[:en]SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 9
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick…… For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:12-13)
“According to your faith will it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29)
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:27-28)
JESUS HEALS A PARALYTIC (vs. 1-8)
A paralytic laying on a mat was brought to Jesus by some men. Jesus saw their faith, healed him and forgave his sins. The teachers of the law accused Him of blasphemy.
THE CALLING OF MATTHEW (vs. 9-13)
When Jesus saw Matthew, a tax collector, He told him: “Follow me”. Matthew got up and followed Jesus. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Jesus and His disciples. The Pharisees questioned why Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners. Upon hearing this, Jesus said: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I come not to call the righteous but sinners. (vs. 14-17)
JESUS QUESTIONED ABOUT FASTING (vs. 14-17)
When John’s disciple asked Jesus about fasting, Jesus spoke of cloth and wine. The cloth represents old container of the law. New wine represents the new message of the Gospel, which is grace. To pour new wine into an old cloth is similar to mixing the law with grace. This would certainly cause confusion.
A DEAD GIRL AND A SICK WOMAN (vs. 18-26)
A ruler has a daughter who had just died. He came to Jesus and ask for healing. While Jesus and His disciples were on his way, a woman who had been subject to bleeding touched the edge of His cloak. She believed that by touching His cloak she would be healed. Her faith had really healed her. When Jesus reached the ruler’s home, he said that the gril was not dead but asleep (v. 24). The people laughed at Him. But Jesus went in, took the girl by hand and she got up. (v. 25)
JESUS HEALS THE BLIND AND MUTE (vs. 27-34)
Two blind men asked Jesus to have mercy on them. Jesus touched their eyes and healed them according to their faith. Then, a mute demon-possessed man was brought to Jesus. Jesus drove the demon out and the man could speak. Instead of praising God, the Pharisees said: “It is by the power of demon that He drives out demons” (v. 34)
THE WORKERS ARE FEW (vs. 35-38)
Jesus saw the crowd with compassion because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Christ pictures Himself as a shepherd and a harvester. He encouraged His disciples to be the workers and told them to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field.
LESSONS:
- Jesus healed a paralytic, a sick woman, two blind men, a mute demon-possessed man, and a dead girl. It proves that Jesus has power over sin, over darkness, over demon and over death.
- Jesus is inviting all sinners to come to Him
- Law and the grace of God are incompatible
- Faith is needed to be healed
- We need Jesus as our Shepherd to lead us
- Jesus is calling you to be His workers
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