Jesus the Forgiver: Compassionate for the Sinner (Matthew 9.1-13)

JESUS THE FORGIVER: COMPASSIONATE FOR THE SINNER) Matthew 9:1-13 – MHAFB, 3 Feb 19 Series: Life of Jesus Topics: Life of Jesus; Authority; Compassion; Sin; Faith; Forgiveness ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Opening of Worship Verse: Micah 7:18–20 or Psalm 32:1–5 Introduction 1. Attention: a. Let’s see how many of you may have heard or used a phrase like what my father occasionally used when his children asked for something… i. What’s the “magic word?” Please! b. This was a little method my parents used to help teach us proper courtesy of course, i. But it brings to mind something bigger… c. Sometimes there are good things that are for us, but they are things that we cannot receive unless we go about it the right way (could be words, attitudes, actions, etc.); for example… i. How do you get your tax returns? You mean I can’t just go pick up the money from any bank? They’re stocked full of money, I’m sure they won’t miss it... ii. How can you get a new car? You mean I can’t just just take any car I see on the street? I mean, come on, I want a new car and there are lots full! iii. How can I get my leave? You mean I can’t just not go to work? They’ll figure it out… right? d. We understand that many good things in life cannot be received unless we go about it the right way. i. Similarly even the Bible shares how various spiritual blessings are offered to us, but only received when we go about it the right way! 2. Slide, Title: Big Picture: Today we are considering “Jesus the Forgiver” one who is “Compassionate for the Sinner” a. The last several weeks we’ve been considering the different ways that Matthew has portrayed Jesus... i. Jesus the Teacher: Where we learned that Jesus has supreme authority & accuracy in to teach God’s truth ii. Jesus the Healer: Where we learned that Jesus heals with compassion & authority iii. Jesus the Warrior: Where we learned that Jesus exercises complete authority over Satan & demons b. Slide, Thesis: In each of these Matthew has highlighted the kingly authority of Jesus—a theme you see continued in today as we consider Jesus the Forgiver, for... i. Jesus has the compassion and authority to forgive our sins, which He does through our faith. 3. Verses: We will see that this morning in Matthew 9:1-13, which picks up right after the first story we looked at last week a. Context: Today’s passage (v3) mention the Scribes: i. In a culture where everyone could not read & write, scribes were those people who were trained to both read & write & would serve in various jobs that required this skillset. 1. Jewish scribes were usually legal experts of the the Old Testament Law, having the responsibility to copy, preserve, & teach it 2. Mark 2:16 highlights that most of the scribes in Jesus’ days were also Pharisees— another key group mentioned in v11 ii. Pharisees: Were a Jewish religious party of self-declared experts in interpreting the Old Testament 1. Although religious in nature, the Pharisees enjoyed much political influence, controlling the synagogues & directing much of the population due to the great respect that many Jews had for them! 2. Biblically speaking, the Pharisees had very good theology, too— a. Except for when it came to their problem with regarding their own traditions as equal to or superior to God’s Word... b. And also except for when it came to accepting Jesus as the Messiah... 3. Both Pharisees and Scribes set themselves against Jesus as His popularity, power, & teachings began to threaten their own... a. Something you will see as we read these verses now... b. 5 Slides, Verses: Matthew 9:1–13 CSB 1 So he got into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own town. 2 Just then some men brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.” 3 At this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “He’s blaspheming!” 4 Perceiving their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts? 5 For which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then he told the paralytic, “Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.” 7 So he got up and went home. 8 When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck and gave glory to God, who had given such authority to men. 9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the toll booth, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him. 10 While he was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 Now when he heard this, he said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.” 4. Transition: Now, let’s consider these verses as we first see how… Jesus is genuinely compassionate on sinners 1. Slide, Main Point 1a: Explain: a. While earlier we looked at two classes of Jews at Jesus’ that we see in this passage, Scribes & Pharisees, we actually left out three other important classes, the sick, the tax collectors, & the sinners... i. The Sick: As with today, many in Jesus’ time, assumed that injuries & illnesses were the result of sin in the victim’s life (cf. John 9); 1. So along with their physical pain, the sick suffered socially & spiritually as their culture assumed evil into them, avoided them, & criticized them; ii. The Tax Collectors: These were some of the most hated people in Israel 1. Jewish tax collectors were seen as traitors to their fellow Jews, taking their money & giving it to the occupying force—Rome iii. The Sinners: This became an idiomatic phrase of the Pharisees & their followers to reference two possible groups of people 1. The lighter use was simply for those who didn’t live out their strict legalistic lifestyle of the Pharisees 2. The more intense use referenced those who took part in what the Pharisees saw as particularly grievous sins (sexual sin, idol worship, theft, murder, etc.) b. MP1b: By