Matthew 9

Matthew 9 continues showing the divinity of Jesus from chapter 8. In chapter 8 Jesus has mastery over nature and the demonic. In chapter 9 Jesus reveals that He has the power to forgive sins. Some men brought a paralytic to Jesus to be healed. Jesus forgave his sins. Many of the Rabbis of Jesus day taught that all illness was a direct result of sin. Jesus would later teach that not all illness is a result of sin. However, in this instance, Jesus proclaims to the man, “your sins are forgiven.” This bothered the teachers of the law who were there because they knew only God could forgive sins. Jesus reading their thoughts asked a very insightful question. “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?” That was not only a good question for the Scribes back then, but it is a good question for us today. Why do we entertain evil thoughts in our heart? Obviously, Jesus knew that we can control our thoughts. Just because we have an evil thought doesn’t mean that we have to dwell on it. Having an evil thought is temptation, but then choosing to entertain and expand those thoughts becomes sin.

The calling of Matthew is one of those surprising events that Jesus did while on earth. Tax collectors would have had about the same reputation as a drug dealer in today’s society. Yet, our Lord called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. Matthew threw a party that had numerous public sinners. It is amazing to see how at home Jesus was with this crowd, and how they were attracted to Him. Unfortunately, many Christians have taken the Pharisees lead in shunning sinners rather than interacting with them. When Christ is presented as an alternative to sin many will see the difference and want Christ.

Jesus is asked to heal the synagogue ruler’s daughter and on the way he heals a woman who had a problem for twelve years. He heals the blind and a mute. The thing that they all had in common was faith. They all believed Jesus could heal them.

“Father, on this day lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Keep us walking in faith. Let us show Jesus to someone who needs Him. I pray this in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.”