The Calling of Matthew

Matthew 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. Matthew 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. Matthew 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? Matthew 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Jesus was making his way down the street after healing the man with palsy and came upon a man sitting at the receipt of custom. During this time, the Roman government was in control of the Bible lands and demanded a custom or tax from its citizens. The Roman government would hire natural citizens of the country to collect the custom to make it less egregious for the citizens of Israel. Jesus commanded for Matthew to follow him. Matthew was immediately obedient to the command of Christ. He arose and followed him. Matthew invited Jesus to his home and they went to eat in the home of Matthew. As Jesus partook of the meal that had been provided by Matthew many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. No doubt, these were probably friends of Matthew from his work as a tax collector. The Pharisees, seeing the crowd with which Jesus was associating himself, found occasion to accuse Jesus. The accusation was plain and to the point. "Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?" The religious leaders were concerned that Jesus would surround himself with these sinners. The Pharisees felt that they were better than these sinners. Jesus answered the Pharisees and perfectly explained why he would associate with such as these. "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." Jesus was explaining that he was reaching out to exactly those that needed his help the most. Those that were carrying the burden of their sin around like a heavy weight on their shoulders. Those that were facing eternal damnation if they died in their sinful state. Jesus went to these, because they needed the message of repentance and forgiveness that he had to offer. Have you ever hesitated to take the Gospel message to someone because they seemed socially beneath you, maybe they were dirty or homeless, maybe just intimidating and you refused the nudging of the Holy Spirit to speak to them about their soul? We should never be hesitant to share the Good News of the Gospel with those that we come into contact with, regardless of social status. The message that Jesus offers is a merciful message. It is a message of forgiveness to those that need it most. Jesus explained that he didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Jesus and his disciples were carrying out the mission given to them by God the Father. They were taking the message of salvation to sinners in need of repentance and salvation.

God or Man?

Matthew 9:1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. Matthew 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. Matthew 9:3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. Matthew 9:4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? Matthew 9:5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. Matthew 9:7 And he arose, and departed to his house. Matthew 9:8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. Jesus entered a ship and made his way back to Capernaum. While there, a man sick of palsy, lying on a bed was brought unto Jesus. The Bible tells us that Jesus, "Seeing their faith," healed the man. Jesus responded to those that came to him by faith seeking healing for their friend. Jesus always responds to faith. The Bible declares that, "Without faith, it is impossible to please him." Jesus demands faith and is please when we exercise faith in him. Jesus offered encouragement to the man that had been sick of palsy by commanding him to be of good cheer. Jesus declared the man's sin forgiven. The man had an abundance of reasons to be of good cheer. He had been healed spiritually and was getting ready to healed physically! The Scribes standing by took great offense at Jesus' declaration to the man that his sins were forgiven. They accused Jesus of blasphemy! Jesus demonstrated his power and his identity by healing the man with palsy. We need to understand that the miracles that Christ performed during his earthly ministry were an authentication of Christ's identity and confirmation of his ministry. These supernatural miracles were God the Father's stamp of approval on Jesus, revealing him as the God-man. Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. The multitudes that saw this miracle reacted in a different fashion than the religious leaders. The multitudes marvelled and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. They understood that Jesus was more than just man. A simple man couldn't do this amazing miracle that they had just witnessed Jesus performing. They realized that Jesus was the Son of God, and God himself in human flesh. How about you, what do you think of Jesus? Do you agree with the Scribes, they thought Jesus was simply a man or do you agree with the multitudes that saw Jesus as the Son of Man, that had come to take away the sins of the whole world? Your eternal destiny rides on this question!

