  Both were rich and prosperous places.  Bethsaida had recently been advanced to a city by Philip the tetrarch.  Three of the apostles (Philip, Andrew and Peter) were from this area.

Tyre and Sidon were very old, very prosperous cities that were located on the Mediterranean Sea.  They were famous for trade, navigation, corrupt morals and debauchery.  The Jews long considered them as abominable and despicable despisers of God.

But Jesus, who knows the hearts of all men, declares that if he had preached and worked miracles in Tyre and Sidon, they would have accepted the message and repented with expressions of deep sorrow (sackcloth and ashes).  Sadly, heathen cities would have gladly accepted the salvation rejected by Jesus' own native land.

This shocking pronouncement should have been like a slap in the face to the unbelieving Jews.  It should have caused them to stop in their tracks and take a second look at their rejection of the gospel, but sadly, it did not. It seems to have further hardened their hearts!

Matthew 11:22 – But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.                                                                       

The bible is very plain that 'to whom much is given, much will be required'.  Since the Jewish cities/people had heard the gospel message, seen the miracles of Jesus and been given a chance to repent, they will suffer greater judgment than the cities/people who did not have access to the same grace.

Matthew 11:23-24 – And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven?  You will be brought down to Hades.  For if the mighty works done in you had been done is Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the Day of Judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.

In this verse the word 'Hades' does not mean that all the people of Capernaum were going to hell.  Likewise, the use of the 'heaven' does not mean that all the people will go to heaven.

This verse says much the same thing as the one before it.  Capernaum was another materially prosperous city, but one which was also graced with the miracles, the preaching and the presence of Jesus the Messiah.  Because it rejected the gospel, it would be cast down to a state of desolation and destruction.

Jesus tells us that if he had preached and done his miracles there, the people would have repented and the city would not have been destroyed.

Most of us have read the account of Sodom's judgment, when it was destroyed by fire and brimstone from heaven. Although the Day of Judgment for Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum is not covered in the biblical account, history tells us that all three were destroyed by the Romans.

Matthew 11:25-26 – At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

The use of the title 'Lord of Heaven and Earth' acknowledges God the Father's absolute power to have done as he pleased.

Matthew 11:27 – All things have been handed over to me by my Father and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

God the Father has commissioned Jesus to mediate a new covenant between God and man.  His commission includes all power and authority on heaven and earth to make this happen.

Matthew 28:18 - And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."                                                            

It includes power over all flesh.

John 17:2 - As you have given him [Jesus] power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him.                                   

Because of this, Jesus alone has the right to execute judgment.

John 5:22, 27 - For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son and has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

So, God put literally everything into Jesus hands for the purpose of bringing us back to him.  Jesus brokered a deal between God and man, then paid the ultimate price – his own blood – to seal the covenant.  In light of that, how confident should we be in giving Jesus total control of our lives?  Why do we worry about the simple, mundane things of this life? 

In the book of Ephesians, Paul goes on to tell us that not only is Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, but he is the head of the church.  Since all power and authority have been given to him, we can be sure that the church will not fail.  Don't be fooled by what you see in the world today; Jesus has already gained victory over Satan and he will assure our victory too.  In light of that, why not trust him to do what he is both willing and able to do in our lives?

Is our tendency to worry and fret a sign of our unbelief?  I think it is. At least some of that unbelief can be cured by devoting more time to meditating and understanding the power and authority of Jesus.

He goes on to say that 'no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son'.  This is a clear claim of equality with the Father.  Despite what the Pharisees believed, the divinity of Jesus is unquestionable.

This truth also teaches us that no man or angel or any other being can clearly and completely comprehend our infinite God; only Jesus can do that.  I am very glad to be serving a God who is so much bigger than anything I could imagine or think!

Likewise, only the Father can fully comprehend the mystery of the divine and human natures of Jesus.  Thankfully, we don't need to fully understand the Trinity in order to embrace and love him!

Matthew 11:28-30 – Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  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.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

These verses can be understood to mean that the old covenant was a heavy burden, made even worse by the traditions of the elders and Pharisees.  By coming to Jesus, the Jews could remove these heavy burdens and instead take on the restful yoke of salvation.

In a wider sense, it refers to sin in general.  All of us are under the crushing guilt and burden of sin.  We could never remove the yoke ourselves.  But Jesus, the one who mediated the covenant, is standing near offering us rest, if only we will accept the terms of the covenant he offers.

When we accept his offer/yoke of salvation, we need to embrace all that this requires.  We need to submit to his ruler ship.  We are to renew our minds, mature in our personal holiness, love others and fellowship with him.  Jesus was obedient to his Father, we need to be obedient to Jesus.

In the original Greek, the word for 'easy' actually means 'easy or gracious'.  The yoke of Christ does not drag us down, hurt us or fill us with despair.  It is pleasant, refreshing, and fulfilling.  It is immersed in love and it always results in blessing for us. 

Let me offer you some encouragement:

Keep your eyes on Christ, not on people.  We certainly look to the shepherds that Christ has put in our midst to lead and guide us.  We certainly look to other Christians for support.  We can certainly be inspired by large, public ministries that operate on God's behalf.  But we should never have blind trust in anyone except God.  Men and women will stumble and fall.  If we are too heavily invested in a person or a ministry instead of God, we will stumble when they fail.  Let's remember the example of John and his disciples.  Let's keep our eyes on Christ.

Let me offer you some relief:

Have you accepted the yoke of Jesus (salvation) but you still want to carry around the burdens of your life?  Are you still worried about the coronavirus or the stock market or rumors of wars in the earth?  Are you still worried about your job or your retirement account?

If so, then you need to go back and remind yourself whose yoke you are under.  Jesus is the grand architect of salvation.  He is the one who mediated the agreement.  He is the one who sealed that deal with his own blood.  God has given him all power and all authority to do this job.  Jesus is also the head of the church and he will use all his power and authority to make us victorious.  If you can't trust Jesus with your day-to-day problems, then who can you trust?  Give yourself some relief – cast your cares upon him, for he cares for you!

Let me give you some strength:

Jesus says we are blessed if we are not offended by him.  You and I have a very, very limited perspective of our own lives and the lives of those we love.  God, however, sees the entire picture of your life.  He knows how each situation not only impacts you, but interacts and causes changes in the lives of others.  We need to strengthen our faith and trust that God is using everything in our lives to bring about his highest and best will for us.  If we believe this is the case, we can have strength when things don't go the way we planned.

 

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Matthew 10:26 – "So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known."

Jesus is still giving instructions to his disciples, as he sends them out in pairs to preach the Kingdom of Heaven to the Jews. 

Ecclesiastes 12:14 - For God shall bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Another point of view is that the hidden thing refers to the gospel.  At this point, it is hidden or not widely known because Jesus is the only one revealing it.  However, the apostles will soon be out preaching the message as well.  Eventually, after the day of Pentecost, the message will explode into the world.

Both points of view could be correct, however, the covering and revealing of the gospel message might be the most appropriate interpretation, considering the next few verses.

Matthew 10:27 – "What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops."

I don't know about you, but I can't think of a single reason why I would want to get up on the roof of my house.  It is hot, the shingles are very scratchy, and the pitch of the roof is steep.  If I fell off, the result would be injury or possibly death. 

However, in Judea the roofs were (and still are) useful living space.  They were flat with a railing around them.  People used them for a variety of reasons:

In Joshua 2:6 we find Rahab using her flat roof to help the two spies of Israel.  She hid them on the roof, covering them with some flax that she had been drying there.

2 Samuel 11:2 tells us that king David was walking on the roof of his palace when he saw Bathsheba taking a bath (She too was probably on a roof). 

Sadly, some Jews had altars of Baal or other foreign gods on their roofs, and they would offer sacrifices on them (Jeremiah 32:29). 

Roof tops were also used for public announcements, prayer, meditation and whatever else the homeowner needed. This is what Jesus is referring to when he tells the disciples to publicly proclaim the gospel message from the roof tops. 

The point is that the gospel is not to remain a secret, but it is to be broadcast far and wide.  This mandate was not just for the apostles.  It was passed onto us when Jesus returned to heaven.

Mark 16:15 - And he [Jesus] said unto them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.                                                                       

We too are to broadcast the message of the gospel far and wide.  While radio, television and computers have made this far easier, we still have a personal responsibility to share the gospel with those we know.

Matthew 10:28 – "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

Well, there is certainly a lot going on in this verse. 

Point #1: Jesus confirms for us that there is a difference between the body and the soul.  The body is for this physical world.  If it dies, your soul (and spirit) do not die with it.  Rather, the soul and spirit are released from the dead physical body and they continue on in eternal existence.

Point #2:  Man (in this case those opposed to the gospel message), have a very limited authority over other men (in this case believers).  It is possible for them to persecute and even kill believers.  But their authority is limited to abuse of the physical body.  They have no power or authority over any man's soul and spirit.  Only God has the power and authority to grant eternal life or eternal torment.

