Jesus Forgives Sins and Eats With Sinners Matthew 9:1-13
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“Take Up Your Mat”
Matthew 9:5-6
“Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
The Calling of Matthew
9:9–13pp—Mk 2:14–17; Lk 5:27–32
9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ v For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:1–13
Intro:
“He Bore Our Infirmities” The Greatest Is Sin
“Can I Finish My Nap” Bring Your Weakness to Him in Faith
Might Have to Accept a Rebuke
He Is Here to Save and to Change You
Geographic Transitions Lead to Topic Transitions
but still related
- “Your Sins Are Forgiven” – Matthew 9:1-2
“Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
- His own town – He didn’t always get respect there
- Brought the paralyzed man lying on a mat
- The men had faith
- The paralytic had faith
- Some people come throughout scripture and life without faith, but simply hope for deliverance
- When Jesus saw their faith
- Take heart: like other phrases – lift up your countenance, be glad
- Your sins are forgiven
- Blasphemy! – Matthew 9:3[-4]
At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?
- Teachers of the Law: Scribes and Pharisees
- This fellow is blaspheming
- Chose an uncharitable interpretation
- Quick to respond: w/o observing results
- A serious charge … leveled at God in the flesh
- Jesus: Knowing their thoughts
Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your heart?
- Spoke among themselves (cowards in the midst of the crowd)
- In your They were not just exploring the meaning of what Jesus had said. Not just considering according to the reason God had given them
- Jesus notes these thoughts and statements come from an impure heart
- “I Want You To Know” – Matthew 9:5-7
“Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home.”
“Which is Easier to Say?”
- Sin is forgiven
- Get up and walk
- One is the point (sins forgiven because of faith [trust])
- The other is the result (get up and walk. Coming to the savior made them part of the message and the story, His Story)
à>> The point: “But I want you to know”
- The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins
- So, (for this reason) He said
- “Get up. Take your mat and go home”
Just like this man, when Jesus offers forgiveness, He wants you to pick up your mat and go home [PUT IT AWAY]. For him it was the evidence of his paralysis. For you, it will be the things you carry from your past life
Don’t leave it at the church. Don’t leave it with the person you prayed with. He said wall/so, walk [we all have our walking papers. There are things He heals us from that we are to put away]
Hard to Do:
Anger for me: Hard to put it away when I’m cut off in traffic. When someone leaves on their brights,
When people around you don’t respect your faith or the healing you have received from it
- The pharisees didn’t respect the forgiveness offered or the mans part in the story
- There may be people in your life, or even in a church that are like that
- Jesus said pick it up and put it away. You are forgiven
Matthew 9:8
“When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.”
They still didn’t get it [that it was God in the flesh] but they were getting closer and they were far nearer to the kingdom than the Scribes and the Pharisees [The arrogant, the critical spirits, the bully’s of their time]
- “Follow Me” – Mathew 9:9
“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.”
Another location change, this time walking
- Matthew at the tax booth (possibly with others at the docks or a way-point, where commerce was conducted)
- “Follow Me” --- This is the call of Discipleship
- And He got up and followed. The most important response is simple
- Calling All Sinners – Matthew 9:9-11
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Matthew 9:10-11
Jesus had dinner at Matthew’s house
- Many sinners and tax collectors ate with Him and the disciples
- Not just a few. Not just Matthew
The impact radiated out. Those who needed Jesus saw the impact He had on Matthew and they became part of the story
Pharisees asked the disciples:
Why does your teacher……? Not why do you……?
Trying to sow division. Isolate Jesus
- The Doctor Is In – Matthew 9:12-13
“On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ v For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus once again hears them
“it is not the healthy…… [He is the physician}
They esteemed themselves so greatly that He left them with their self-diagnosis [Like that person that is always on WebMD and thinks they know more than the trusted professional] self-deluded
But the sick who need a doctor
“Go and Learn” [a charge to the pharisees; the ones who judge and dismiss others and elevate their part in the story. The ones who think they are the caretakers of righteousness, but cant even evaluate and tend their own hearts]
“I desire mercy, not sacrifice” OT reference
Their offering, self-reliance, legalism, etc. was no good
They did not have mercy in their hearts (they understood nothing when it comes to the spirit of God and the nature of the Kingdom)
“I have not come to call the righteous [self-righteous] but, sinners”
Our task
- Come to Him knowing we are sinners
- Accept rebuke when it is given
- Carry mercy in our hearts
- Pick up your mat and put it away. Put away the legacy of your life separate from God
- Remember Jesus has mercy when you fail, and the power to complete what He started
- Remember
