Power Over Sin Matthew 9:1-13

Intro:

Yesterday I did some much needed yard work in my front yard.

I trimed the hedge, repaired a border, and rooted out some pesky grass

The most difficult and time consuming was the grass

You have to get down to the root

What was interesting is how many neighbors walked by and stopped to talk

Not only do homeowners appreaciated a weeded and maintained yards, neighbors do as well

I was thinking about this mornings message as I did the yard work

Jesus wants to remove the sin from our lives

He gets to the root of the problem

After it is over the person and others enjoy it so much more

Read Matthew 9:1-6

Transition

The most distinctive message of Christianity is the reality that sin can be forgiven.

That is the heart and lifeblood of the gospel, that men can be freed from sin and its consequences

God’s receiving the sinner and refusing the righteous is central to the Christian faith.

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.

From the earliest part of his gospel, Matthew gives the message of God’s forgiveness of repentant sinners.

In chapter 1 he specifically mentions a number of people whose lives were marked by terrible sin.

Both Rahab and Ruth were from pagan, idolatrous, Gentile nations, and Rahab was even a prostitute.

Although David was a man after God’s own heart, he was also a murderer and adulterer.

In the Sermon on the Mount He proclaimed God’s offer of forgiveness for those who sincerely and humbly hunger and thirst for righteousness

The dual theme of the gospel—men must turn from sin in order for God to forgive, cleanse, and save them.

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

This morning we look 5 benefits of Jesus’ power over sin

I. vs. 1-2 Gets to the of the Root Issue

The first benefit of Jesus’ power over sin is that it gets to the root of the issue

Jesus has just returned from the other side where he rebuked thousands of demons

Now he is returning to his home base which is Capernaum

He encounters a group of faithful friends bringing their paralytic friends on a mat

In the other gospels Jesus is in a crowded house and they have to tear the roof off to lower him down

Some might look at this as a discrepancy in the Gospels

In reality it Matthew telling his version of the story

To him, the roof doesn’t matter

He is focused on Jesus’ power to forgive sins

Jesus marveled at their faith

For forgiveness or healing to happen you have to believe

Jesus also chose to address this man’s greatest need, his sin

Now it is important to understand that his sins didn’t cause this paralysis

That was a common belief in that day

Either the person or the parents were responsible

Jesus new the root of this man’s problem was his unforgiven sin

That is true for everyone in this room as well

Jesus power to forgive sins gives us the confidence

II. vs. 3-8 Exposes Wrong Thinking

The second benefit of Jesus power over sin is that exposes wrong thinking

Some of the scribes heard Jesus forgives the man’s sins

Their first thought was “This man is blaspheming.”

In their minds only Yahweh could forgive sins

They never thought “Only Yahweh can do miracles or heal people”

Narrow thinking prevented them from seeing the Messiah

Wouldn’t it be interesting if one of these scribes was the one who said “Lord. I will follow you anywhere.”

What a headache if Jesus would’ve brought him on

Instead, Jesus addressed their wrong thinking

Which is easier to say? You are forgiven or be healed?

To prove that he could forgive sins he looked at the man and told him to rise, pick up his bed, and go home

Sometimes our thinking is wrong

We major in the minors

The scribes thought they had the system down but Jesus exposed they had no anointing

Some Christians got the system down and have everyone convinced that they are mature Christians

Jesus has a way of humbling them by exposing their sin

Thankfully He is merciful and we can be forgiven

III. vs. 9-10 Draws You Closer to Him

The third benefit you get from following Jesus is that it draws you closer to Him

Matthew was a tax collector

Next to Roman soldiers these were the most despised humans in Israel

Considered traitors for working with Romans

He sees Matthew (the author of this book) and calls him to follow him

This had to shock the disciples

If you watched the Chosen you saw that Peter and Matthew weren’t on friendly terms

Yet Jesus called the tax collector but rejected the overeager scribe

This shows you he draws you closer to him

Sin separates us from God

Only His forgiveness can break down that wall

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Many Christians stop there but Jesus isn’t done

He’s not just interested in forgiving us and making us clean and right

He wants to see us grown closer to him

Jesus goes to Matthews house and eats with him

It’s one thing to interact with a tax collector but to go to his house and share a meal was over the top

In Jewish culture, if you share a meal you are considered family

The Pharisees couldn’t handle all of this love and affection being shown to a tax collector

Before Jesus called us to follow him we were like these tax collectors and sinners

He searches us out, forgives our sins, and then walks with us

He draws you closer to him

IV. vs. 11-12 Brings Needed Healing?

The fourth benefit you get from Jesus’ power over sin is that it brings needed healing

The Pharisees prided themselves on excluding themselves from those who were unholy

They reasoned that this kept them clean

In reality it was how they elevated themselves and made others to feel less than worthy

The Spiritual leaders, who were supposed to be leading people towards God, were doing the opposite

V. vs. 13 Extends Mercy

The final benefit you get from Jesus’ power over sin is that it extends mercy