Love Welcomes Strangers

How does Jesus show love in this story?:

He went out...

He didn't just stay int the comforts of his own hometown and tribe keeping to himself and looking out only for his own needs.

He was not

Application: Stop wasting time, get up, get out and make yourself available for God as an agent of healing and welcome to others.

He saw a man named Matthew...

Not a category, a classification, a status, a member of a minority, a wealthy elite, an objectified caricature, an enemy. someone to discriminate against. He saw a man

Application: Stop looking at people and start seeing people

How does Jesus show love in this story?

Pornography: it’s the objectification and classification of persons who are being “looked at”. But if you really “saw” a person on the screen, you would not treat them like this—even if they treat themselves like that.

He spoke to him...

He empowered and freed Matthew from cultural constraints, social isolation, the judgement of others. He didn't speak at him or down to him; he spoke to him.

He shared a meal...

Cultrually this was an act of intimate identifcation, acceptance and symbolised a bond of oneness and friendship. We can’t know the depth of what thsi signified in our understanding meal sharing today. The table represents...

He listened...

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 33a: Matthew 1–13 Comment

The opening words παράγων ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐκεῖθεν,

He went to his house, enterede his world, sat (reclined) at his table and dialogued, conversed, listened...

He loyally defended...

He loyally defended...

Jesus wasn’t ashamed to be associated with AMtthew. When you are ashamaed of someone you show that the views of others mean more to you than the person.

Our Current Climate

We de-platform, troll, harrass, shout down, ignore, objectify...

Sta

Point 1: Jesus is not on your side

Leftist, feminists, Conservatives,pro-choise Right-wingers, LGBTQI+, racial minorities, Intellectuals, teh poor, ethnic majorities, men, wealthy, pro-life, women,

If you put Jesus first and if you follow him and if you surrender your life to him, you are no longer under the judgements and threats of anhyone else. Your life must change and you must become mro elike Jesus, ut you don;t fear the threats and intimidation of others. Jesus will defend you- not because you are right and they are wrong, but becuase you are his friend.

Application: We don't get to decide who’s in and who’s out; God does.

Justin Smollet

Covington School

Point 2: Compassion verses Mercy

You have compassion on people you like, the innocent, victims, etc. The same event can elicit both compassion and indifference. For instance:

S

If you put Jesus first and if you follow him and if you surrender your life to him, you are no longer under the judgements and threats of anhyone else. Your life must change and you must become mro elike Jesus, ut you don;t fear the threats and intimidation of others. Jesus will defend you- not because you are right and they are wrong, but becuase you are his friend.

In Melbourne a poor Afghani refugee is brutally bashed by several white men in the street in broad daylight. He is fighting for life in hospital. Who do you feel compassion for?

The refugee was a sworn member of ISIS, had just stabbed to death a 32yo women in front of her 6yo son. How’s your compassion now?

Mercy is different.

Mercy is given to the underserving, the evil, the gulity. It’s what God desires...

The New International Version Chapter 5

7 Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 12:6–8 NIV

I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

The New International Version Chapter 2

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

The New International Version Chapter 3

4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Tt 3:3–5.

The New International Version Chapter 2

10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 1 Pe 2:10.

The New International Version Chapter 2

13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

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The New International Version Chapter 11

19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

Key rr

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), .

Key IDEA 1: Christology determines Ecclesiology; or, your view of Jesus determines the nature and shape of your church

Key IDEA 2: Jesus is the image of the invisible God, and the Church is the image of the invisible Jesus.

You need mercy- and that requires faith; sacrifice is easier and done in our own power and stre ngth.

The Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament ἔλεος, ους, τό

3. a) Ἕλεος and ἐλεέω designate, in accordance with the original OT meaning of ḥeseḏ (“kindness”) conduct demanded by God from person to person. With Hos 6:6 Jesus interprets God’s will at the call of Levi and at the sabbath conflict (Matt 9:9–13; 12:1–8): “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” (9:13; 12:7). In the discourse against the Pharisees Matt 23:23 (ἔλεος is not in par. Luke 11:42) states the obligation of tithing (cf. Num 18:12; Deut 14:23) more precisely: One is to do justly in relationships with others, exercise mercy toward others, and practice faith. The