JESUS CAME TO CALL SINNERS

Matthew 9:1-17

Key Verse 9:13

“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’  For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

  In this passage Jesus tells us clearly His purpose in coming to this world.  Jesus came to call sinners. Sin is the real problem of mankind. We have no solution for the sin problem.  But Jesus does. Jesus has authority to forgive our sins.  Moreover, Jesus gives us new life with purpose. Jesus can transform us, making our lives dynamic and powerful.  Furthermore, Jesus’ ministry of forgiveness and mercy cannot be served properly by legalistic systems.  Today let’s accept Jesus’ forgiveness and Jesus’ call to follow Him.  

 

First, Jesus said, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” (1-2).  

 

 Jesus had done a great work by driving out demons in the region of the Gadarenes, but the people there instead of celebrating the wonderful work Jesus had done, blinded and deceived, they asked Jesus to leave. So Jesus stepped into a boat, and crossed over to Capernaum, His own town (1). There, Jesus was welcomed and many came to him for help.  It is said that a prophet is not honored in His own home town, but that is only partly true.  The actual saying is, “A prophet is not honored in His own home, unless they are needed.”  Have any of you ever received a phone call from a friend who only calls you when they need something from you, but the rest of the time never call?  Personally, I have never called Msn. Isaac to say, “Hi Msn. Isaac who are you?  How is the message preparation going?  Would you like to go and have Sushi with me?  No, I never do that.  Instead, when I call Msn. Isaac it always goes something like this, “Umm…  Msn. Isaac.  How are you?  I’m sorry to bother you. I was wondering…  Do you have an electric drill I can borrow?  I wonder if the only time that the phone rings in Msn. Isaac’s house is when someone needs something from him--either that or to complain to him.   

 

 Look at verse 2a. “Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat.” Most likely this man was a quadriplegic–a man who did not have the use of any limbs. We can only imagine how he became that way. Once, he may have been a high school student who excelled in academics and football. But on the way home from a drinking party, he crashed his car into a tree and broke his neck. His body was paralyzed from the neck down for life. Also, his psyche was shocked. Self-condemnation and fatalistic thoughts tortured his soul. Modern medicine can cure many illnesses. However, paralysis is still incurable. There was no hope anywhere in the world. But there was hope in Jesus. Jesus had already begun to heal every disease and sickness among people (4:23). Some men brought the paralyzed man to Jesus.  

 

 Verse 2b begins, “When Jesus saw their faith...” Jesus saw their faith. They had faith that Jesus could heal the paralyzed man. They did not say anything. But their actions of faith spoke louder than words. They brought their friend to Jesus to be healed. Jesus was pleased by their faith. Jesus was willing to help them. Jesus blesses the helpless through those who have faith.  If our students don’t have faith, we need to have faith.  If our students look helpless and hopeless, we need to bring them to Jesus fully believing that Jesus can heal them.  Now some torture themselves with guilt when they try to bring students to Jesus and the student instead of being healed, turns around and high tails it out of there.  This is not what I am talking about.  How can Jesus heal someone if they are trying to run away from Him?  It’s impossible.  What I am talking about are those students who never seem to change, but never seem to leave either.  They are so powerless, they don’t even have the strength to leave, even though they might want to.  There is a reason why they remain.  It’s because they are totally powerless or it could be because they need something.  That type of student we should not have a sense of burden about.  That type of person we should be the most happy about, and have the most faith for, because they are a captured audience and Jesus can heal that person. 

 

 Look at verse 2b. “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’” Jesus knew the heart of the paralyzed man. Jesus is concerned about the heart, while man is often concerned about outward appearance. This man had lost heart; he had fallen into depression over his situation. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly ten percent of all Americans suffer from clinical depression at some point during the year. We may take depression lightly, especially in a person who looks strong. But Jesus ministered to this man’s depressed heart as of first importance. When Jesus said, “Take heart, son,” His powerful and loving words melted the man’s depression and planted new and living hope. Jesus expressed great affection for the man by calling him “son.” Jesus saw him as a dear and precious human being. Jesus is tender and compassionate, especially to the broken-hearted.  

