Jesus Eats With Sinners

Called By Grace: The Power of Jesus' Invitation.

First, Jesus Heals a Leper

1. The courage to approach

Matthew 8:1 ESV

When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.

Matthew 8:2 ESV

And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

2. His compassionate touch

Matthew 8:3 ESV

And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Matthew 8:4 ESV

And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

Second, Jesus heals the paralytic

3. Persistent Faith Perseveres

Matthew 9:1 ESV

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

Matthew 9:2 ESV

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.”

Matthew 9:3 ESV

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

4. Proven Authority Amazes

Matthew 9:4 ESV

But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?

Matthew 9:5 ESV

For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

Matthew 9:6 ESV

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.”

Matthew 9:7 ESV

And he rose and went home.

Matthew 9:8 ESV

When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Finally, Finding the Breadth of Jesus’ Grace

5. Matthew's Miraculous Moment

Matthew 9:9 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.

Matthew 9:10 ESV

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.

6. Pharisees' Faulty Focus

Matthew 9:11 ESV

And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Matthew 9:12 ESV

But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Matthew 9:13 ESV

Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”