Tue, Jan 6, 2009
Matthew 9:1-13
Jesus is asked to leave the community where He had cast the demons out of the swine, so He got back into the boat departing to Capernaum. When He arrived people brought Him a paralyzed man whom He healed (9:2-8). Obviously the religious crowd did not like Jesus claims to be God so they became very angry. As Jesus passes from this situation He encounters Matthew (Levi) who was sitting at the tax office (9:9). Tax collectors were despised and essentially outcasts because they used money for personal gain and also for Rome. The Jewish people felt that tax collectors were traitors so they looked down on them. However, Jesus reaches out to Matthew and asks him to follow Him (be His disciple). Matthew instantaneously drops everything to follow Christ. The scene shifts to Matthew's home where he had invited many of his friends to eat together with Jesus and His disciples (9:10). Of course the Pharisees were there to add their commentary on what they thought about Jesus eating and interacting with tax collectors as well as sinners. Being cowards, the Pharisees approach Jesus' disciples to ask them why Jesus was eating with the outcasts. When Jesus heard of their complaints, He responded by saying that people who are well don't need a doctor, but those who are sick (9:12). Furthermore, He explains that His mission was not to call the righteous, but sinners to turn from their sin (9:13). Jesus was ultimately attacking the Pharisees attitude of pride and invincibility. The Pharisees thought they were righteous because they adhered to their created system of rules for spirituality, but Jesus knew their hearts were full of wickedness and selfish motives. Jesus came for the weak, strung out, and the people who knew they needed help, not those who thought they had life and righteousness all figured out. Through this account we learn that the most important thing about coming to God is humility. Without admitting your need for God, you cannot go any further in a relationship with God. Every day we must wake up and acknowledge that we cannot make it without God. We need His help.