 

 Jesus did not say, “Your paralysis is healed.” Jesus said, “...your sins are forgiven.” Everyone thought that this man’s problem was paralysis. But Jesus thought sin was the most urgent problem. We must learn that our real problem is not caused by someone else or by our situation, but by our sin. Sin-sickness paralyzes our souls.  

 

 Why did Jesus point out this man’s sin problem? It was not to make him more depressed. It was to forgive him. Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven.” At that very moment, the man’s burden of sin was taken away. He became a child of God. Several weeks ago, we learned about the Centurion Cornelius.  He was an amazing guy.  He loved the Jewish people and even built their synagogue with his own money.  He prayed for the people and gave gifts to the poor.  He was so amazing that even God had to confess, “All that you are doing has come up to Me as a memorial offering.”  But even though this Centurion lived an exemplary life, he was not a child of God.  It was not until he received the forgiveness of his sins that he could became a true child of Abraham.  Receiving the forgiveness of our sins is not a small matter.  The forgiveness of our sins is the whole point.  From now on, God would look upon this paralytic with pleasure, bless him with mercies ever new, and love him tenderly until he entered the kingdom of God.  

 

Second, Jesus proves His authority to forgive sins (3-8).  

 

 Jesus words of forgiveness brought new life to a paralyzed man. And yet strangely the same words evoked a very different response from the teachers of the law. Look at verse 3. “At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, ‘This fellow is blaspheming!’” When they heard Jesus say, “Your sins are forgiven,” they flipped out.  They couldn’t believe their ears.  So they said, “This fellow Jesus is blaspheming!”  To them there was only one who could forgive sins and that was God.  They believed this because they clearly understood that when we sin, it is against God ultimately to whom we have sinned.  No one can pardon you except the one to whom your have wronged.  Humanly it makes perfect sense.   

      For instance, if I forgot my wife’s birthday and forgot to get her flowers and take her to a romantic dinner, and instead go out with my precious coworkers Msn. Jacob Chang and go and play basketball instead, can Msn. Jacob then turn around and say to me, “Take heart, Terry; your sins are forgiven.”  Do you think that I can then go home to my lovely wife and there will be no problem?  Do you think I will even be able to get into the house?  Of course not!  Then how could Jesus dare to say such a thing?  It wasn’t against Him that this man sinned, but against God the Father.  So it was completely understandable why they thought that Jesus was blaspheming, it was God’s domain to forgive, not this dusty, unemployed carpenter from Galilee. 

      But what did Jesus say to them?  Look at verse 4, “Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, ‘Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?”  To Jesus these thoughts of theirs that only God can forgive men, is an evil idea.  Such thoughts were not just incorrect, such thoughts were evil.  In other words, the thought that only God can forgive sins is an evil thought.  God is not the only one who can forgive sins.  We too must forgive one another.  Isn’t it a strange thing that we have a natural tendency to want to judge others, but never to forgive others?  But this never helps anyone.

 

 Now Jesus’ painful rebuke was not to condemn the Pharisees, He was as ready to forgive them as much as He was ready to forgive the paralytic or any of us.  And to help them repent Jesus explained more deeply what He meant.  Look at verse 5. Jesus said, “Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’” The religious leaders must have thought it was easier to say “your sins are forgiven,” for it is not verifiable. They were used to using empty words. However, Jesus never used empty words. When Jesus said, “your sins are forgiven,” He knew He must go to the cross and die for this man. Jesus had to pay the price to forgive this man. To truly forgive others, there is a real cost that must be paid.  The real reason that the teachers of the law thought Jesus was blaspheming was honestly because they were not ready to pay the cost to help someone receive true sin-forgiveness in Jesus.  We don’t forgive others, because the cost we must bear to help that person to truly receive sin-forgiveness is more than we are willing to pay.  At the very least, to forgive others costs us our pride.  But often times it is much more than that. 