the Pharisees & popular standard of their day, “Good Jews” did not spend time with the sick, tax collectors, & sinners. i. MP1c: However, Jesus has a very different response! What does Jesus do? 1. He forgives & heals the sick 2. He invites tax collectors into friendship 3. He dines with sinners of all sorts! ii. And in this we see the amazing grace & compassion of our God… c. Just a little later in this chapter we read this, “When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36, CSB) i. One of my favorite Biblical Greek words is actually found in this verse… Compassion, “splanch-ni-zo-mai” 1. Originally this word was used to describe one’s inward parts a. Over time it became used much like how American’s use the word “heart” in phrases like, “My heart goes out to you!” b. For that day, these “inward parts” were the seat of their emotions, they ‘turned over’ with deep care for someone 2. MP1d: Compassion (splanch-ni-zo-mai), is to have a deep inward care, to experience great loving affection for someone a. This is what Jesus had for the sick, the tax collectors, & sinners of all sorts, b. And this doesn’t just stay as some internal feeling… 3. MP1e: Jesus expressed His compassion through kind actions! He... a. MP1f: Authoritatively forgives sins i. Forgiving sins is an act that God alone has the authority to do! ii. Jesus claims it & then substantiates it by... b. MP1g: Heals the broken i. Such an authoritative & compassionate demonstration astounded the crowd, “they were awestruck and gave glory to God, who had given such authority to men” (v8) ii. And not only this, but Jesus also c. MP1h: Welcomes outcasts into a friendship! i. This was evident both in His calling of Matthew & His dining with Matthew’s ‘sinful friends’ ii. Seethe great compassion & authority of Jesus to call people into a relationship with God! ii. Behold our God and His glory! (c.f. Exodus 33:18, 34:6-7) 1. A glory that shows us both amazing compassion & the means by which we can receive it... 2. Transition: And let us consider that very thing now—how do we receive the compassion of God’s forgiveness? Sinners receive Jesus’ forgiveness through their humble faith 1. Slide, Main Point 2a: Explain: a. To dig into this, let’s look at three key terms: Sin, Forgiveness, & Faith: i. Sin: We start here because an understanding of forgiveness must first come from an understanding of sin. 1. The Bible, while it gives no formal definition for sin, shows that sins are... a. MP2b: Rebellious thoughts, attitudes, actions, or words b. Such rebellion falls short of God’s purpose for our life & actually submit our lives to the power of evil c. Sins start in our hearts & then often become manifested through our words, attitudes, or actions 2. MP2c & d: The Bible shares that, excluding Jesus, all have sinned (Rom 3:1-23, 5:12) and are sinful from our youth (Gen 8:21; Ps. 51:5; Eph. 2:3)! 3. Sins, like all things in life, have consequences a. Because they are rebellion against God, a truly just & fair God must provide justice b. A good & wise God cannot simply ignore the sin; i. Actually part of His glory and beauty is that He does hold people accountable! ii. To ignore sin is to deny the truth of its evil & destructive nature 1. Doing so would lead to even more sin! iii. Who would take sin seriously if there were no consequences for it? 1. Think about it simply in human terms—if nations never provided consequences for breaking the law, who would follow the law? a. Such destructive anarchy would reign that such a society would crumble! 2. If sin were inconsequential we would sin even more, a. Consider the great devastation that would fill our lives, relationships, & world! iv. Considering the destruction that sin creates, 1. God mast take sin seriously & provide serious consequences for it! 2. MP2e & f: And thus the Bible shares that sins separate us from God (Isaiah 59:2) & earn us death (Rom 6:23) that will ultimately lead us to the second death, hell (Rev. 20:14–15) 4. And yet God is loving & wants relationship with us, thus he offers forgiveness! (John 3:16) ii. Forgiveness: In the simplest sense, forgiveness is the "pardon for a fault or offense," an “excuse from payment for a debt owed” 1. MP2g: Forgiveness occurs when God pardons sinners from the guilt & debt of their sins 2. Now, we just considered how a good & wise God cannot simply ignore sin—so how can we be pardoned from it? (allow answers) a. MP2h: Yes! The guilt & debt of our sin was transferred to Jesus! i. God’s forgiveness was at great cost to Himself! ii. The "just consequence of sin” was actually placed upon Jesus; b. This was the entire reason that God took on human form-i. By 100% taking on our human nature, Jesus was able to 100% take on our human debt ii. As the angel declared to Joseph about Mary & Jesus, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Mt. 1:21, CSB) iii. While sin entered our world through one human’s sin, so through Christ the eternal life we were created for was brought back (1 Cor. 15:21-22)! c. In forgiveness we have what is called “The Great Exchange" i. MP2i: Our sin was placed upon Jesus & Jesus’ righteousness was placed upon us! ii. 2 Cor. 5:21 shares this well, God “...made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” iii. Or, as Romans 3:21–22 puts it, “...The righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe...” (CSB) 3. Our forgiveness, the removal of guilt & the adding of righteousness, is “through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” a. As we considered at our opening, there is a specific way to receive this spiritual blessing—faith iii. Faith: Faith is the God-ordained means by which we receive His forgiveness (Rom 5:1-2) 1. MP2j & k: Faith is the trustful human response to God’s self-revelation (His words & actions) a. MP2l: This trustful