Authority in Action
Matthew: God's Promises Fulfilled • Sermon • Submitted
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A transition:
A transition:
We are switching gears so to speak here, from the sermon on the mount--and the direct teaching of Jesus, to the narrative of Jesus’ life and public ministry after that point. I want to begin by highlighting a specific word from the previous passage: The people who heard him were amazed… I even asked you a little rhetorical question at the end of the message last week— are you still amazed by Jesus?
Matthew 7:29 (NIV)
29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
“Exousia”- Authority, dominion, power, right
Matthew 28:18 (NIV)
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
What follows here in the Gospel storyline isn’t necessarily a day by day chronicle of the life— but rather a detailed account of several highlighted moments. Matthew seems to group stories and sayings of Jesus into some categories.
The four gospel accounts are unique in that they have specific perspectives on Jesus— they are four accounts, but one Lord! They are not identical, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t true— this can actually work to strengthen the authenticity of all of them.
Remember the ultimate aim of Matthew here: As scholars and those who have studied this for longer than us--
Matthew is describing and detailing Jesus as Messiah. Jesus is the promised King! He is himself a Jewish person, and he is primarily writing to help Jewish people realize who Jesus really is.
He’s established Jesus as Messiah already in a several ways: Paternity, Prophecy, Preparation, Pedagogy, and Power
Paternity:
He is the King by bloodline from King David himself.
The genealogy and family line helped outline that.
Prophecy:
All the OT predictions/prophecies were fulfilled in Him.
Preparation:
His baptism, temptation, all contributed to His God-ordained readiness
Pedagogy: (Teaching)
The sermon was that proof.
Jesus is the new Moses, teaching a new kingdom, a new identity as citizens of this new kingdom.
The sermon on the mount outlines those powerful principles.
Power:
-Chapter 8 begins a section of the book where we will see evidence that Jesus is the King, with power over everything.
He’s about to prove it!
In chapters 8-9 there are a listing of 10 signs, 10 miracles. Nick Hershberger and I have the task to cover these in the next three weeks.
Jesus is the KING!
Paternity=His family line
Prophecy=OT fulfilled
Preparation=Baptism, Temptation
Pedagogy (Teaching)= Sermon on the mount
Power=Authority in Action
Matthew has outlined his Identity, his Principles, and now he’s about to describe his Authority.
From Unclean to Whole:
The healing of a man with leprosy. (v.1-4)
1 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him.
2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.
4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
One of the most debilitating and tragic diseases of the biblical time, is leprosy.
A leper was a person who had a skin disease that was very contagious. It was considered “unclean” or not pure in the Jewish culture. It was a degenerative disease that was, at that time, incurable. In those days if you had any indication of a skin problem, you presented yourself to the priest— and they would examine you to decide. As a result of a positive identification, they were quarantined away from others.
Sometimes it was called a “living death” due to the loneliness, as well as the
Today it’s called Hansen’s disease. In 1981 a combination of antibiotic and steroid treatment cleared the disease, so we don’t deal with it now. Even if you’re checking out these itchy spots on your arm right now— trust me, it’s not leprosy.
There was a stigma surrounding this person. He was actually required to announce to others that they were coming.
There was often a common misunderstanding also— Most people believed that people who got leprosy were stricken by God because of their sin. We know now that this just isn’t the case at all— but I want you to know that leprosy can serve as a pretty good metaphor, an object lesson for our sin.
Leprosy is a picture of our sin nature.
Leprosy is a picture of our sin nature.
It is often spoken of if the bible— and every time it’s mentioned and healed— it’s recorded that the leprosy was “cleansed”— not cured, or healed. The guy here even says, “lord if you are willing, you can make me clean”.
It is a very good word picture, describing the state of our hearts when we are in sin— We need to be cleansed.
The only major flaw in my analogy is that leprosy is something that you would catch, or acquire— our sinful nature is inherited. Leprosy was something you contracted like a cold or the flu— we have never not known our sinfulness!
Our sin, like leprosy, is progressive.
It’s going to get worse and worse.
14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Leprosy was like that too— if you don’t get something for it early, it’s going to kill you.
Sin often is progressive. Like something starts relatively small— and often we need something more and more powerful to give us a thrill.
Our sin, like leprosy, is desensitizing.
Leprosy would attack the nerves and you would lose your feeling or sensitivity. You wouldn’t know if something was too hot, or you wouldn’t feel how cold it is. People would then injure themselves and may not even know it— then they might get an infection, and then they are in big trouble.
Your sin will do that to you also— the things that convicted you before— now aren’t such a big deal. many times our language can be like this— if you are around people who use crude or callous words— you get used to it— maybe you even begin to talk like that too. If you are listening to music or play video games that are more worldly— or watching movies that have lots of violence or sexual types of themes, you may begin to just take these things for granted. I’m not trying to direct you specifically here— my intent is just to point out that this progressive desensitizing affect of sin is real.
Our sin, like leprosy, is isolating.
Leprosy caused you to immediately be isolated to either a place by yourself— or you might be placed in a colony. Sin also has this isolating effect also. We may retreat from our family, our loved ones, even our spouse, our church family— and at best we may start hanging more with the people who are struggling the same way as us. I think of the tragic stories we know are happening everyday with drug addiction, gambling, or homelessness that occurs when people are tempted, dragged away, and even destroyed by their sin. Leprosy back in Jesus’ time, like our sin today, can leave you destitute and alone.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
Our sin, like leprosy, is fatal (without God).
I think it is very notable that the very first incident that Matthew is describing— this first miracle:
Jesus does something that no one else would do— Touch a person with leprosy, he is a personal, tender, and compassionate shepherd. He touches us also. He comforts us.
