Matthew 9a
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
4 Jesus knew* what they were thinking, so he asked them,
“Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? (NLT)
Our thoughts we think are personal. There are many thoughts we don’t want other people to know about in our life. It seems like it is the only area of our life that is secret. However, there is one who knows our every thought.
God is omniscient. HE knows everything. HE knows what is going to happen in the future. HE knows what is happening in the present. HE knew what was going to happen in the past. There is not an individual who can hide their thoughts from the LORD.
So when we think thought that are not pleasing to HIM we need to understand that HE is hearing those thoughts. The Bible says that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
Our thoughts reveal what is really happening in our world from our perspective. Sometimes we are interpreting events wrong and so our thoughts are wrong. We need to ask the LORD to help us interpret events in our life, so that, we have the right perspective. Our perspective should be seeing things as God sees them.
The religious leaders thought their thoughts were the right thoughts about the actions of Jesus but they were wrong. They had evil thoughts about Jesus. They didn’t realize fully that HE was God in the flesh and would never do anything wrong in the sight of HIS Father.
We should not want to do anything wrong in the sight of our Father in heaven. HE is the one who should matter the most in each thought we have in our inner person.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
11And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples,
“Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (NKJV)
Who did the LORD want to reach while HE was here on this earth? HIS ministry was a short ministry. HE set the example for all those who followed HIM in ministry. HE was the model that we should always follow as we serve HIM on a daily basis.
Here we find that HE had called a tax collector to be one of HIS disciples. To the other disciples this was the lowest of the low in their eyes. This was a traitor in their eyes because he collected money for the Romans. Not only did he collect taxes for the Romans but he charged fees that went into his pockets. So many tax collectors were wealthy because of these fees.
Not only did HE call Matthew but HE ate a meal at his house with other tax collectors. Can you imagine the thoughts that were going through the other tax collectors when they sat down with Jesus? They must have wondered what HE was thinking to call one of their fellow traitors.
The Pharisees knew what to think. The thought HE was unclean to eat with such people. HE was overstepping what was culturally acceptable. Good religious Jews wanted nothing to do with these sort of people.
Jesus stated that HE didn’t come to call those who thought they were righteous but those who knew they were sinners. HE knew that no one could be a true follower of HIS unless they knew they were sinners who needed HIS salvation. The Pharisees didn’t know these things. They were blind and didn’t care.
Our responsibility is to reach all those the LORD sends in our world. We are to reach both the rich and the poor. We are not to have respect of persons. Too often this happens in our churches. What is happening in your thinking? Do you just want to reach those who can financially help the church or do you want to reach all those who Christ died for on the cross?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
Jesus returns to Capernaum verse 1
And HE entered into a ship – and passed over – and came into HIS own city
Jesus heals faithful sick man verse 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
your SINS be forgiven thee
Scribes say Jesus blasphemed verse 3
And – BEHOLD – certain of the scribes said within themselves
This man blasphemes
Jesus knows thoughts and comments verse 4- 7
And Jesus KNOWING their thoughts said – Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
For whether is easier – to say
Your sins be forgiven you
OR to say – Arise and walk?
BUT that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins
(then said HE to the sick of the palsy)
Arise – take up your bed – and go unto your house
AND he arose – and departed to his house
Jesus credited with great power verse 8
BUT when the multitudes saw it – they marveled – and glorified God
which had given such power unto men
Jesus calls Matthew to follow HIM verse 9
AND as Jesus passed forth from thence – HE saw a man – named Matthew
sitting at the receipt of custom – and HE said unto him
FOLLOW ME
AND he arose – and followed HIM
Matthew has dinner party for Jesus verse 10- 11
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
AND when the Pharisees saw it – they said unto HIS disciples
Why eats your Master with publicans and sinners?
Jesus responds to Pharisees criticism verse 12- 13
BUT when Jesus heard that – HE said unto them
They that be whole need not a physician – BUT they that are sick
BUT go ye and learn what that means – I will have mercy – and not sacrifice
FOR I am not come to call the righteous – BUT sinners to repentance
Disciples of John question Jesus regarding fasting verse 14
THEN came to HIM the disciples of John – saying
Why do we and the Pharisees FAST oft – BUT THY disciples FAST not?