Based on these facts, who should we fear?  Who should we respect and obey?  Man, who is evil and limited in what he can do to your physical body, or God, who is good and provides eternal life for your soul and spirit?  Remember, the bible also tells us that God will give us a new body for eternity – one that does not age, get sick, experience pain or have any defects.  I am looking forward to eventually getting mine!

In this verse, Jesus is giving comfort and strength to his followers.  He is warning them that they may be called upon to sacrifice their lives for him, but in the midst of that, they should keep their focus on eternity, not this world. Ultimately, we can serve only one master.  Will it be the temporary powers of this world or will it be the God of the universe?

Matthew 10:29-31 – "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

If you think about it, the apostles have just been given some harsh news.  They are to go out and spread the gospel.  While there will be many who will welcome the message, there will also be conflict.  This conflict will result in persecution, even to death.  But they are not to back down, for God is the judge not only of the body but of the soul and spirit; he can send men to eternal torment.

At this point, could the apostles be wondering what they had gotten themselves into?  Could they be feeling uneasy, caught between a rock and a hard place?  Are they wondering what kind of master God really is?

When you arrive, you are surprised to find an old Ford Pinto in the garage bay next to the Rolls.  You are even more surprised to find your friend wearing greasy coveralls, giving the Pinto a tune up.  He has already replaced some cracked hoses and changed the oil.  A new set of windshield wipers are also ready to be installed.

Consider this:  If your friend had love and value for the nearly worthless Pinto, how much more is he going to love and value the Rolls?

In the time of Christ, the cost of a sparrow was the equivalent of a quarter of one cent.  Four for  a penny.  Four hundred for a dollar!  That's almost more insulting than being free.  So, the sparrow is like the Pinto.  Although it is not the most valuable thing his creation, God still loves and takes care of it.  He provides it with food, water and a mate.  He endows it with survival instincts, like how to build a nest and a fear of predators.  He also knows when one of them meets death, whether from disease or predators or cold weather or old age.   Not only does he know, but he is actively present.  That's right – reread the words of Jesus again - 'Not one of them falls to the ground APART from your Father'.  God is there when each sparrow dies.

You, dear reader, are like the Rolls!  God paid the very highest price for you - the blood of his own Son.  You are created in his image.  You are is son/daughter, and a co-heir with Jesus Christ.  You are a priest in God's kingdom.  You will rule and reign with him in the next life.  The list of your 'amenities' goes on and on. 

If God is so committed to taking care of the sparrow that he is actively present when one of them dies, how much more is he going to take care of you?  How much more will he be actively present to comfort and strengthen you as you transition from this life to eternity with him?

Hmmm... all of a sudden, death doesn't seem so scary anymore.  When we realize how much God loves us and that he (and he alone) is in control of our transition from this life to the next, our fear of man and what he can do to us greatly diminishes.  Now we are free to keep our eyes focused on our loving Father and the race he has set before each one of us.

Matthew 10:32-33 – "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in haven, but whoever denies me before men, I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven."

Many years ago, when I was in middle school, I remember being in a line with my classmates in a hallway.  Somehow, the conversation turned to religion and I was ridiculed for being a Christian.  I would like to say that I stood up and refuted all their insults with scripture, but I didn't.  I distinctly remember being embarrassed and not saying a word, hoping that the teacher would come quickly and lead us to the next class so my humiliation would end. 

I've never forgotten that, and for a long time, I felt guilty about it.  In my mind, I had denied Christ and I was worried about it.  Perhaps you may have had some similar experiences and feelings.  There is good news for both of us – we are not the only ones to do this!  As you recall, the apostle Peter also denied Jesus.

Luke 22:60-61 – But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about."  And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.  And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.  And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times."

Thankfully, we see the end of Peter's story and we know that Jesus forgave him, and restored him to a place of ministry.   I believe Jesus has also forgiven you and me. 

But there is still a question to be addressed here:  What does it mean to deny Christ in such a manner that he would deny us before God the Father?

In the original text, the word for 'acknowledge' can also be translated 'confess' or 'profess'.  We confess/profess Jesus in many ways.  The most profound of these is our conduct.  Do we live our everyday lives in such a manner that others can see we belong to Jesus?  Are we honest, loving, patient and kind?  Do we exercise control over what we watch, what we read and what we wear? Are the places we go and the things we do pointing to Jesus or away from him?  Are we living examples of Biblical principles? 

If you can answer 'yes' to that question, then you are professing/confessing Christ with your conduct.  If no one can tell you are a Christian from your lifestyle, then you are denying him.

Certainly, we confess/profess Christ with our mouths.  While this obviously includes proclaiming him as Lord and Savior, it involves more than just that.  For instance, is our everyday conversation sprinkled with cursing and bitterness?  Do we use our tongues to complain, to find fault, to accuse, to belittle, to stir up drama or otherwise bring death to the people we speak with?  If so, then you are denying Christ with your mouth. 

Finally, we confess/profess Christ by submitting to his authority over us in all things.  If he calls us to be single or married, rich or poor, etc, we need to embrace what he has called us to be and to do.  In so doing, we profess/confess his lordship over our lives.  And if we confess him before men in this life, Jesus will confess us before his Father in heaven!

Matthew 10:34-36 – Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.  And a person's enemies will be those of his own household."

What does it mean to bring a 'sword'?  A sword is an instrument of death; to send a sword is to produce hostility and war.  This seems like a strange statement, especially since the scriptures clearly described Jesus as the Prince of Peace:

Isaiah 9:6 – For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

What is the correct understanding of these verses? 

Hostility and discord were not the reasons Jesus came to earth, they were the effects of his coming.   If part of a family opposed the gospel, they would set themselves against the part of the family who accepted the gospel.  The result would be hostility/war between the family members.  Clearly, the wickedness of men, not the good news of the gospel, is the cause of this hostility and contention.  Wherever the gospel is preached, Satan will incite wicked men to oppose it.  This was prophesied long ago by Micah:

Micah 7:5-6 – Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms, for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.

If only all men would accept the gospel message, then there would be peace and not contention!

Matthew 10:37 – "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."

God is the one who created families in the first place, when he created Eve as a partner for Adam.  He is not telling us to abandon our natural affection for our family.

What he is saying is that our first and foremost devotion must always be to God.  If it comes down to following/choosing our parents or following/choosing Christ, then we must break off the bonds of family and cling to Jesus.

If we love our families more than Christ, we are not worthy to be his disciple. 

Matthew 10:38-39 – "And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

In Roman times, people who were sentenced to be crucified were forced to carry their own cross to the place of crucifixion. (The Romans were masters of cruelty, were they not?)

If we do so, we can be assured that we will find life, not lose it.  The word 'life' is used in two senses in verse 39.  So let's clarify:  The believer who is anxious to save their temporal life (comfort, acceptance and security on earth), shall do so only by forfeiting eternal life (life in heaven).  The person who is willing to risk or lose his comfort, acceptance and life here on earth for Jesus sake, shall find everlasting life in the next world. 

Matthew 10:40-42 – "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.  The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person, will receive a righteous person's reward.  And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."

These three verses are closely connected, so we will examine them together. 

Remember that at the beginning of this chapter, Jesus had instructed the apostles to go out and preach the gospel.  They were not to take any extra money or supplies, rather they were to find a house that was worthy and stay there until they left the city.

In these last three verses, Jesus is giving them a kind of credit card.  Whatever food, kindness, provision or hospitality the apostles were given, Jesus would consider that it was done to him.   Therefore, those who provided for the apostles would be rewarded by God.

Eventually, when our study takes us to chapter 25 of Matthew's gospel, we will see Jesus declaring the same principle once again.  Saints who visit prisoners or clothe the naked or visit the sick are actually doing it to Jesus, and they will be rewarded for it. 

While we are not told exactly what the reward is, I have to believe that it will be generous and wonderful, because that is the nature of God.  So, let us do all we can to aid and assist those who spread the true gospel of Christ!

Let me offer you some encouragement:

I can see where preaching the gospel might have seemed like an overwhelming task to the disciples, at least in the beginning.  But remember, nothing is impossible with God.  God never sets us up to fail; we are always victorious in Christ.  So, what has God called you to do?  Does it seem overwhelming or difficult?  I encourage you to step out in faith and get started.  The more you work at it, the easier the task will become.  When you do your part, God will make a way where you cannot! 

Let me offer you some relief:

Has the enemy tried to make you feel guilty about things in your past?  Maybe you denied Christ at some point or broke one of the "big" commandments.  Regardless of what you did, there is forgiveness for you.  How is this for relief - the Psalmist tells us that God has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  In fact, he has cast our sin as far from us as the east is from the west (Psalms 103)!  Praise his name!  Let go of any guilt you are carrying around and put the past where it belongs – in the past!  Make room for the Holy Spirit to come into your life and assist you in carrying out your life's mission!