response causes you to now live for Him b. MP2m & n: In New Testament times, faith is to believe in Jesus & receive Him as your trusted Friend, Savior, & Lord 2. This is what one may call “saving faith” in contrast to a mere intellectual faith a. Saving faith is the humble recognition that we are helpless to solve our sin problem b. It is the humble recognition that Jesus alone can save 3. MP2o: The Bible is clear that such "saving faith” is seen in actions of obedience to God (Gal. 5:6; Eph. 2:8-10; Tit. 3:3-8; Jam. 2:14-26) a. Or as one adage puts it, “faith alone saves, but saving faith is never alone” 4. Consider how today’s passage highlights faith & faithless responses: a. b. c. d. Upon “seeing their faith” Jesus’ declared the paralytic forgiven! Demonstrating faithlessness, The scribes’ claimed that Jesus was blaspheming! Saving faith was demonstrated by Matthew when he trusted & followed Jesus! Faithlessness was then demonstrated by the Pharisees condescending questioning of Jesus! 5. This inter-play brings us to consider—What is our response to Jesus—His compassion, authority, & invitation? 2. Transition: And let’s begin to look at that very thing now… Conclusion 1. Slide, Conclusion: Reiterate: Jesus has the compassion and authority to forgive our sins, which He does through our faith a. Jesus is genuinely compassionate on sinners i. Jesus has deep inward care, great loving affection for sinners of all sorts ii. He expresses this compassion through acts of kindness—forgiveness, healing the broken, welcoming the outcasts... b. Sinners receive Jesus’ forgiveness through their humble faith i. While in our sins each of us were enemies of God, God offered a means of reconciliation with Him, a restoration of peace in our relationship together through the forgiveness of our sins! (Rom 5:10-11) ii. Through our trustful response to God (believing in and receiving Jesus as our Savior, Lord, & Friend) we receive this amazing forgiveness 2. Apply: So, how then do we respond? a. Con-1: Behold Our God: We sung this song in worship today & in our scriptures we have the opportunity to do this very thing! i. The Scriptures shared that when the crowds saw Jesus’ forgiveness & healing power they “were awestruck and gave glory to God” (v8) 1. Through God’s Word behold the works of Jesus, be awestruck, & give glory to God! ii. Not everyone who saw these things responded in such an admirable way… Remember the scribes and Pharisees! 1. They instead became indignant and questioned God’s decisions, God’s love, & God’s authority iii. Let us be those who instead behold our God, become awestruck, & give Him glory! 1. Secondly, if you have truly beheld Him & seen Him in these ways, I encourage you— b. Con-2: Accept His Invitation: As Jesus said to Matthew long ago—now He says to you, “Follow Me.” — Will you accept His invitation? i. Have you humbled yourself? 1. To see yourself alongside with the ‘tax collectors and sinners’ that Jesus was maligned for having compassion toward? 2. To recognize your helpless estate and come to Him as the healing Forgiver that He is? 3. To willingly submit yourself to His commands & live in obedience to Him as your Lord? ii. Multiple times the Scriptures remind us, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts...” (Psalm 95:6-11; Heb 3:7, 15) 1. If you have not yet accepted His invitation, having heard His voice today through His Word, I urge you to respond! 2. Enter into this loving trust-based relationship! Step out in saving faith! iii. Finally, I urge you to share the heart of Jesus and… c. Con-3: Be Compassionate: Follow the example of your Lord, be genuinely compassionate on your fellow man i. Treat all with dignity & respect, no matter on if they seem to be the religious bigot or the grievous sinner ii. Follow the instruction of Jesus, “Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.”(v13) 1. This quote is from the Old Testament prophet Hosea, where God reminds His people what He truly desires in His people 2. God doesn’t just want the outward appearance of godliness, giving sacrifices, going to church, saying the right things, looking the right way, etc. a. Rather, God wants our hearts to have the same loyal mercy, the same faithful love that God, Himself, has b. A faithful love that is first for God & then through that for people iii. Jesus calls on us to have mercy on sinners & He demonstrates what that looks like; it involves allowing Him to use you to... 1. Bring His healing to the broken, spend time with the sick and the outcast 2. Welcome sinners of all sorts into wise, godly relationships which allow you to show them God’s hospitality and love 3. Extend His invitation to the lost, “Follow Me!” a. Consider how this dinner party at Matthew’s house took place… i. Undoubtedly Matthew must have shared something of Jesus with his friends & said, “Come and see this Man!” b. Similarly, in John 1:44-46 when Philip first met Jesus, he gave to his friend Nathaniel and invited him to “Come and see!” this Messiah c. Later in John 4:28-30 you see the Samaritan woman offering the same invitation to the townsfolk, “Come and see this man!” d. Will you so share this invitation & invite others to “Come and see!” 3. Appeal: Jesus has the compassion and authority to forgive our sins, which He does through our faith a. Behold our God, accept His invitation, & be compassionate—three simple exhortations with massive implications i. Will you live them out today? b. Conclude: Pray with me… i. Indeed God, as You have greatly blessed each of us, we ask that you make us a blessing. ii. Thank You for Your incredible compassion so graciously poured out on each of us. iii. Help us to receive this compassion through faith & in Your love share this compassion with our broken world iv. We Love You, Lord & earnestly seek You in this. Amen