Jesus responds to question verse 15- 17
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
No man puts a piece of new cloth unto an old garment
FOR that which is put in to fill it up takes from the garment
and rent is made worse
Neither do men put new wine into old bottles – ELSE the bottles break
and the wine runs out and the bottles perish
BUT they put new wine into new bottles – and both are preserved
Ruler asks Jesus to heal dead daughter verse 18- 19
While HE spoke 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
AND Jesus arose – and followed him – and so did HIS disciples
Woman with issue of blood healed verse 20- 22
And – BEHOLD – a woman – which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years
came behind HIM – and touched the hem of HIS garment
FOR she said within herself – IF I may but touch HIS garment – I shall be whole
BUT Jesus turned HIM about – and when HE saw her – HE said
Daughter – be of good comfort – your FAITH hath made you whole
AND the woman was made whole from that hour
Jesus raises dead daughter verse 23- 26
AND when Jesus came into the ruler’s house
and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise
HE said unto them – Give place – for the maid is not dead – but sleeps
AND they laughed HIM to scorn
BUT when the people were put forth – HE went in
and took her by the hand – and the maid arose
And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land
Two blind men ask for healing verse 27
And WHEN Jesus departed thence – two blind men followed HIM – crying – and saying
You Son of David – have mercy on us
Jesus heals the men verse 28- 31
AND when HE was come into the house – the blind men came to HIM
and Jesus said unto them – Believe ye that I am able to do this?
They said unto HIM – YEA Lord
THEN touched HE their eyes – saying
According to your faith be it unto you
AND their eyes were opened
and Jesus straitly charged them – saying
See that no man know it
BUT they – when they were departed – spread abroad HIS fame in all that country
Demon possessed man healed verse 32- 33
As they went out – BEHOLD – they brought to HIM a dumb man possessed with a devil
and when the devil was cast out – the dumb spake
and the multitudes marveled – saying – It was never so seen in Israel
Pharisees claim Jesus working for the devil verse 34
BUT the Pharisees said – HE casts out devils through the prince of the devils
Jesus has compassion on the people verse 35- 36
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
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
Jesus tells disciples to pray for workers verse 37- 38
THEN said HE unto HIS disciples
The harvest truly is plenteous – BUT the laborers are few
PRAY ye therefore the Lord of the harvest
that HE will send forth laborers into HIS harvest
COMMENTARY:
: 8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men
(1849 “power” [exousia] means authority, power to act, capability, ability to do, might, right, liberty of doing as one pleases, the ability or strength with which one is endued, or one who possesses authority. Right at the start of this chapter we find the LORD again healing people. The LORD instructed the man that was sick of the palsy that his faith showed that he believed the LORD was able to heal him. But we find that the LORD said something that upset the religious leaders of the day. What did HE say? The sins of the man sick with the palsy’s sins were forgiven. The LORD was teaching a lesson to the religious leaders.
The religious leaders associated sickness with sin. They thought that only those who were sinners were sick. This is a false belief. Jesus was instructing them in this matter. HE told the man that his sins were forgiven. The religious leaders exploded. They said that HE had committed blasphemy. Only God can forgive sins. However, here a was a man who had the ability to heal. Remember they thought that all those who were sick were given the sickness because of sin. So if HE had the ability to heal, HE must also have the ability to forgive sin that caused the sickness. See what the LORD was teaching these religious leaders? To often today we associate sickness with sin. Some sicknesses are caused by sin but not all.
Now the LORD tells the man to take up his bed and to into his house. What happened? He took up his bed and walked into his house HEALED.
What was the reaction of the crowd? They marveled. They glorified God. They were amazed that God had given this authority to a man. They did not fully understand who this MAN was.
Throughout the rest of the chapter the LORD confronts the Pharisees and their belief system. HE accepts worship from a ruler. HE raises the dead. HE heals two blind men. HE is accused of healing through the power of the devil. In spite of all this HE continues to TEACH, PREACH and HEAL. HE sees the needs of the people. They need true shepherds, not false shepherds like the Pharisees. HE tells the disciples to pray for more TRUE shepherds to come and help the people.
Today we have many false shepherds walking the earth. They teach false beliefs. They present the fact that all those who oppose them must be working under the power of the devil.