Let me give you some strength:

God loves you.  He loves you more than you can know or understand, but we can get a glimpse of his love as we meditate on things he tells us.  Remember, YOU are God's most precious possession.  There can be no other explanation considering that he sent his Son to die for you!  God has adopted you into his family; he calls you son or daughter.  He has made you a co-heir with Jesus.  He has made you a priest in his kingdom.  He has prepared a place in heaven, just for you.  He has your name engraved on the palm of his hand.  He has rewards waiting for you in the next life.  He is going to wipe away all your tears and heartaches.  He promises never to leave you or forsake you.  Hallelujah! Remembering how much God cares for you should give you strength to serve him in all circumstances.

 

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Matthew 10:1 – And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal every disease and every affliction.

It seems kind of fitting that Jesus would use 12 apostles to plant the New Testament church, since he had used the 12 tribes of Israel to keep the Old Testament covenant.

The most important thing in this verse is that Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits and sickness/disease. Jesus confirmed his teaching through the working of miracles; his disciples would do the same.

Matthew 10:2-4 – The names of the twelve apostles are these: First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

The really great thing about this list is what is NOT on it.

• There are not super wealthy people, who could influence others to accept the gospel just because rich people have influence.
• There were no naturally gifted orators who could convince people to accept the gospel just because they were persuasive arguers/speakers.
• There were no overly handsome or good looking people who could influence others to follow them because of their beauty.
• There were no super intelligent scholars, who could convince people to accept the gospel because it was the smart thing to do.

Jesus chose plain, ordinary men of good character and honesty who would testify to the truth of the gospel that they learned from Jesus.  They would also testify of his death and resurrection.  Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they were willing to lay down their lives to bear witness to the truth.

Luke tells us that Jesus chose them early in his ministry (before the Sermon on the Mount) so that they would be witnesses to everything that he taught and everything he did from the beginning of his ministry until his resurrection from the dead.

You and I have also been called to bear witness to the truth of the gospel and to share what Jesus has done for us.  Aren't you glad that you don't have to be rich or famous or really well educated to understand and accept the grace of God?  I know I am!

Matthew 10:5-6 – These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Gentiles (or Greeks as they are sometimes called in the New Testament) are simply non-Jewish people.  They did not know the true God and in their ignorance they worshipped many false gods.

The Samaritans were a group of people living in the region between Jerusalem and Galilee.  They were a mixed race of people who embraced a false religion which was an amalgam of Judaism and idolatry.  They worshipped Jehovah along with other false gods.

Clearly, the disciples were not to share the Kingdom of Heaven with the Samaritans or the Gentiles.  Why not?

God has a divine order in dealing with mankind:  to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.

The Jews were the chosen people of God.  It was through them that the Messiah had come.  It was through them that all the nations of the earth would be blessed; Jesus was a fulfillment of the covenant made long, long ago with Abraham and his descendants. So it makes sense that they should be the first to hear and see the Messiah.  They should have the first opportunity to accept the New Covenant, because they already had a relationship with God.

Secondly, the disciples were what we might call 'green horns'.  They needed to learn how to effectively share the gospel.  The easiest way to do that was among the people who were already intimately acquainted with the promises of the old covenant.  It would take a lot more wisdom, knowledge and Holy Spirit power to share the gospel with those who knew nothing of God's former dealings with mankind.  The disciples weren't ready for that yet.

Thankfully, Jesus would soon charge his apostles to spread the gospel to 'Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world', which eventually included you and I!

Matthew 10:7 – "And proclaim as you go, saying, 'the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"                                                                                                            

The disciples were all to preach the same message – The kingdom of Heaven was arriving imminently.  In other words, they were to tell as many Jews as possible that God was ready to fulfill his promises to them!  Now, after generations of waiting, God is ready to implement the kingdom of the long awaited Messiah.  Because of that, it was time for men to repent of their sins and prepare themselves to be citizens of this new kingdom.  When the Messiah was manifested, they must be ready to believe him, accept his doctrine and submit to his authority.

There are still people today that have not heard the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven.  They need a chance to repent of their sins and become citizens of the Kingdom of God.  What are you doing to spread the word?

Matthew 10:8 – "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.  You received without paying; give without pay."                                     

The power and authority Jesus gave to the disciples was for a very specific purpose - the confirmation of the message regarding the Messiah and his kingdom.

So, God was the author of all these blessings.  The apostles were merely channels for transmitting the bountiful blessings of God from heaven to earth. Therefore, they had no right to be selective as to who could receive these benefits; they could not pick and choose who to minister to or charge anything in return for the miracles.

Isaiah 55:1-2 – Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Let me ask you this:  what is the purpose for all the bountiful blessings God has given you and I in our generation?  Are our spiritual gifts, material blessings and resources only to contribute to our personal happiness, or does God expect us to use them for his glory and the spread of his gospel to the lost?  Are you a channel that God can use to further his kingdom?

Matthew 10:9-10 – "Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food."

The implication is that the disciples could take with them whatever money they had on hand, but they were not to delay their journey by attempting to provide more.  Nor were they to pack a whole bunch of baggage to take with them.  Why do you suppose Jesus gave them this command?

One reason was that extensive planning and packing would cause delays and stress.  But the main reason was probably to develop their ability to trust in God for whatever they needed.  Their focus was to be on God and the mission set before them.  God would be the one to provide food, clothing and necessities.

In my opinion, this is much harder than it sounds, especially at first.  Put yourself in their shoes.  What if you and I went on a missionary journey, trusting God to provide.  What if we wanted steak but God provided bologna?  Would we complain or be thankful?  What if we were expecting a king size pillow top memory foam bed, but we wound up with a sleeping bag on someone's cold stone floor?  Not only did the disciples need to trust God to provide, they had to learn to accept the provisions that God miraculously provided.

1 Timothy 6:6-8 - But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and clothing let us be with these things content.

It seems to me that comfort is something our culture really values.  If God calls us to a little bit of discomfort for the sake of the gospel, can we accept that with thankfulness?  Are we content with the level of worldly goods God has given to us?  Are we good stewards of these blessings, or do we selfishly keep them all to ourselves?

Matthew 10:11-13 – "And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.  As you enter the house, greet it.  And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you."

While they were not to take extra money or provisions, they were to make wise choices about where to stay.  They were to seek out godly and upright men, who had a reverence and thirst for God, and who would be willing to receive and provide for two ministers of God.

Once they had found such a household, they were to stay in that place and not move again, even if a better opportunity appeared.  Their time was not to be spent in seeking better accommodations or comfort, but to preach, minister healing and deliverance, and pray.  After all, their main goal was not personal enjoyment; it was to spread the gospel.

In these verses, the word "house" refers to family.  The apostles were to show proper respect and civility to their host family, while the family would provide gracious hospitality to them.

Matthew 10:14-15 – "And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.  Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the Day of Judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah that for that town."

If the town where they went to minister rejected the gospel, the apostles were not only to leave that town, but place a witness against it by removing the dust of that town from their feet.

This contempt for the gospel would not go unpunished by God.  One day these unbelievers will be judged more harshly than the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, who were destroyed by fire and brimstone.

What does this passage say to us about the profanity of the world that touches us every day?  Do we despise and reject the things of the world that pollute our holiness, or do we tolerate those things, or even enjoy them?  Are we influencing the world for Christ, or is the world influencing us to accept sin?

Matthew 10:16 – "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."                                          

So, the apostles have been commissioned by Jesus to travel around, spreading the good news that the kingdom of Heaven was at hand, with miracles to confirm their doctrine.  Sounds like a good deal, doesn't it? Who wouldn't be glad to be a part of that?

Thus, Jesus makes it very plain to the apostles that they will face persecution, discouragement, opposition, legal action and other dangers.  The enemies of the gospel have a malicious nature, ready to devour and destroy the ministers of Christ, just as a wolf naturally wants to hunt down, kill and devour a sheep.

How are they to react to these attacks?  They are to be wise as serpents – meaning they need to act prudently, not irritating the enemy unnecessarily. On the other hand, they are to be innocent as doves - meaning that they should not be over cautious, allowing the enemy to dictate when and how they minister.  Honestly, this is still a good rule to follow today.

Matthew 10:17 – "Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues..."                                                                              

Here Jesus is speaking of the future.  None of the 12 encountered these circumstances on this first missionary journey, but they all did after Jesus had been crucified and resurrected.

Flogging was the same as whipping.  Tradition says that the guilty party was laid upon the ground before the judge.  The blows were then inflicted upon his back.  The limit was 40 (Deuteronomy 25:2-3), but the judge could determine any number less than that.  It was not until after the beating that they were tied to a post.

To make the beating more severe, the Jews would attach thongs or lashes to the rod (usually 3).  That means one strike delivered 3 lashes at once.  They would then strike the person 13 times, giving 39 lashes.  The apostle Paul was beaten in this manner 5 times.

The most grievous scourging of all was when the Romans would fasten pieces of iron or lead to the thongs.  These were capable of ripping and tearing flesh.  Keep in mind, the Romans were not limited by the Old Testament law.  They could whip someone with as many lashes as they chose.  It was the Romans who whipped Jesus before his death. Jesus did not ask his disciples to suffer in a way that he did not also experience.

