SF043 - JESUS' POWER OVER DEAD RELIGION (Matthew 9 9-17)

Matthew 9:9-17

Introduction

The gospel is not for good people but for bad people who know they are bad and who come to God for forgiveness and cleansing.

The only people who are ever saved and enter God’s kingdom are those who acknowledge their sinfulness and repent of it.

It follows, then, that those who consider themselves already to be righteous see no need for repentance or forgiveness—and thereby shut themselves out from salvation in the kingdom of God.

The first three miracles (see Matt. 8:1-17) dealt with disease and displayed Jesus’ power over sickness and the infirmities of the body. After those miracles came the response of three would-be disciples, whose unwillingness to pay the price of discipleship betrayed their lack of genuine faith (8:18-22; cf. Luke 9:57-62).

The second group of three miracles displayed Jesus’ power over nature, over demons, and over sin (See 8:23-9:8).

The response to those three miracles is set forth in the present text.

The first part of the response is positive, evidenced in the acceptance of the gospel by a penitent sinner. The second part of the response is negative, evidenced in the rejection of the gospel by those who thought themselves already to be righteous.

The types of people are in view: The repentant sinner; The self-righteous Pharisee; and The skeptical religionist

1A. The Repentant Sinner (9:9-10)

1B. Matthew’s corruption

In the eyes of Judaism Matthew was a great sinner because…

He was a political traitor

Ø He collected taxes for the Romans

Ø He cheated his fellow country men

He was notorious sinner

Ø Publicans were ceremonially unclean

Ø They were excluded from the Temple and the synagogues

Ø They were excluded from the legal system, could not even testify in court.

He was beyond hope

Ø No orthodox Jew would even associate with him.

2B. Matthew’s conversion

He “got up” and followed Jesus (James 2:17-18)

Ø An inactive faith is no faith

He left everything to follow Jesus (Luke 5:28)

He brought Jesus to his friends (9:10)

I hear Him call, “Come, follow;”
That was all!
My gold grew dim.
My heart went after Him.
I rose and followed,
That was all.
Would you not follow
If you heard Him call? (Amy Carmichael)

2A. The Self-Righteous Pharisees (9:11-13)

1B. The Pharisees accusation (9:11)

At best they accused Jesus of ceremonial impurity

At worst they accused Jesus of moral impurity (Matthew 11:19)

2B. Jesus’ answer (9:12-13)

The argument from human logic (9:12)

Ø Only sick men need healing.

Ø Only sinful men need a forgiveness

The argument from Scripture (9:13a; Hosea 6:6)

Ø Like Gomer had left Hosea, Israel had left God.

Ø Without compassion (mercy) religious rituals mean nothing

Ø The Pharisees had religion with all its rituals, but they knew nothing of God’s mercy and grace. (Amos 5:21-24)

The argument from His own authority (9:13b)

Luke 5:32 "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."

Ø Jesus came to call men to repentance and faith.

Ø That is the call of the gospel.

3A. The Skeptical Religionists (9:14-17)

1B. They question Jesus’ piety (9:14)

Like the Pharisees their question is rooted in the traditions of men not in the Old Testament law.

The Old Testament only requires one fast during Yom Kippur

The rabbis required fasts twice a week.

2B. Jesus answers their concerns (9:15-17)

There is joy in His presence (9:15)

Ø As long as Jesus was present with them fasting (a sign of brokenness) was inappropriate.

Ø Jesus’ presence brings joy to the hearts of His people.

Ø When we experience the absence of His presence we should fast. But not for the sake of religious ritual.

The purpose of His coming (9:16-17)

Ø His teaching was not to be added to the teaching of rabbis, the traditions of men. It was and is incompatible.

His truth would simply tear apart the false teaching of rituals and traditions.

Ø His truth could not be contained by the traditions of men.

Ø He had come to replace the traditions of men not to destroy the Law of God. (Matthew 5:17-19)

Application

In a hymn that chronicles his own conversion, John Newton movingly describes the transforming power of Christ:

In evil long I took delight,
Unawed by shame or fear,
Till a new object struck my sight,
And stopped my wild career.

I saw One hanging on a tree,
In agony and blood;
He fixed His loving eyes on me,
As near His cross I stood.

How can it be, upon a tree
The Savior died for Me?
My soul is thrilled, my heart is filled,
To think He died for me.