Jesus and the Devils

Matthew 8:28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. Matthew 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? Matthew 8:30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. Matthew 8:31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. Matthew 8:32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. Matthew 8:33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. Matthew 8:34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts. This passage of Scripture falls directly on the tail end of our previous blog post. Jesus had rescued his disciples on the Sea of Galilee by speaking to the storm and causing peace to ensue. As the ship reached the other side of the Sea of Galilee, the disciples were going to be astonished once again at the power of Jesus Christ. When the ship reached the land of the Gadarenes. Gadara was one of ten cities that made up the Decapolis. When Jesus and the disciples arrived at the land two men, possessed with devils, came out of the tombs to meet them. The Bible declares that these two men were inhabited with demonic spirits. The demonic spirits that inhabited these men made them exceedingly fierce. So much so, that people were afraid to pass by the tombs. It's interesting to notice that the demons in these men instantly recognized Jesus Christ as the Son of God. They recognized that they were face to face with God. The question the demons asked Jesus reveals to us that the demons knew that their ultimate end was punishment by God. They understood that Jesus would carry out that punishment one day. John 5:22 "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:" The devils wanted to negotiate with Jesus revealing their desire to inhabit the bodies of the living. These demonic spirits didn't want to be disembodied, they wanted to dwell in living creatures. This should reveal something of their nature to us today. Jesus gave them their wish and caused them to leave the men and go into the herd of swine feeding on the hillside. The demonic spirits thought they had earned a victory, but the herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea and perished. The demonic spirits were ultimately disembodied as the pigs perished. The keepers of the swine fled into the city and told everything that had happened. The people of the city got scared and actually asked Jesus to depart out of their coasts. This passage of the Scripture teaches us that Jesus not only has command of the wind and waves, but also over demonic spirits, (devils). Jesus will ultimately judge them all as they are cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity. Are you being oppressed by demonic forces in your life today? Jesus has the power to help. Call on his name in prayer and allow him to help. He stands willing and ready!

Captain of the Storm

Matthew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. Matthew 8:24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. Matthew 8:25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! Jesus had been ministering in Capernaum and had just healed the servant of the centurion. A scribe had came to Jesus and asked to be a follower of Jesus. Jesus explained the cost of being a follower. It wasn't fame and notoriety, it was a wanderer's existence. Jesus had explained to the scribe that he didn't even have a place to lay his head. Jesus' concern wasn't on material things, but on eternal things! The scribe apparently wasn't willing to pay the price to follow Jesus. After Jesus' encounter with the scribe, Jesus and his disciples entered into a ship on the Sea of Galilee. The boat started its journey across the sea, but it encountered a great tempest. The skies darkened and the winds began to increase as the storm soon engulfed the boat. The disciples became fearful as the boat filled with water. The bible reveals that Jesus was fast asleep in the ship. The disciples fearful for their lives came to the conclusion that they needed to wake Jesus. Jesus' response to the disciples was worth noting. "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" Jesus' question to the disciples echoes through time to us today as we face storms in our lives. Why are we fearful? If God is our heavenly Father, what do we really have to be fearful about? Is he not the creator of the universe and everything we see around us? Jesus' second statement should chill our heart, "O ye of little faith." When God looks at our human frailty, does he see fear or faith? When we really get a handle on who our God is, we can conquer the fear that we face and allow our faith to grow and increase as we watch our powerful God work on our behalf. Jesus arose from his sleep and he rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. The disciples marvelled at his power! Sometimes we just need a reminder of who our God is, and the power that he has available to rescue us in time of need! Are you in trouble today? Jesus stands willing to rescue you if you call upon him!

A Centurion's Faith

Matthew 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. Matthew 8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus had made his way into Capernaum and his fame had gone throughout the region. A centurion came to meet Jesus with a request. He had heard that this Jesus was able to heal the sick. This centurion had a sick servant at home in need of healing. The centurion was a military captain commanding probably around 100 men. He understood how authority worked. He had a firm grasp on the chain of command. When the centurion issued orders to men under his command, he expected those orders to be carried out. When the centurion gave orders to his servants, he expected his servants to obey unquestioningly. The centurion called Jesus, "Lord." He understood that Jesus was his superior. He understood his position in comparison to Jesus. The centurion declared himself unworthy to have Jesus come under his roof. His request was what drew Jesus' attention. He asked Jesus to, "Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed." Jesus marvelled at the faith of the centurion. We must remember that this centurion was a Gentile. He wasn't a Jew or a "Child of the Kingdom." The centurion simply believed that Jesus had the power to speak the word and heal his servant. Jesus used the centurion's faith to point out a scriptural truth in verse 11. The truth was the inclusion of the Gentiles in the reception of the Gospel message by faith. Verse 11 reveals to us that the Gentiles will one day sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. That should be wonderful news to us as Gentile believers today. Another sad truth is revealed to us in verse 12. Some of the children of the kingdom, the Jews to whom the Gospel message was first committed, will end up being cast out into outer darkness because of their unbelief. God the Father has given us all the Gospel message regardless of our race. All we have to do is repent and believe and we can sit down with Jewish and Gentile believers one day in Heaven.