A Study of Matthew: He Knows What You Need

Matthew 9:1–13 ESV

And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 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.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 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. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. 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. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

As we continue our study of the book of Matthew, we pick up from where our story last week. If you remember, Jesus and his disciples had sailed across the Sea of Galilee to get away from the crazy super fans that were following him. His disciples had already seen Jesus do crazy things. First, he teaches with an authority that none of the religious leaders possess. Next, he demonstrates authority over disease. He even has authority to heal someone who is miles away.

Once they are in the boat, Jesus shows that he even has authority over nature when he commands a storm to stop. Jesus and the disciples safely arrive in the country of the Gadarenes, where he demonstrates authority over a legion of demons.

Unfortunately, the locals are like, “Thanks for helping out those two demon-possessed guys, but you kind of ruined our pork business, so we’d rather you found somewhere else to be.” So Jesus and the disciples return home.

Matthew 9:1–2 ESV

And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 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.”

Here we see Jesus do something different. People bring this paralyzed man to Jesus, and he doesn’t heal him right away. Instead, what does he do? Jesus tells the man, “Take heart my son, your sins are forgiven.”

Matthew 9:3 ESV

And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”

Why are they accusing Jesus of blasphemy? It goes back to the issue of authority. Jesus, by the very fact of what he just told that man, is saying that he has the authority to forgive sin.

Matthew 9:4–8 ESV

But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 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. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

The people were freaking out, because while they had been looking for the Messiah to come along and be their new king, they weren’t expecting someone with THIS kind of authority.

And if Jesus really has this kind of authority, why does he do the things he does? What I mean is, someone with that kind of power is usually seen making his way to the royal courts or to the temple to claim his place as the new ruler.

Instead, we see Jesus hanging around with common people. And not just common people, he’s hanging out with the rejects and outcasts. I mean, in chapter 8, he was touching a leper, offering to go to the Roman soldier’s house to heal a slave, healing some woman’s fever. He delivered two foreigners from demon possession.

Now he just met a paralyzed man and told him that his sins against God were forgiven.

And the next thing we see him do is invite a social outcast and traitor to the Jewish people to be a disciple. Don’t you love how matter of fact Matthew is about this? He’s writing his own story now, and he keeps it simple.

Matthew 9:9–13 ESV

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. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew immediately accepts Jesus’ invitation and follows him home. Several of Matthew’s business buddies are curious about what is going on, so they follow. Soon, they are having a dinner party—the Messiah, his disciples, and a bunch of notoriously bad people.

Why? That’s the question the religious leaders were asking too. Of course, they weren’t just confused; they were outraged that Jesus would be publically associated with such social outcasts. I mean, they didn’t actually ask Jesus why he was associating with “sinners”; they asked the disciples. They weren’t trying to learn something from Jesus. They were accusing him of something negative.

But even so, the question still remains: why would Jesus do what he’s been doing? He answers that question. Those who are sick need a physician. He came to bring healing to the sick, freedom to the oppressed, and mercy to the sinners.

That’s why, when the paralyzed man showed up, Jesus didn’t immediately say, “take up your bed and walk.” Would the man like to walk? Absolutely. But what do you think the man really was seeking from Jesus? I believe it’s what Jesus first said to him: “Take heart, my son, your sins are forgiven.” I believe that, as much as that man wanted to walk, he wanted even more to know that God had not turned his back on him. I believe that, if Jesus had never gotten around to healing his legs, that man would have left content.

In the same way, when he was walking past Matthew at the tax booth, Jesus knew how trapped Matthew felt by his past decisions. With the simple phrase, “Follow me,” Jesus let Matthew know that his past did not have to define him.

Psalm 103:1–5 ESV

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

This passage is not a promise to get whatever you want. There are so many times I have gone to God with prayer requests for things I thought I needed; it turns out, they were really only wants, not needs.

But do you see how everything we have seen Jesus do so far in the book of Matthew runs parallel with the Psalm we just read? He forgave the paralytic’s iniquity. He healed everyone who came to him. He redeemed the demon-possessed men. He showed mercy to the tax collectors and sinners, and he made them the honored guests at his table. But I want to take this one step further, because Jesus didn’t just do miracles. He saw their need, and he met it in ways they weren’t expecting.

When the leper came to Jesus in chapter 8, he wanted to be healed, but he NEEDED to be touched, to have that simple human contact we all take for granted. When the Roman soldier came, he wanted his servant to be healed, but he NEEDED to know that this Jewish holy man was more than willing to go home with him. Peter’s mother-in-law appreciated the healing, but how much did it mean that Jesus cared enough to tend to her in her own household? The paralytic wanted to walk, but he NEEDED to know he was forgiven. And I don’t know if Matthew even knew what he wanted—maybe to find out what the big deal about Jesus was all about—but he NEEDED to know that this holy man, who could do all these amazing things, had a place for him.

Today, Jesus knows exactly what it is that you need. And whatever it is, no matter how impossible it may seem, or how insignificant others might think it is, Jesus wants to meet your need. He may choose to meet it instantly, in miraculous fashion, or he may choose to work through a course of events as part of a process. And, who knows, he might just be putting you on a journey so that you can be the means to meet someone else’s need.

But in order to receive whatever it is that Jesus wants to provide us, we have to trust him. Like I said, I can be so convinced of what I think I need, but it could actually be the worst thing for me. Sometimes, God has to take us through some rough patches so that we can be ready to appreciate the good thing he is bringing us. So we have to be willing to let go of our preconceived notions of what we need, and just give God the space and permission to provide what we need and to do what is best for us.

Father, you know me better than I know myself. You are the one who created me. You designed me. You gave me the skills and talents I possess. You birthed certain interests in my heart. Through all these things, you have led me to where I am today. So Father, I trust that you, who knows me better than I know myself, know what I need better than I do. And, Father, I trust you to provide all that I need. I put my life in your hands. Direct me where you want me to go. Use me however you want to use me. And I pray that you will allow me to be a vessel blessing to someone else, so that they can know you and receive from you everything they need.