Matthew 10:18 - ...and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles."                                         

'Governors and kings' refer to Gentile leaders appointed by the Romans.  These included proconsuls, porcurators and even emperors.  On the first missionary journey, the apostles were to speak only to the Jews.  Thus, we see that this too, is a future event which takes place only after the resurrection of Jesus.  By this statement, Jesus plainly shows that he intends for the Gentiles to have opportunity to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

The purpose of appearing in these high courts is to bear witness of the Messiah to the highest leadership in the land.  Once the Gentiles are informed of the gospel, they are responsible for this knowledge. To reject it means to reject eternal life. 

Matthew 10:19-20 – "When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.  For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." 

Again, it was one thing to be arrested and beaten by the Jews, because their power was limited by the Old Testament and by the Romans.  But when you are standing before the highest Roman/Gentile powers, there was no limit as to what they could do to you.

Also, the apostles were uneducated laborers and fisherman.  How could they explain/present the gospel in terms that these Gentiles could not refute or ignore?  I can see why the apostles might be a bit anxious, can't you?

But Jesus never wants us to operate in a spirit of fear.

2 Timothy 1:7 - For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.                                                                         

Therefore, he comforts his ministers with the assurance that when these events take place, God will be with them every step of the way.  The Spirit himself will give them the words to speak; words that will cut through every argument that tries to exalt itself above the truth of the gospel. The Gentiles may be able to out-reason the apostles, but they could never out-reason the Holy Spirit!  The truth of the gospel would be made plain to them, and they would have to decide what to do with it – accept it and change their ways, or reject it and thus reject God at the same time.

Matthew 10:21-22 – "Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake.  But the one who endures to the end will be saved."

The natural bonds of family are some of the strongest bonds we know.  Most people count on family to come to the rescue during distressing times, to provide safety and comfort, and to offer assistance and guidance when needed.

But Jesus tells us that the enemy will stop at nothing in the fight for men's souls.  Satan will incite his wicked followers to hate even their closest family members; anyone who accepts the gospel must be stopped before they turn others from Satan to Christ.

If we examine the witness of Christians from foreign countries, particularly those involving Islam, we find clear evidence that this is happening today.

To some degree it is true in the United States as well.  I have known some people who are estranged from their families just because they changed from another religion to Christianity.

In the midst of all this betrayal, Jesus offers hope.  Victory is assured to the Christian.  This includes those who endure until Jesus returns as well as those who endure until their trial is concluded or their life is over.  Regardless of which circumstance applies, the Christian who endures will receive eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 10:23 – "When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes."

In some ways, this verse is easy to understand and in other ways, it is very puzzling.  Let's begin with the easy part.

The overall sense of this verse is that the apostles should practice prudence – if their lives were in danger, they could certainly shake the dust off their feet and move on to a new city.

What they did NOT have was permission to deny Christ. They must always be true to the Savior who, out of love, would die for them long before they were asked to give their lives for his glory.  There are still some places in the world today where Christians must choose between their faith in Christ and their life on earth.  I believe that if God calls us to make this choice, he grants us the grace to stay true to him. 

Another thing the apostles did NOT have was permission to retire.  No matter how many cities and towns they were kicked out of, they were to move onto the next one and continue to spread the gospel.  Do you plan to retire some day?  While you can certainly retire from your life's profession, you can never retire from Christianity.  Wherever you go after retirement, be sure to look for new opportunities to spread the gospel!

Now for the difficult part of this verse:  The stipulation that the apostles would not visit all the towns of Israel "before the Son of Man comes."

It seems rather clear that the phrase does not refer to the first missionary journey that the apostles are about to embark on.  That mission is covered in full in verse 5-15.  The culmination of that journey was a pronouncement of final judgment on those who reject the gospel message.

It also seems rather clear that beginning in verse 16 Jesus is looking forward in time to future events/missions.  So at some future time (future to the apostles at the time of Jesus), there would be difficult persecutions; the question is what constitutes the end of these events?  What is meant by the phrase "Before the Son of Man comes?"

Some scholars believe it refers to the judgment of Israel and the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.  Some believe the phrase has dual meanings and that it not only refers to the destruction of Jerusalem, but also refers to an event still further in the future – the second coming of Christ. 

Rather than spending a lot of time arguing one way or another, I think our time would best be spent concentrating on the 'here and now'.  Let's be about our master's business today and let tomorrow take care of itself.

Matthew 10:24-25 – "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.  It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.  If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household."

Beelzebul or Beelzebub was the name given to one of the false gods of the Philistines.  It meant 'the god of flies', so called because this idol was supposed to protect the Philistines from the numerous swarms of flies common in their land.  Among the Jews the name signified 'the god of filth' and was esteemed as the lowest and most offensive of all the idol gods.  By giving this name to Jesus, they were pouring out upon him the greatest possible abuse and contempt.

According to this scripture, what evil men have said and done to Jesus, they will certainly not hesitate to say and do to his disciples.  This includes all manner of suffering and shame up to and including physical death.

However, in Luke 12:4 Jesus tells us not to be afraid of those who can kill the body, but after that have no more that they can do!  God has guaranteed our place in heaven; no man can change that! 

This is the end of today's post.  Normally, I try to give you some words of encouragement, relief and strength for your daily walk in Christ.  But this week, I would like to do something a little different.

According to OpenDoorsUSA.org, 11 Christians are killed every day for their decision to follow Christ.  Instead of focusing on ourselves this week, can we commit to pray for Christians around the world who are facing some of the same persecutions that were endured by the apostles?

Let's pray that God will give them an abundant provision of courage and faith as they bear witness to the gospel of Jesus.

Let's pray that governments who are hostile to the cause of Christ will be toppled and that Christianity will be embraced in these lands.

Let's pray that those who have been ostracized by their families will find love and support from other believers.

Above all, let's pray that the name of Jesus will be lifted up in all lands, so that all men have an opportunity to know him and Lord and Savior!

 

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Matthew 9:27 – And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David."

Jesus is now going from the ruler's house to his own lodgings (Peter's house) when two blind men begin to follow him. 

Thus far, the Jews who had come to Jesus for healing acknowledged him as a man to whom God had given great power, but they stopped short of recognizing him as Messiah.  We might describe them as 'spiritually blind' for not recognizing their Messiah during the time of his visitation.

However, here we have two physically blind men who 'see' the truth.

Relentlessly and with great faith, they address Jesus as 'Son of David' as they follow him down the street.  This was a title which the Jews reserved exclusively for the Messiah.  There can be no mistake about what they were proclaiming to all within earshot – that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah, the King of Israel! These men may have been blind, but they had something more important - spiritual sight.

They are also very persistent, aren't they?  When Jesus was approached by the disciples of John, or stopped by Jairus, or touched by the woman with the issue of blood, he immediately interacted with them.  But in this case, He continues to walk down the street seeming to ignore the cries of the men following him.  Yet, they do not give up or stop.

Why would he do that?  Many scholars see this as a lesson to persevere in prayer.  Later on, Jesus will tell the parable of the woman and the unjust judge.  Jesus says the point of the parable is to never give up in prayer.

Luke 18:1-2- And he [Jesus] spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, There was in a city a judge...

I am willing to confess that sometimes I feel like giving up in prayer.  Sometimes when you feel like you have prayed and prayed but the answer has not come, you can get discouraged and there is a real temptation to give up (at least for me).

But at the same time, I can also recall several instances where the answer to my prayers only came after a prolonged period of time.  One time, in my extended family, there was a possible legal problem on the horizon but the situation could not be resolved because of some broken relationships.  The problem was complex and there was no hope of a resolution, unless God moved.  It took months, but through prayer, God brought about a successful outcome to both of those problems, one right after the other!

So, shame on me for growing weary and doubting!  We know that God always hears our prayers.  We also know that even though we don't see anything happening, God is at work on our situation.  We know God's timing is always perfect.

Hmmm...  it seems I have successfully encouraged myself to renew my resolve to pray when the answer doesn't come immediately.  I hope this has helped you too!

Matthew 9:28-29 – When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"  They said to him, "Yes, Lord."  Then he touched their eyes saying, "According to your faith be it done to you."

Eventually, Jesus comes to the house and enters it; the blind men come into the house as well.  At this point, out of the public view, Jesus begins to interact with the men.

He asks them a single question – did they believe that he could heal them?  In other words, did they believe that he wielded the power of God because he was the Son of God (as they proclaimed), not just a prophet?

Since God has not changed (Malachi 3:6), we can safely conclude that we, too, will need faith when asking God to move on our behalf.  This fact is substantiated throughout the New Testament.  Jesus himself says this:

Matthew 17:20 -  verily I [Jesus] say unto you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, Remove from here to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

What a remarkable promise from Jesus!  Since faith is so important, maybe we should pause and examine our own.  What is the state/level of your faith?  Is it a bit weaker/lower than you would like?  If so, be encouraged - there are ways to increase your faith.  One way is to meditate or dwell on the word of God:

Romans 10:17 - So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Maybe it's time to exercise some moderation in our activities and commitments and use some of that time to get into the word of God.  Or, perhaps while riding in your car, you could spend your time meditating on the word, instead of singing to the radio.  Another good way is to memorize a scripture.  When was the last time you did that?  As a child or teenager?

