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Introduction…

  • The Scribes & the Pharisees…
    • The titles for the Religious leaders of Israel (the pastors and priests of Jesus’ day)
    • The Scribes – the copyist – well educated men (PHD) who made copies of God’s Word
    • The Pharisees – zealous religious sect who promoted their interpretation of the Law
    • They were set in their ‘old’ ways – and were not at all happy with Jesus ‘new’ teaching
    • So they challenge Jesus in 3 times – and Jesus shows them a ‘new’ way!

1st  – Your sins are forgiven… (3 things) vs. 1-12

  • The Paralytic…
    • Jesus returned from his 1st tour of the cities of Galilee – to Capernaum
      • He entered Peter’s house – and word quickly went out Jesus has returned… 
      • Immediately MANY gathered at the house – so you could not even get in…
      • Then Jesus shared (imperfect) the Word with them… (Home Bible study)
    • 4 men brought a paralytic man to Jesus…
      • Paralytic – a person who for some reason was unable to walk or stand (paralyzed)
      • The men could not get to Jesus because of the crowds…
      • So they tore part of the roof off and lowered the paralytic down to Him
      • This wasn’t ‘nipa’– it would have been tile and concrete – ‘chipped away the roof’
      • Nothing was going to keep these men from getting their friend to Jesus!
    • When Jesus saw their faith He said…
      • Your sins are forgiven (Perfect/Passive/Indicative)
      • Literally all the sins you have ever or will ever commit are taken away!
  • Not because of the faith of the paralytic – but the men who brought him
    • We have family and friends who do not believe in Jesus
    • They may not be able to get to Jesus themselves – sin may have paralyzed them
    • Are we like these men – willing to do ANYTHING to bring them to Jesus
    • Are we willing to pick them up – if necessary – to bring them to a Bible Study
    • Bring them to a place where they can meet with Jesus – are be healed!
  • I do wonder if the men were disappointed as first…
    • They brought their friend to Jesus to be healed – not for forgiveness…
    • Jesus dealt with the greatest need first – salvation!
    • Even if someone were raised from the dead – they’d still die one day
    • Physical healing is only for a moment – salvation is eternal!
  • The Religious leaders… 
    • At once some of the scribes said, “This man blasphemies!”
      • According to the Old Testament Law there was no way to take away sin
      • Hebrews 10:4 – “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.”
      • The Law (1st 5 book of the Bible) allowed for sacrifices to cover sin – not take it away
      • They saw Jesus words as blasphemy because only God can forgive…
      • The irony in their accusation is that they were right… Jesus is God!
      • Jesus here was showing them a greater way than the Law – ‘Old’ Covenant
      • Where the Law could only cover sin – He can take it away completely – Psalm 103:12
      • He was showing a ‘New’ way – salvation and forgiveness through Jesus!
    • Jesus knew their thoughts…
      • The Scribes and Pharisees had not said anything – they just thought it…
      • Yet Jesus knew their thoughts – and challenged them – which is easier to say…
      • Your sins are forgiven / arise and walk…
        • Obviously it is much harder to say arise and walk…
        • Anyone can say your sins are forgiven – how can you prove it though…
        • If you say arise and walk – you can tell real quick if you are a fake
      • But so that you know the Son of Man has the power to forgive sins… take up your bed!
        • In Jesus day (today as well) sickness was related to sin…
        • John 9:1-2 – “As Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.  His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’”
        • To prove that He had forgiven the paralytic of his sins…
        • Jesus heals him of his sickness ~ power over sickness = power over sin!
        • Jesus proved He had forgiven the mans sins ~ by healing him
  • The Crowds Reaction… 
    • Luke 5:26 – “We have seen strange things today!”
      • Paradoxos – literally a paradox – a contradiction… Jesus, a man, was God!
      • Only God can forgive our sins – because all sin is against God! – Psalm 51:4
      • Jesus proved He was God – by healing the paralytic – proving He’s forgiven his sins!
    • The crowds glorified God – we have never seen anything like this…
      • Whenever Jesus did a work – the people gave glory to God…
      • If you ever want to know if something is a work of God – whom does it glorify
      • If the work (ministry) someone does points others to Jesus it’s a work of God

