AM Jan 13th Matt 9

January 13^th       Matthew 9         Christ heals the crippled man

1: And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2: And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. 3: And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4: And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5: For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6: But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7: And he arose, and departed to his house. 8: But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

Christ calls Matthew

9: And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. 10: And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11: And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12: But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13: But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

The fasting of disciples

14: Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15: And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. 16: No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. 17: Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

Jairus’ daughter and a woman

18: While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 19: And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20: And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22: But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. 23: And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24: He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25: But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 26: And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

Christ gives sight to the blind

27: And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. 28: And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. 29: Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. 30: And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. 31: But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

Christ heals the dumb

32: As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. 33: And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. 34: But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

D. The Programme of the King               Christ’s compassion

35: And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36: But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37: Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38: Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

When Jesus is called to heal the man sick of the palsy, we find that the house is packed full of Rabbis from the four corners of Israel. Why were they there? They have come as the first part of the investigation into this Messianic candidate. And they came to watch and listen. Christ engages with them by declaring that this mans sin is forgiven. The Rabbis don’t say anything – they had come to listen and so Christ demonstrates his authority as God manifest in flesh by healing him. The Rabbis would go back to Jerusalem with news that this healer is a definitely a significant candidate as Messiah. The next person that comes to Christ is a Roman Centurion who requests that Christ heal his servant. Christ is amazed by his faith and declares that he has not found such great faith even in Israel. The Lord says that many will come from the east and west to sit down with Christ and with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of heaven. But the natural children of the kingdom will be cast out were there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus heals Peters Mother in law. The Lord was then swamped by huge crowds that come at evening time. The Lord calls Matthew. Then a discussion breaks out at to why Christ associates with publicans (Matthew) and sinners. Christ simply explains that - I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Christ did not address those who were already in a good relation with God but he only called on those who were backsliders to return unto the LORD. They then complain that Christ does not insist on fasting but Christ says No! they will fast one day but not today. The Lord then contrasts the Old tradition of the Elders of Israel which he describes as old wine skins, the dry and unyielding religion of old with the new wine - of the joy of the Lord. Matthew gives us incident after incident. Next we have the old woman who touched Christ’s hem in the crowd.  The Lord remarks on her faith. Christ heals two blind men and a dumb man possessed with a demon. This was a sign of Messiahship as it was impossible even from a man empowered by the Holy Spirit. Christ delivers him with no problem. The Pharisees respond to Christ’s Messianic signs by Blaspheming the work of the Holy Spirit in Christ’s life, However Christ is full of compassion for the multitudes that come to him.