I believe there are some really good ways to increase the amount of time we are dwelling on God's word, without making cataclysmic lifestyle changes.  What ideas do you have?

Matthew 9:30-31 – And their eyes were opened.  And Jesus sternly warned them, "See that no one knows about it."  But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

Jesus gave them the deepest desire of their hearts - then firmly instructed them not to tell anyone! Despite the volumes and volumes of speculation on this topic, the truth is, we don't know the exact reason why Jesus requested their silence, but we can be sure that his reasons were good ones.  We can also be sure that obedience to God's commands is always good for us.  Unfortunately, in this case, the men were disobedient to Jesus' command, publishing the news far and wide.

Matthew 9:32 – As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him.

In this case, the inability to speak was not the result of some physical defect, but was a side effect of the demon possession.

We should not be surprised that the demon took this man's ability to speak.  If he had a voice, he could pray.  He could confess his sin to God.  He could offer thanksgiving and praise.  He could testify.  He could preach the word of God.  He could encourage others.  He could speak life and hope to those around him.  It's no wonder the demon wanted to prevent his ability to speak.

This brings up a point for our consideration:  Is it worth the devil's time and effort to stop our mouths?  Are there enough good and righteous things coming out of us that the devil takes notice?  Or, are we giving him glory and furthering his evil purposes by the things we speak?

Entire books have been written on the subject of the tongue and its power.  You might want to study this topic in more detail.  It is very important to each one of us!

Matthew 9:33 - And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke.  And the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel."

On the command of Jesus, the demon must leave.  Once the demon was gone, the man could speak again.

The crowds react by commenting that nothing like this was ever seen in Israel.  If you think about it, that is a very bold statement.  God created Israel.  He brought them out of Egypt with signs and wonders.  He parted the Red Sea.  He provided water in the desert.  He gave them victory in battle, time and time again.  He caused manna to appear six days a week for 40 years.  He made the walls of Jericho fall.  He caused the sun to stand still in the sky.  The list of miraculous events goes on and on and on and on.

Based on the Israelites own testimony that nothing like the power of Jesus had ever been seen in their nation, there was only one conclusion to be drawn.  Jesus was the Messiah.

Matthew 9:34 – But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."

What could possibly drive the Pharisees to such blatant blasphemy?

The Pharisees had long ago abandoned the true faith.  They were no longer concerned about serving their fellow man, practicing righteousness, protecting the widows & fatherless or being champions of justice. Their only concern now was to keep the power, status and authority they had grown to love.  Their pride knew no limits. This left them only two choices:

Swallow their pride, repent/admit they were wrong, relinquish their authority, and follow Jesus just like the 'common' people were.

OR

Hold onto their pride/position/authority by trying to discredit this great show of divine power in the only way possible – to credit it to Satan.

Pride can cause us to do some truly evil things.  If you sense it in your life, beware, lest you end up like they did!  I can think of nothing sadder than to forfeit the eternal love of God for the trifling things of this world.

Matthew 9:35 – And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.

Jesus came to reveal the kingdom of heaven to men, and to provide his blood for our salvation.  He confirmed and accredited his message with signs, wonders and miracles.

Matthew 9:36 – When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Spiritually speaking, the Israelites were without true leadership.  The Pharisees had burdened them with the rites of religion, the crushing weight of tradition and their own deadly doctrines.  The result was a generation of people who were at best hopeless and neglected; at worst torn to spiritual shreds.  They wandered through life with no one to offer spiritual direction, spiritual healing, or spiritual protection.

Their plight aroused compassion within the Savior.  Clearly he desired them to have true spiritual leaders who could lead them to victory in Christ!

Matthew 9:37-38 – Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

During this time, the people had heard the gospel from both John the Baptist and now Jesus.  The Holy Spirit had quickened this word to their spiritual hearts, and they were 'ripe'; or ready to repent and accept salvation, which was soon to come.

In addition, each one of us should also be available to share the love of Christ with all those around us.

Let me offer you some encouragement:

We don't have to read too much of the scripture to know that faith pleases God and moves mountains.  Therefore, we need it!  If you feel like your supply of faith is running low, there are things you can do to increase it.  You can meditate on the word.  You can listen to the testimonies of others. You can remind yourself of times that God moved on your behalf in the past.

But one of the best things you can do is to simply use the faith you have right now!  You can never 'use up' your faith because when you use it, it actually grows, not diminishes!  So take a step of faith this week – even a small one – and when God answers, you will have even more faith to take the next step!

Let me offer you some relief and strength:

Have you ever experienced a time when you prayed for an answer or a change or some relief in a situation, but it seems as though God did not hear or act?  If this is you, let me offer you some relief – it's not just you!  I believe that most of us have been in your shoes at one time or another.

During these tough times, I suggest that you change your perspective.  When we are beset by difficulties our vision tends to become very narrow.  We only see how the problem affects us, not how it might be affecting others.

God did not cause Jairus' daughter to die, or the woman to have an issue of blood or the two men to be born blind.  However, he did allow those things and use them to display his glory.  He used a small amount of human discomfort to show the world a dazzling display of his glory.  The temporary suffering of those people caused untold numbers of people to trust in God.

If God asked you to suffer a bit so that lost souls could be forever changed by Him, would you allow it?  Would you welcome it and consider it an honor?  The next time you are in a period of suffering, widen your perspective.  Trust that God is bringing about eternal blessings to other people through you.  You will find yourself in a whole new level of intimacy with God.  Be strong and draw close to Him.  He will use your suffering for his glory, if you will allow him.

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Matthew 9:18 – While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live."

Matthew tells us only that this man was a ruler, but Mark and Luke give more information.  They tell us that he was a ruler or elder of the synagogue named Jairus.  His daughter was 12 years old and she was his only child.

Jairus falls at the feet of Jesus and intercedes for his daughter.  At this point, one cannot help but compare him to the Roman centurion we looked at in Matthew chapter 8.  The centurion also interceded for one he loved (his servant), but while Jairus' faith required that Jesus come to his house and lay a hand on his girl, the faith of the centurion was willing to believe that Jesus could heal from a distance with just a word.

The good news is that Jesus does not refuse anyone who comes to him with sincere faith.  Even though the faith of the Jewish ruler was feeble compared to his 'heathen' counterpart, Jesus still honors his prayers and encourages him to expect a miracle.  This is a lesson to all of us.  Sometimes life seems overwhelming but don't let your faith waiver!  Don't let the enemy tell you that all is lost!  God still hears and answers prayer today!

Matthew 9:19 – And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples.                                                                                                                                                

Consider this for a moment:  Jesus was actually at a banquet when the disciples of John the Baptist came to ask him a question.  While he was speaking to them, Jairus came to beg for his help.  So, Jesus immediately leaves the banquet and follows him.

Read that verse again.  Did you see any mention of grumbling or complaining?  Was there any heavy sighing or rolling of the eyes?  Did Jesus ask Jairus to wait until the cake was cut and coffee was served?  Was there any mention by Jesus that his plans had been interrupted?

From God's point of view, a cry for help is never an interruption.  What is our point of view?  When someone needs us, are we irritated because it interferes with our plans, or do we remember that we are here on earth to be salt and light in the kingdom of Heaven?

Matthew 9:20 – And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment,

Here is another example of faith and action rising up together to claim a miracle.

This poor woman had been ill for 12 years.  Let's stop and consider that for a moment.  What were you doing 12 years ago?  What age were your kids?  Where were you living?  What were you doing 10 years ago?  How about 5 years ago?  Take a couple of minutes and list some of the major events that have transpired in your life in the last 12 years.  Then consider that this pitiful woman was sick that entire time!

In addition, Mark's gospel (Mark 5:25-27) tells us that the woman had suffered greatly, going from doctor to doctor, but none of them could help.  She spent all the money she had trying to find a cure.  Despite all that, she was getting worse, not better!  On top of that, she was now impoverished.  You can picture misery and depression overwhelming her.

So, she goes out in public and she finds Jesus, who is literally being thronged by crowds of people.

Modesty prevented her from speaking of her disease in any kind of public way; certainly it could not be discussed in front of a crowd or with a man she did not know!  Thus we see her coming up behind Jesus and probably reaching through the crowd to touch the hem/fringe of his garment.

The garment in question was possibly a prayer shawl, but more likely a traditional upper garment.  It was a single piece of cloth with a hold in the center, where you put your head.  There were four corners with a tassel attached to each corner.  The tassels themselves were made in a very precise way and had specific meanings associated with them; they were a regulation from Old Testament times (see Numbers 15:37, Deut 22:12, etc).  So, the thing this woman actually touched was one of the tassels.