2nd – Tax Collectors and Sinners… (2 things) vs. 13-17

  • Saving Sinners…
    • Jesus went out to walk by the sea – the crowds came to Him (Imperfect) – He taught them
    • There Jesus saw Levi – son of Alpheus (Matthew – meaning “Gift of God”)
    • A tax collector…
      • Literally a customs agent – perhaps not far from today – a very corrupt position…
      • His profession was hated and despised by the Jews (Traitor for Rome)
    • Simple call & command of Jesus – “Follow me” (Present/Active/Imperative)
      • The call to follow Jesus is not just for the upright and perfect
      • God calls sinners to be His disciples – He uses the foolish… – I Corinthians 1:27
  • Eating with Sinners…
    • Apparently Matthew invited over a bunch of his tax collector & sinner friends
    • It ‘happened’ that they all came over and sat down with Jesus – also following Him!
      • Matthew had set an example – and all his sinner friends were now following suit
      • When we make a stand for Jesus – thought it can be hard – we set an example for others
      • As we follow Jesus – bring Jesus to them – they will also start to follow the Lord!
    • Again the Scribes and Pharisees complained (Imperfect/Active/Indicative)
      • In the days of Jesus everyone would eat from a common serving bowl
      • No rules about “double dipping” so you really “shared” the meal
      • For that reason the Pharisees were very careful whom they ate with
      • The Law called them to be Holy – separate from sinners…
    • Jesus answer – do the healthy go to the Doctor?  Do you go to the Hospital when well?
      • In other words – where else would you expect to find a doctor – but with His patients
        • Jesus point is that if you are righteous you don’t need saving (forgiveness)
        • It’s the sinners who need to be saved – it’s the sinners who need help…
        • So of course Jesus sat with the sinners – that is who He came to save!
        • I know a lot of people who say the churches are full of sinners – why go?
        • That’s like saying the hospital is full of sick people – why go?
        • The church is a hospital for sinners – it is where you go to get well spiritually!
      • The irony is… Romans 3:23 – “We have all sinned…” We are all sinners!
        • The Scribes and Pharisees thought they were healthy “good” because of their rules…
        • But they needed saving as much as the Tax collectors and Sinners…
        • Sad when people in church think their better than the world – do not let sinners in
        • When we forget we are sinners – and the church is where we go to be healed
        • It does not matter who you are – drunk / thief / proud / immoral
        • There is always room in church or one more sinner… the doors are always open

3rd ~ Good because of works…  vs. 18-20

  • The Disciples of John ask a question… 
    • “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often – But you and your disciples do not fast?”
    • This was not so much a question from John’s disciples – as from the Pharisees…
    • The Pharisees thought that they were righteous by their actions
      • They were righteous because they fasted (and they let you know it
      • They followed the ‘Old’ Covenant – your actions (good works) made you right with God
    • Jesus response: Friends of the Bridegroom…
      • Jesus is the Bridegroom – we are called the bride of Christ (Revelation 21:9)
        • His point is the friends of the bridegroom don’t fast before a wedding
        • Can you imagine attending a wedding… and you are asked not to eat???
      • He said there would come a day when the Bridegroom would be taken away
        • The ascension – when He returned to the right hand of the Father
        • The work of establishing His church would begin – then His disciples would fast
      • But Jesus understood that righteousness did not come from our actions…
        • Romans 3:20 / 3:28 / Galatians 2:21
        • We are righteous – “Good” – only by faith in the finished work of Jesus
        • Where the Old Covenant (the Law) told us what we had to do
        • The New Covenant (Grace) tells us what God has done for us!

Jesus conclusion – the ‘New’…

  • Jesus gives the parable – New patch on an old garment / New wine in old wineskins
    • New cloth shrinks when it gets wet
      • Put it on an tear in and old garment that is already shrunk
      • And when the new shrinks it will tear and ruin both
    • New wine gives off fermenting gas causing the wine skin to expand
      • Old wineskins are hardened and cannot stretch
      • Put New wine in and they will rupture ruining both wine and bottle
  • The Old Covenant Vs. The New Covenant…
    • Jesus uses the challenges of the Pharisees to reveal the greatest truth
    • That we are not longer under the Law – the Old Covenant – the to do list…
    • We are now under Grace! – The New Covenant – what God has done for us list!
      • Under the New Covenant there is forgiveness of sin – the paralytic…
      • God sits with sinners, and calls them to follow Him and be His disciples…
      • We are not “good” because of what we have done – fasting…
      • But because of what God has done for us!
    • Not us – but Jesus! – II Corinthians 3:5-6
      • Are we looking to be “good” because of what we do?
      • We read our Bible / Pray 4x a day / Tithe / Fast / help those in need…
      • All of those thing are good to do – but they do not make us righteous
      • We are not under the Law (the to do list) – the Law only shows we are unrighteous
      • We live under the New Covenant – Grace! – Because of what God has done!
      • We are “good” because God took away our sin at the cross
      • And now he calls us to Follow Him (sinners that we are)

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