True teachers know that all authority comes from God. They try to teach what the LORD taught. They try to confront false teachers for deceiving the people. People are gullible. They want to believe that the false teachers are teaching the truth without checking out what they are teaching with the Word of God. The common individual knows so little about what the Bible actually teaches that if it sounds good it must be true. There must be accountability to the Word of God.
We need to realize that the same LORD is available to heal our sicknesses. HE is available first to heal us from sin. HE is available through prayer to heal all diseases or possessions of the demons today. Remember it is not always HIS will to heal because some sicknesses and diseases are for HIS glory in our lives. Some sicknesses are caused by sin in our lives. We have to examine ourselves to see which may be the cause. Paul kept his thorn in the flesh to keep him humble. We may have a “thorn in the flesh” to keep us humble. Jacob had a limp when he wrestled with the angel. Are we wrestling with the LORD at times in our lives and HE gives us something to humble us? Have we had a sickness that the doctors had given up on and the LORD chose to heal us? HE is still working today. HE is still able to heal today. It is HIS choice whether we are healed. It is not our lack of faith that causes us not to be healed. We do have authority given to us on high to pray for the LORD’S will to be done in our lives and the lives of others. Let’s use our prayer life to help us understand HIS will regarding healing of sicknesses and diseases.
CHALLENGE: Check out all the teachings of Pastors and others with what the Word of God says. If in doubt ask other pastors or teachers. The Holy Spirit usually speaks with our spirit if we are willing to listen to HIM.)
: 18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshiped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
(4352 “worshiped” [proskuneo] means knelt before, prostrate oneself before, bow low, reverence, or act of homage. Jesus had established that he was a healer of those who were sick. This passage takes it a step further. A man come that wants his daughter healed who was dead. It is different from healing someone who is sick to someone who is dead.
When he arrived at the house they laughed at HIM because they knew the girl was dead and HE stated that she was sleeping. HE knew what was going on in her life that others didn’t understand.
HE brought her back to life. HE presented her to her father. HIS fame traveled throughout the land. HE had done the impossible in the eyes of those around HIM. HE has the power of life or death.
I have witnessed the power of prayer for those who are sick. I have witnessed the LORD working miracles in the eyes of a doctor who thought a man should be dead or a vegetable. The man had part of his frontal lobe removed. The doctors gave no hope. The people around the world prayed and he is presently still recovering from the surgery. He is walking and talking. He has a long way to go but the doctor calls him his “miracle man.”
We have power in our prayer life to see healing miracles of health and sin. God is still working in the lives of people around the world. HE wants us to tell others of the healing HE has done in our life. HE has removed the power of sin. HE has given us a new life. We have hope that the world doesn’t have. It is a hope that needs to be shared.
While Jesus was on HIS way to raise the girl from the dead, a woman touched HIM, so that, she could be healed of her sickness. She was healed.
The father came to Jesus and bowed down to HIM and asked HIS help. We need to come to Jesus and bow down and ask for help in our life.
CHALLENGE: Believe that the LORD is still in the healing business. HE heals souls on a daily basis. Share this truth with others.)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
- Chastity (Purity in living)
- Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Pharisees and disciples of John fasted verse 14-15
- Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
- Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
- Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
- Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
- Frugality (wise use of resources)
- Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
- Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
- Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
- Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
- Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
- Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Disciples told to pray for more laborers verse 38
- Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
- Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Jesus worshipped by ruler verse 18
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God glorified verse 8
Lord of the harvest verse 38
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Jesus verse 2, 4, 9, 10, 12,
15, 19, 22, 23,
27, 28, 30, 35
Jesus knows thoughts verse 4
Son of man verse 6
Master verse 11
Bridegroom verse 15
Son of David verse 27
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Devil (demons) verse 32- 34
Prince of the devils (Satan) verse 34
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Sins verse 2, 5, 11
Blaspheme verse 3
Evil verse 4
Publicans verse 10, 11
Sinners verse 10, 11
Pharisees verse 11
Sick verse 12
Sacrifices given wrongly verse 13
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Good cheer verse 2
Faith verse 2, 22, 29
Sins forgiven verse 2, 5, 6
Glorify God verse 8
Follow Jesus verse 9
Disciple verse 10, 11, 19
Mercy verse 13, 27
Sinner to repentance verse 13
Fasting verse 15
Believe verse 29
Pray verse 38
Laborers verse 38
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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