Matthew 9:21 – for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be made well."                                                                                                                

Some scholars are of the opinion that her faith was great because she believed Jesus to have such an overflowing fullness of healing virtue, that the very touch of his garment would cure her.  Other scholars are of the opinion that her faith was small, because although she believed in the power to heal, she shrank away from Jesus, fearful that he would reject her.

You see, it does not matter how much faith you started out with.  The centurion, the Jewish ruler and the woman with the issue of blood all had varying levels of faith, but Jesus responded positively to each one of them.

Think about it - he didn't stop and pull out a special thermometer to measure their faith index.  He didn't compare the amount of faith they brought with the miracle they needed to see if they could pay the price.  Instead, he stooped down and met each one of them at whatever level of faith they were on.  He then increased their faith by answering their prayers.

Are you ready for the best part – you also have a measure of faith!

Romans 12:3 - ...God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.                                                                                                                                                         

That's right – you too have what it takes to approach God in faith and receive a miracle.

Let's consider an example.  Suppose you are applying for a job that you are well qualified for, but there are 49 other applicants for this one position.  One option is to give up and not even apply.  Another option is use your faith.

Pray about the situation.  Tell God that you are going to put your best foot forward and ask him to give you favor.  Then, take a step of faith and apply!  Go to the interview in a spirit of faith and watch what God will do!

Matthew 9:22 – Jesus turned, and seeing her said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well."  And instantly the woman was made well.           

Jesus silenced her fears, granted her request, commended her use of faith and sent her away in peace, all because of her faith.

Why do you think God preserved this woman's testimony in the scriptures?  I believe it is an open invitation for us to approach him in faith just as she did.  I believe God still honors faith today.

If you take a minute to think about it, you will discover that faith is astonishing.  There is nothing else like it in the universe.  It is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.  You can never use it up; as you use it, it actually increases and multiplies.

Why not use your faith today?

Matthew 9:23-24 – and when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping."  And they laughed at him.

After healing the woman, Jesus continues until he reaches the ruler's house.  When they arrive, they find music and a crowd making a 'commotion'.  While it sounds weird to us, it was perfectly normal in that culture.

So, there was nothing unusual happening when Jesus arrived at Jairus' house to find flutes playing and a crowd making a commotion.

The unusual part was when Jesus declared in front of the crowd that the girl was not dead, but sleeping.

When the crowd heard that, they mocked him, because they knew for sure that girl was dead!  So what did Jesus mean when he used the term 'sleeping'?  'Sleeping' is used many times in scripture to refer to the death of our flesh [see 2 Peter 3:4, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15, Acts 7:60, etc].

As you may recall, there was a subset of Jews called the Sadducees.  They did not believe in the resurrection.  They thought that once a person died, they ceased to exist.  It is likely that Jairus, his family and his friends were Sadducees.

When Jesus says the girl is 'sleeping', he is declaring that she has NOT ceased to exist.  He affirms that her body is dead but also teaches that her spirit was still alive and that she would one day be raised up again.

Matthew 9:25-26 – But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.  And the report of this went through all that district.

Again, Jesus was teaching that we do not cease to exist when our body dies.  Our spirits still live while the body waits for resurrection from the dead.  Now, if Jesus was going to completely tear down and destroy the belief that life ceased to exist at death, then he needed to prove that with signs and wonders.  Otherwise, who would believe him?

The only acceptable proof in this case was for the girl to be raised to life, so that is exactly what Jesus did.  Her resurrection not only demonstrated the truth of his teaching, it proved that Jesus alone had power over death.

Consequently, the crowd at Jairus' house became a cloud of reliable, unbiased witnesses to the power of Jesus to resurrect the dead.  Nothing like this had ever happened before, and they spread the truth of this message far and wide.

Let me give you some encouragement:

Jesus can resurrect more than just dead bodies.  He can bring marriages back to life.  He can bring newness to your finances.  He can restore what addiction has taken.  He can breathe new life into your ministry.  Anything that can die, can be brought back to life by the power of Jesus!  I encourage you to seek him today for the resurrection of what you have lost.

Let me give you some relief:

There are some people who say that they are not worthy to receive a miracle from God.  How utterly ridiculous!!  If you are a child of God then you are a co-heir with Jesus and God is ready and willing to give you all you could ask or think!  So give yourself a break. Get rid of your negative 'unworthy' guilt feelings and start seeing yourself as God sees you – as his beloved son or daughter that he cannot wait to bless.

Let me give you some strength:

Sometimes our situations look overwhelming.  We all reach a point where we start to despair because we know we are out of options.  I am sure the woman with the issue of blood felt that way.  I know there are times when I have been in that same place. But when you are at the end of your options, that is when God can come in and begin to move the mountains.  The scripture says:

Matthew 21:21 - Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If you have faith, and doubt not, you shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if you shall say unto this mountain, Be removed, and be cast into the sea; it shall be done.

So don't give up!  When you combine your faith with action and offer them up to God, he will move on your behalf!

 

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Hello!� If you are a regular follower of this bible study, you were no doubt expecting a lesson on the second half of Matthew chapter 12.� However, in light of the upheaval we are currently experiencing, I wanted to take this opportunity to give us all something to think about.� We will get back to Matthew next week.

Unless you are living off the grid right now, you have no doubt heard about the Coronavirus, aka, Covid 19.� This strain of the flu is quickly spreading around the world; it has the potential to cause death in the elderly, the young, and people with other serious health concerns.

Since there is currently no cure, the best recourse is to avoid getting the virus in the first place!� The best way to do that is to avoid contact with other people.�

Sporting events, entertainment venues, restaurants and even churches have temporarily closed their doors.� Nursing homes are on lock down.� Traveling has been curtailed or banned altogether in some places.� All these cancellations have resulted in a disruption of the economy.

All of this is happening before our very eyes – literally.� We live in an age where information, pictures and opinions are thrust in front of our faces within seconds of an incident occurring.� The pandemic and its ripple effects are being broadcast minute by minute. �The sheer volume of information is overwhelming and much of what is being reported is bad news.

But before you become dismayed, remember this:� most of this information is coming from the world, and thus has the world's perspective on it.� As a Christian, you have a different perspective.� Everything that happens in this world and everything that happens to you must be filtered through God's promises.�

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yea, I will help you; yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

Dismay is defined as 'to disable with alarm or apprehensions; to terrify'. The world is indeed terrified and alarmed.� It should worry about the virus, because mankind has no cure.� Not so for the Christian.� While we can and should be prudent in our actions, we rest in the promise of God that he can either keep us safe from the pandemic, or heal us:

Psalm 91:1, 5-6 - He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty� You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day; nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.

Exodus 15:26 - �for I am the Lord your healer.

The world says there will not be enough supplies for a quarantine period, so you should rush out to the grocery store to get food and toilet paper.� Have you been to the grocery store recently?� The shelves are quite bare!� Again, while the Christian should be prudent in what they do, they should not worry, for God provides what we cannot provide for ourselves:

Matthew 6:31-32 - Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, How shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.

The world fears what will happen in the unknown future.� They worry about the economy crashing and the loss of jobs and how they are going to make ends meet.� But as Christians, we have the assurance that God has a plan for us:

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

What does all this mean?� Does it imply that you will not get sick or not run out of bread and toilet paper or that you will not suffer any financial loss?�

NO!

It means that whatever happens to you, God will walk through it with you.� It means that your circumstances were approved and allowed by your heavenly Father!�

Isaiah 41:13 - For I the LORD your God will hold your right hand, saying unto you, Fear not; I will help you.

God's number one priority is not for you to be comfortable during your temporary stay here on planet earth.� His priority is to ensure your eternal good; to make you into his image and likeness; to prepare you to rule and reign with Him for eternity!

Revelation 20:6 - Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Here is a truth you need to understand: �

God may completely protect you from anything associated with this virus, or He may allow it to touch you in some way.�

• He may use this virus to create circumstances that will mold you into his image, or draw you closer to him. �
• He may use this virus to create opportunities for you to minister his love to others (the bible says that the world will know us by our love for one another).�
• Perhaps God will use the circumstances of this pandemic to grant you a chance to lift up his name, so that others will come to salvation in Jesus Christ.�
• It is even possible that God will use this illness as the vehicle that transfers you from earth to your heavenly reward. �

No matter what happens, you should take comfort in knowing that God is in control of all your circumstances.� Consider the words of King David:

Psalms 139:16 – Your [God's] eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. �

In other words, God knew the exact number of your days on earth, before you even existed in your mother's womb.� Therefore, He knew you would be alive during the Covid 19 pandemic. Clearly, he has had lots of time to prepare! So know this:� whatever you experience during this pandemic, God is going to use it for your eternal good!

At this point, I hope we have established that we do not need to be afraid, because God is in control.� We can control fear and operate in faith by focusing our minds on God.

Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you.

As you well know, you can focus your mind on God by praise, worship, reading the word, prayer and the encouragement of others.� You know what to do – so just do it!

Now� let's get to the part I want us to consider.� Jesus says that we, the church, are the light of the world.