Jesus did something startling and wonderful at the same time. Jesus reached out and touched him! Stop there and reflect on this! Jesus touched the man who was untouchable. We cannot begin to comprehend how compelling that touch was to that man. Someone saw him . . . not as plague or as someone who was diseased. He saw him as a human being. And I believe that if Jesus had not healed that man in that moment, it would have still been a moment that changed the man’s life.
Jesus does what Judaism could never do— Heal a man with leprosy, and forgive a person - save someone from their sin.
Jesus instructs this man to present himself to the priest— This was the authority of the day to declare this man “clean”. We all would have loved to see the look on that priest’s face--- The fulfilment of “the law” is actually the climax of this interaction. Could this man really be the fulfillment of the Jewish faith? He is greater than Moses—but he didn’t come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, he came as the literal fulfilment of them— and he enables you and me to fulfill them also!
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
Jesus’ ministry was primarily to the Jews first, the insiders— but this story is also a unique “first”— it’s a situation where the faith of a person who is not Jewish (is an outsider) is not only honored, but also celebrated by Jesus!— and it lays the groundwork for the entire Gospel narrative:
Healing for the Gentiles:
The faith of the centurion (v. 5-13)
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.
Centurion is a Roman official, a military officer, typically in charge over 100 soldiers. These people were usually not liked, and often feared by the Jews. But this one seems to be different— Luke records this same story in chapter 7, and this centurion is spoken of highly:
4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”
He explains his situation, the ill servant, probably one of his soldiers, or even a servant in his household.
6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
Culturally, it would have been very rare that a Jewish rabbi or teacher like Jesus would ever go to the house of a Gentile— especially a Roman military officer. Now this man, instead of saying— “yes, let’s go now”, he expresses his understanding of who Jesus is, and his own understanding of what true authority really looks like:
The centurion has a dire situation, and approaches Jesus.
The centurion expresses that he understands Jesus has authority.
8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
He goes on to explain that he himself is a man under authority— and also a man who has authority— “I say to a man go and he goes, I say to a man come and he comes...”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
The centurion displays amazing faith, and asks Jesus to speak the word of healing.
Now anything that amazes Jesus is something we should pay attention to right? He was amazed. kind of like the people who listened to his teaching— they were amazed! (7:29)
6 He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.
What was it that this man said that was so amazing to Jesus?
A simple and yet profound faith.
He uses this opportunity to chastise the “insiders” with the example of faith from the “outsider”.
This gentile possesses the faith that Abraham had when he left everything to follow God.
Faith that Isaac had to carry the wood for his own apparent sacrifice.
Faith that Jacob had on that riverside, wrestling with God for a blessing.
Faith that Shadrach, Meshack and Abendego had when Nebuchadnezzar throws them into that fiery furnace.
Faith that David had when he stepped forward to fight Goliath.
Faith that Gideon had when he led just 400 men to fight the Midionites
Faith that Esther had to approach the mighty King Xerxes with her request.
Faith that Elijah had when he calls down fire upon that water soaked alter in front of all those prophets of Baal.
Faith that Jeremiah had to preach and proclaim the truth to people who just wouldn’t listen
Faith that you and I need to have today— a knowledge of ourselves, and a knowledge of Jesus. An awareness of our need, and a faith in his plan and authority.
He is amazed by this faith:
11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
It’s about faith!
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
What was the distinguishing factor these people displayed?
They acknowledge their need.
They acknowledge Jesus’ power.
They displayed faith to accept whatever Jesus decided to do.
Jesus displays authority— for three types of people here that are unlikely:
A leper, a gentile, and a woman!
Read Matthew 8:14
14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever.
Take a look at the response that this woman gives Jesus!
15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
The ESV version of this passage says— she began to serve him— like showing him hospitality.
These stories raise some questions:
“Do you believe that Jesus has authority and power over whatever it is that you face?”
“Are you willing to submit to His authority, His timing, and His wisdom?”
“Will you trust Him whether or not He responds as you want Him to respond?”
“What will you do, if you received the healing you needed?”
This is real faith. It is not a matter of getting what we want; it is about trusting Him to give us what we need.
He is emphasizing that belief (faith) is the vital factor— not who you are, where you come from, what you suffer from— none of that matters in the face of Jesus’ authority!
16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
Dr. James Montgomery Boice was a well respected scholar and bible teacher. he served as the senior pastor of the 10th Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia from 1968 until his death. Wendy and I had the opportunity to sit under his teaching for a one week period while we were in college. In the spring of 2000, Dr. Boice was diagnosed with cancer. He passed away after a short time— but while he was in treatment, he wrote a powerful letter to his congregation:
“Above all, I would say pray for the glory of God. If you think of God glorifying himself in history and you say, where in all of history has God most glorified himself? He did it at the cross of Jesus Christ, and it wasn't by delivering Jesus from the cross, though he could have.”
“God is in charge. When things like this come into our lives, they are not accidental. It's not as if God somehow forgot what was going on, and something bad slipped by. God is not only the one who is in charge; God is also good. Everything he does is good.”
Dr. James Montgomery Boice, Pastor and Theologian
Many of you are facing health struggles that are very real— some of you are facing mental and perhaps emotional hurts and challenges that are debilitating.
We do have a great God. He is a good good Father—
If you have a need, (we all do by the way!) remember what these stories teach us:
-Acknowledge your own need
-Acknowledge Jesus’ authority
-Ask him, with sincerity, and trust him to do whats best.
It is indeed scary— but it’s not complicated.