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!

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

• The Paralytic…
  • Jesus returned from his 1^st 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 (1^st 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

2^nd – 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

3^rd ~ 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)