Matthew 5:14 – You are the light of the world. �

We are priests of the Most High God, called to display the love of God to a lost world.� Therefore, it is time for us to change our perspective.� It's time for us to move from a place of fear to a place of faith. �It is time for us to take our focus off of ourselves, and place it on kingdom business. Instead of reacting to what we see and hear through the media, it's time to become proactive in searching for ways to display the light of Christ to the world around us.�

So, here is the real question facing the church:�

I will share a few ideas with you, but obviously, this is not an exhaustive list.� God may whisper new ideas into your ear.� If so, please share them with the rest of us!

One: �Share your supplies.� The world is hoarding certain commodities.� Let's be different.� Is there someone on your street or in your family that needs a loaf of bread?� Share the bread and gain an opportunity to witness for Christ.� Remember, Jesus not only preached the gospel, he fed and healed people. �

Two:� Offer a service.� Can you cut hair? �All the salons have been closed; if you can give a haircut to someone, you can gain an opportunity to share the gospel.� What service can you offer?

Three:� Be positive.� When those around you are speaking in fear, speak of the peace you have in Jesus.� No amount of money can buy peace.� You can introduce people to Jesus who will give it to them for free!

Four: �Exhibit grace in the midst of adversity.� As we already pointed out, God may allow this pandemic to touch our lives, but we can meet that challenge in a way that lifts Jesus up and honors his name.� When we do so, it draws people to him.�

Five:� Stop the griping and complaining.� Rejoice in the Lord always!� Real joy does not come from circumstances but from Christ living in you.� Start acting like it!

So let me give you some encouragement:� Regardless of what happens to you during this pandemic, you are firmly in the hand of God.� Instead of trying to avoid adversity, turn to the word and prayer to find out what God may be accomplishing in your spiritual life. �Let him show you how to react in a way that will bring him glory. �

Let me give you some relief:� How often have we wished for a chance to get out of the 'rat race' so we could slow our lives down?� How often have we lamented that we don't have more time to become closer to the Lord?� Well, here is your chance!� �Right now, normal activities are temporarily suspended.� Why not use that time to get closer to the Lord?�

Let me give you some strength: This pandemic did not catch God off guard.� He not only knew it would happen, he knew you would be involved in it.� Let's use it for good!� Let's use it to strengthen our relationship with Him.� Let's use it to reach others for the gospel!

If this post has been a strength to you, please share it with someone else!� Post it to your Facebook page for others to see and be encouraged. Write in and share your experiences with us as we navigate this crisis for Christ!

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Matthew 9:1 – And getting into the boat he crossed over and came to his own city.                                                                                                                          

At the close of chapter 8, after Jesus set the demon possessed men free, the people of the town asked him to depart from their city.  What a sad commentary!  In other towns the people flocked to see demonstrations of the power of God.  In this one, they wanted nothing to do with it.  They wanted to remain bound in their sin.  They were satisfied with the status quo.

Revelation 3:20 – Behold, I [Jesus] stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Jesus is knocking on your door right now - will you open to Him or send him away?

Matthew 9:2 –And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed.  And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven."

This passage seems a bit confusing, doesn't it?  There can be no doubt that the man and his friends were looking for physical healing.  So at first glance, Jesus' response to the paralytic seems to be something different than what the man was requesting.  But what He is really doing is using this situation as a teaching moment for mankind.

In this instance, Jesus begins the man's healing by revealing its root cause – sin.  The sorrows and sufferings of human life are the consequence of sin.  People who don't know God often blame him for the suffering they see in the world. But God is not the author of the terrible suffering and injustices we see in this generation. Man brought these situations on himself when he rejected God and allowed Satan to have spiritual authority over the world.

When Jesus came to earth, he came to destroy Satan's hold on mankind by providing atonement for sin.  Because of his death and resurrection, we are reunited to God and the works of the devil, such as sickness and disease, can be destroyed.

1 John 3:8 -  For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Jesus used this man's healing to reveal a spiritual principle to us:  Because sin is the root cause of all evil, our first step towards relief is to restore our relationship to God by asking Him to forgive our sins.   We must be in right relationship to God before we can seek relief from the bondages of Satan.  Once we are a child of God, we have the right to ask our Father to intervene in our lives and destroy/remove the effects of sin which include sickness and disease.  This is a lesson the world does not understand.

The paralytic and his friends demonstrate a second spiritual principle for us:  Faith and works go hand in hand.  Both are required to see a miracle.

The men had faith to believe that Jesus could heal, but faith is only part of the key to unlocking a miracle.  You also need action.

James 2:17 – So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

What action did they take?  They packed up their friend, left home, and went to find Jesus.  They could have given up when the saw how big the crowd was, but they didn't.  Instead, they took their friend to the roof and lowered him down in front of Jesus (see Mark 2:3-12 and Luke 5:18-26).  Their faith and actions worked together to ignite the miracle.

Look at other miracles from the Bible and you will clearly see this principle:

Assuming that faith was present, what action did the people take when Lazarus was raised from the dead?  They rolled the stone away from his tomb, even though logic told them his body was already rotting.

Assuming faith was present, how did Naamen get healed of his leprosy?  He had to physically go and dip himself 7 times in the Jordan.

Take a moment to recall some of your own spiritual experiences.  Start with your own salvation.  Remember when you felt the powerful draw and conviction of the Holy Spirit?  Isn't it true that you took some action to receive Jesus?  It might have been raising your hand in a church service, or standing to your feet to show your commitment, or praying with an evangelist who was giving an altar call on TV.

Whatever the situation, it was your faith mixed with action that produced the miracle of your salvation.  What other examples can you give?

Matthew 9:3 - And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming."

One of the definitions of blasphemy is the application of divine attributes and prerogatives to anyone other than God. (This was the basis for most of the charges of blasphemy that the Jews brought against Jesus).

For example, the Jews correctly believed that only God could grant people eternal life.  So in John 10:28-33, when Jesus tells the Jews that he will give his sheep eternal life, he was revealing himself as the Son of God.  Since the Jews believed he was just a man, they accused him of blasphemy.

The Jews also correctly believed that only God can forgive sins.  So in our current study, when Jesus forgave the sins of the paralytic man, he was in essence saying he was God.  Since the Jews completely rejected the idea that he was God in any way, shape or form, they once again accused him of blasphemy.

Incidentally, according to Old Testament law, the punishment for blasphemy was death (see Leviticus 24:16).  This is the law the Jews referred to when Jesus was before Pilate:

John 19:7 - The Jews answered him [Pilate], 'We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God'.

Essentially, it was the charge of blasphemy that the Jews stood upon to have Jesus crucified.

Matthew 9:4 - But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?"

In order to know a man's thoughts, you would need the ability to search his heart.  These are things that only God has the power to do.  So simply by asking this question, Jesus once again reveals to the Jewish leaders that he is indeed the Son of God.  This second revelation of his person seems to have completely gone over their heads.

The Jews had already made up their minds about who the Messiah should be and how he should act.  Since Jesus did not fit their preconceived ideas, they rejected him despite all the evidence he presented to them, which proved that he was God.

What about you and me?  Do we have preconceived ideas about how God should act or move in our midst?  If the Holy Spirit moves in a way that is new to us, will we embrace His divinity and yield to him?  Or will we be modern day Pharisees and reject him despite the evidence that He loves us and wants to do a good work in our lives?

Matthew 9:5 – "For which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven', or to say 'Rise and walk'"?

Jesus' authority in the physical realm demonstrates or bears witness to his authority in the spiritual realm.  Since he is God, it is equally simple to forgive sin and to heal.

Matthew 9:6-7 – "But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" – he then said to the paralytic – "Rise, pick up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home.

As we look at this encounter between Jesus, the paralytic and the religious leaders, it is easy to perceive that there is more going on than just a physical healing.

Why did Jesus heal the paralytic in this manner?  Because he wanted to do more than just heal this man's physical ailment.  He wanted to teach us all that the greatest and most amazing miracle is the forgiveness of sins.  It trumps every other miracle.  As amazing as healing is, it only lasts until we die, but forgiveness of sin has eternal ramifications.  It's a miracle that God has prepared for each and every one of us!

Also, keep in mind that restoration of our relationship with God is the first step in breaking all other bondages and attacks of the enemy.

Matthew 9:8 – When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Take another look at the miracle of your salvation.  Then take a few moments this week to give God glory for it!

Matthew 9:9 – As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him.

I don't know about you, but the Internal Revenue Service is not one of my favorite government branches.  However, it is possible to dislike the IRS as a nameless, faceless government entity without attacking anyone who works there on a personal level.

This was not the case back in the time of Matthew.  Back then, the Romans would levy taxes against all people, including the Jews.  But you didn't just send them a check in the mail or give them your debit card.  There were real people who collected the taxes.

So here we find Matthew, the writer of this gospel, being employed as a tax collector.  Now to be fair, he may very well have been an honest one; we don't know.  However, just by being a tax collector, he would have been despised and outcast by his fellow Jews.