 

 Finally, in order to help the teachers of the law to repent, Jesus demonstrated His power. Look at verses 6-7. “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....’ Then He said to the paralytic, ‘Get up, take your mat and go home.’ And the man got up and went home.” Jesus’ point is crystal clear. Jesus has authority on earth to forgive sins. If Jesus says that our sins are forgiven, they are forgiven. The only reason that anyone can ever forgive another is because Jesus died on the cross.  He has the authority to forgive us and He wants to forgive us.   As His children we must forgive one another.  That is why Jesus taught His disciples, “Forgive one another.”  Not because they themselves could, but because Jesus could, because He paid the price and now has the authority to forgive.  May God help us to learn to forgive one another, so that we may be restored to our Father in Heaven and to one another.

 

Third, Jesus says to Matthew, “Follow Me” (9-13).  

 

 Look at verse 9. “As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow Me,’ He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.” As a tax collector, Matthew collaborated with the Romans to collect taxes from Jews. His fellow Jews hated him. Still, tax collectors were men of ability. They could read and write, and had skill with numbers. But they used their ability to get rich at the cost of their suffering people. They can be compared to some bank CEOs who take government bailout money and give themselves huge bonuses even though their company is going bankrupt. They get a bonus, while many others are losing their homes, why don’t the homeowners get a bonus from the government for not paying their obligations?  Matthew had decided to be a tax collector, thinking that money would make him happy. However, money did not make him happy. Pursuing money, only made him selfish. All of his relationships with people were broken. No one wanted to be his friend. Matthew was lonely and fatalistic inwardly.  

 

 When Jesus saw Matthew, He knew everything about him. No one liked Matthew, but Jesus liked him. Jesus was not at all fatalistic about Matthew. Jesus saw him with great hope. Jesus believed he would be healed from his selfishness. Jesus believed he would use his great ability for the glory of God. Jesus believed that Matthew would stop being a selfish tax collector and instead become a world renowned author who exhorts others to repent and turn to God. When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” it was packed and loaded with Jesus’ hope, faith and love for Matthew and Matthew knew it. Jesus was accepting Matthew as a disciple, one of His closest followers and even Jesus’ friend. From now on in following Jesus, Matthew was not going to learn about the tax code, he would learn from Jesus and grow to be like Him. When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” Matthew could taste the love in Jesus’ words. He could immediately get up and follow Jesus. As he stepped away from the tax booth, which had become like a prison cell for him, his burden of sin lifted. Freedom, peace and joy come into his soul.  

 

 When Jesus called Matthew, Jesus was setting Himself up to be criticized. It was unacceptable in that society for a Jewish religious leader to have close contact with a tax collector. Yet Jesus called Matthew to follow Him. Jesus loved Matthew first. Then, love for Jesus began to grow in Matthew’s heart. Soon, after Matthew realized that Jesus truly loved him, love overflowed from Matthew and Matthew had a desire to give generously to Jesus and to others. He wanted to do something for Jesus.  When Matthew looked at Jesus and he looked at His disciples, they looked a little skinny.  They looked hungry.  And Matthew remembered that his house was stocked with gourmet food. So Matthew invited them all for a delicious dinner, sparing no expense. Normally, Jesus disciples only had a few heads of grain to eat as they traveled from here to there while Jesus was healing and preaching the Gospel.  But this time, they struck gold.  In front of them was thick, juicy New York Steak, and stacks of tangy ribs and plate after plate of Sushi.  There was great joy in the house.  Perhaps disciples were rejoicing in their hearts, saying “Thank God for rich, repentant sinners!”   

      Jesus was there, and the fruit of repentance was flowing from Matthew’s heart. Matthew’s several friends, who were also tax collectors, and their lady associates joined the party. Soon the house was full and laughter from inside was spilling out into the streets. Jesus is truly Immanuel, God with us. Jesus brings the joy of heaven to the hearts and houses of sinners.  

