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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!
- Jesus returned from his 1st tour of the cities of Galilee – to Capernaum
- 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
- At once some of the scribes said, “This man blasphemies!”
- 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
- Luke 5:26 – “We have seen strange things today!”
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
- In other words – where else would you expect to find a doctor – but with His patients
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 is the Bridegroom – we are called the bride of Christ (Revelation 21:9)
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
- New cloth shrinks when it gets wet
- 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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