The scripture says he was sitting at his tax booth.  This indicates that he was probably located on the road between Damascus and the seaport of Phoenicia.  So in addition to personal taxes, he probably collected custom taxes from imports and exports.

Now let's take a look at the really important part of this verse.  Jesus passes by his tax booth and calls Matthew to follow after him.  So Matthew got up and went.

Did you see the important part?

Matthew did not hesitate; he simply went where he was led.  He did not ask Jesus for all the details about where they were going and what was going to happen.  He didn't tell Jesus that he wanted to think about it first.  He did not stop and call his friends together to discuss it with them.  He didn't worry about what others might think.  He simply got up and followed Jesus.

Sometimes when God calls us to do something, we hesitate.  We want to know how it will work, who will help and where the money will come from.  We want make long term plans and discuss them with other people.  When all the while, Jesus just wants us to step out in faith and follow where he leads.

Oftentimes when we hesitate we suddenly find hundreds of reasons why things won't work out.  We invent many excuses for not doing what Jesus asked us to do.  Soon fear sets in.  Next, we begin to look at how unqualified we are to do the work.  At this point, we talk ourselves out of doing whatever it was.  We question whether we heard God's voice at all!

Know this:  Hesitation is the crack that allows Satan to come in and derail our ministry before it even starts!  Don't give him the chance – when Jesus calls you, remember Matthew and step out immediately!

Matthew 9:10 – And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.

How much time elapses between verses 10 and 11?  While the biblical account appears as though the feast was on the same day that Matthew was called, this is probably not the case.  Then (as now) it took a lot of time and preparation to organize a large successful feast.  It may have been as long as 2-3 months between Matthew's call and his banquet in honor of Jesus.

Interestingly, the word 'sinners' is a generic term used to describe people of ill repute or low moral character; it probably included heathens/Gentiles as well as Jews.  To invite Jewish sinners to this feast was shocking enough for the Pharisees, but to have Gentiles present as well – it was unimaginable!

Matthew 9:11 – And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

To eat and drink with someone implies intimacy with them.  The Pharisees are accusing Jesus of seeking out the company of the wicked.  The inference is that since Jesus is a companion or friend of the wicked, he too was a wicked man and therefore not who he claimed to be.  They believed that Jesus should separate himself from the wicked, not have fellowship with them.

Their accusations were also a sneak attack on the new disciples.  By questioning the motives and actions of their master, the Pharisees were attempting to plant seeds of doubt in the mind of the disciples.  Since the Pharisees could not contradict or defeat Jesus, they may have been seeking to destroy his ministry by turning his disciples against him.

Matthew 9:12 – But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Jesus firmly and immediately put a stop to the Pharisees attempt to discredit him and drive a wedge between him and his disciples.

In the physical realm, a doctor is among sick people not because he himself is sick, but because he is ministering to the sick.  In the spiritual realm, Jesus is among the spiritually sick not because he himself is spiritually sick, but because he is ministering to the spiritually sick.

In fact, this was the supreme reason Jesus came to earth!  He came to rescue us from hell.  He came to take slaves and make them sons and daughters of the kingdom.  He came to take our scarlet sins and make them white as snow.  He came to give us beauty for ashes and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.  He came to bear our shame and reproach, clothing us in his righteousness.  He came to transform us into a new creation; old things having passed away and all things have become new!

Yes, the publicans and sinners at that party were spiritually disgusting, but no more so than you and I and the Pharisees!  All have sinned and come short of the glory of God; thanks be to God that Jesus came to die for the sins of us all!  Unfortunately, the Pharisees were so consumed by pride and hypocrisy they did not recognize that they themselves were also sick!

Matthew 9:13 - Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.'  For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6, a scripture the religious leaders should have been very familiar with.  In this passage God reminds his people that he is more pleased with acts of kindness and benevolence than he is with the outward compliance of religious duty.  Throughout scripture we see that God is always more interested in what is in your heart (including your motivations), than your actions.

True, the Pharisees were outwardly holy/compliant.  They tithed and they fasted and they never missed a religious sacrifice or feast.  But for all that, they were still far from the kingdom of heaven because their hearts were not right before God.  They were full of hypocrisy and pride.  This was evident in their actions; they had no interest in helping other sinners become more righteous, in fact they did all they could to condemn those who were already lost.

Sadly, by thinking themselves already righteous, they did not recognize that they too were in need of Jesus.  So while the sinners they scorned received eternal life, they lost it!  How do we react to the lost?  Do we have compassion for those who need the savior or do we distance ourselves from those who are spiritually sick because we don't want to be associated with them?

Matthew 9:14 – Then the disciples of John came to him saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast but your disciples do not fast?"

At this time, John the Baptist was in prison.  That left his disciples in a state of transition.  Would John be released from prison or should they follow Jesus, whom John himself named as the Messiah?  It is most likely that at this vulnerable time the Pharisees approached the disciples of John in an effort to turn them against Jesus.  They are probably the ones who first approached John's disciples asking why Jesus and his followers did not fast.

Again, they were up to their old tricks – trying to sow seeds of doubt about Jesus into the hearts and minds of those who were truly seeking God.  They were probably attempting to have the disciples of John join their 'side' in their conflict with Jesus.

Matthew 9:15 – And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?  The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast."

Jesus gave an answer that was tailored specifically to John's followers.  It builds on John's words in chapter 3 verse 29:

John 3:28-29 – You yourselves bear me witness, that I [John] said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.'  The one who has the bride is the bridegroom.  The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice.  Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

Jesus is the bridegroom, while the church is his bride.  Since weddings are seasons of rejoicing, those who are with the bridegroom do not fast or mourn; that would be totally inappropriate actions for a wedding.  However, when the bridegroom is absent, then the wedding guests will mourn.

So, since Jesus was with his disciples, it was a period of rejoicing not mourning.  Once Jesus returned to heaven, there would be plenty of occasions for fasting.  Stated another way, the disciples of Jesus were not yet under a dispensation that called for fasting. 

Matthew 9:16 – "No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment and a worse tear is made."

This illustration demonstrates the difference between the Old covenant (the old garment) and the New covenant (the unshrunk cloth).  The Jews were happy with the old garment/covenant because it was familiar and comfortable. In fact, it was all they had known since their nation was formed.  Also, the Jews as a whole were under the false impression that religious life should always manifest itself in precisely the same way in every generation.  As a result, they were reluctant (to say the least) to accept the new and amazing blessings God had in store for them.

But Jesus makes it plain that the two covenants could not be successfully combined.  Therefore, Jews and Gentiles alike needed to accept the new covenant and embrace the new move of God in their generation.

Matthew 9:17 – "Neither is new wine put into old wineskins.  If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed.  But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."

Back in the day, wine containers were made of sheep or goat skins.  When new, they could stretch and expand with the fermentation process of the new wine.  But over time, they would lose this flexibility and become stiffened with age.  If you tried to contain new wine with old wineskins, the disaster would be total – the skins would burst and the wine would be lost. 

In the same way, the old wineskin of Judaism had become hardened and inflexible over time.  It was made even more narrow and stiff by the efforts of the Pharisees and rabbis.  There is no way that Judaism could contain or hold the fresh power of Christianity.  It was not pliable enough to hold unlimited quantities of grace and forgiveness.  It was not flexible enough to contain the power of the Holy Spirit being poured out into every man and woman who wanted it.  Total access to the presence of God by sinful man was enough to shatter it.  Only a new wineskin could hold all that God is doing in the church age!

Let me offer you some encouragement:

God never contradicts his word. That is a fact.  However, that does not mean that he can never move or manifest himself in a new way.  The religious leaders back in Jesus day often missed the move of God because it was not the same as it had been in the past.  Like the healing of the paralytic, they rejected it because it was not what they expected.

Isaiah 43:19 – Behold, I [God] will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?

What about us?  Can we allow the Holy Spirit to move in a new way in our lives and church services?  I encourage you to yield to the move of the Spirit, even if it is new to you.  Release yourself to Him and experience the new things he desires to do for you and through you!

Let me offer you some relief:

God has not changed; He is still in the miracle business.  The healing of the paralytic did not drain all his power! Take a moment right now and remember the miracle of your salvation.  Then consider this:  If God was willing to give up his only Son for you, why would he withhold any other good thing from you?  If he has already given you his best and most precious thing, why would he refuse you something of less value?

Romans 8:32 – He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Psalms 84:11 – For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor.  No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

That thought should really strengthen your faith!  Now take that faith and add some action to it.  Expect God to move in your situation in miraculous ways!

Let me offer you some strength:

Jesus is our bridegroom and he has promised to return to earth and take us to himself.  Sometimes, in the course of life's difficulties and disappointments, we forget this promise.  Sometimes we grow weary in the battle, but right now take a few minutes and strengthen yourself through praise and worship.  You are on the winning side!  One day, God will fulfill all the promises he made; one day he will take us to be with him where there is no more sin, struggle, pain or tears!  Hallelujah!