 

 When the Pharisees heard the sound of joyful laughter, they immediately thought something was wrong; someone was having too much fun. They approached Jesus’ disciples and said, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” They thought Jesus lacked spiritual discernment. They thought Jesus was not strict enough with the company He kept. They were implying that Jesus was a sinner and that He was with sinners because He liked to sin. They did not understand Jesus at all. Jesus had to die on the cross to save men from their sins. Jesus hated sin more than anyone else did. But Jesus loved sinners. Jesus accepted sinners as they were and had fellowship with them. Jesus ate with sinners and laughed with sinners. Jesus never thought He would be contaminated by sinners. Rather, Jesus was sure that sinners would be healed and cleansed by being with Him.  Let me ask a question how can we help people meet Jesus if we are sitting in front of our computer?  How can we help others if we never go to them?  It’s impossible. 

 

 How did Jesus answer the Pharisees? Look at verse 12. “On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.’” Jesus was sorry to hear the Pharisees legalistic words. Legalism prevented them from understanding and having compassion on other human beings. But Jesus did not give up on them. Jesus taught them basic human compassion. Sick people need a doctor. Sinners need a Savior. As a human being, our first response toward a sick person, with physical or spiritual sickness, should be to show compassion and to bring healing.  

 

 It seems that the Pharisees totally ignored Jesus’ teaching on compassion. But Jesus did not give up. Look at verse 13. “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’” Based on Hosea 6:6, Jesus taught them the heart of God. God desires mercy. God wants men to acknowledge Him as God and acknowledge themselves as sinners and receive His mercy. God delights in extending mercy toward helpless sinners. God gave us the law to lead us to His mercy. God wants us to experience His forgiveness and His love and to grow in mercy. God did not practice legalistic justice toward sinners.  If He did, all mankind would be judged and condemned. Instead, God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son Jesus as a ransom sacrifice for our sins. Let’s acknowledge our need and ask God for mercy. And in turn extend mercy to others. 

 

Fourth, new wine into new wineskins (14-17).  

 

 Look at verse 14. “Then John’s disciples came and asked Him, ‘How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?’” They probably felt sorry that Jesus’ disciples were enjoying New York steak, while they were fasting. Look at verse 15. “Jesus answered, ‘How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.’” Jesus taught John’s disciples not to become ritualistic and the real reason for fasting.  As Christian’s we have many practices and rituals that we follow.  We come to Sunday worship service and we sing songs together.  We pray, we spend time in His Word and some even fast.   But why do we do these things?  It is not because God wants us to starve ourselves occasionally.  Or He likes for us to dress up and gather together in one place or even to hear us sing.  We do all these things for one purpose.  We do it all in order to draw close to God; to strengthen our relationship with Him; to spend time with Him.  Jesus was teaching John’s disciples the reason for why we do the things we do. 

      For John’s disciples fasting was becoming their source of pride and their mark of their spiritual maturity.  But they really missed the point why they did these things, it is to meet Jesus more personally.  I pray God would help us all to grow in our spiritual disciplines, not as a sign of our spiritual maturity or to feed our pride, but in order to meet Jesus personally.  I pray that God would help us to understand why it is important that we get up early and spend time with Him in prayer and His Word.   

 

 To further explain that His gospel ministry did not fit into the legalistic structure of Judaism, Jesus used two parables. Look at verses 16-17. “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” The Gospel is like new wine. It has power and it needs room to expand and grow. It cannot be contained by brittle old wineskins. In the same way, Jesus’ Gospel ministry was life-giving. It was the expression of God’s boundless mercy. Those who receive it must be free from legalism to follow the person of Jesus with trust and love. They must serve others with God’s mercy and love.  Not burdening others, but helping others to find the joy and blessedness found only in Jesus, that is life to the full. 

 

 Today we learn that Jesus has authority on earth to forgive sins. We learn that God is merciful and He wants to help us in our time of need. We do not have to remain in the paralysis of sin. Let’s come to Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. Then we can follow Jesus and practice mercy toward all people. We also learn that Jesus blesses helpless people through the faith of others. Let’s pray for the healing of all spiritual paralytics on our campuses through our faith in Jesus.