Matthew 9

S - Matthew 9
O -
When Jesus sees the paralytic and the men's faith, he forgives his sins. Some teachers of the law pounce on this and say he is blaspheming.
4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?
A question we should ask ourselves whenever we are tempted
I love these verses
5 Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . ." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." 7 And the man got up and went home.
Jesus with authority!
8When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.
But it seems the crowds don't know that Jesus is the son of God. They probably think he is a prophet or miracle-worker...someone special that God gave authority to.


Only at this point in the book is Matthew described
9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth."Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples.
It's interesting how it is written "sinners", as though to question the segregation of tax collectors and other such despised /unpopular people in that society from the rest of the population.


11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
I'm not sure what 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice'. means
So I googled it and read this http://cqod.blogspot.com/2005/10/mercy-not-sacrifice.html

More about Pharisees and the law
14 Then John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" 15 Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.


I think Jesus is saying that he is the bridegroom (to be wed - to die) and while he is on earth people are to rejoice. But when he dies and is resurrected, fasting can be a way to remember him.


16 "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."
To have the new covenant - Jesus' coming, in a new law. If the old law is still followed, then there is a contradiction.


21 She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." 22 Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment. 


24 he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. 


In both verses their beliefs would have others laughing. But it is the belief in God, and what others' reactions may be don't matter that much.


27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" 28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied. 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; 


Jesus asks them to see their faith even though he already knows they believe in him. I remember hearing a discussion about this but I can't remember now


34 But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."


The Pharisees just had to chip in. Perhaps they were following the law so strictly they didn't just allow God to work in them. After all, the Spirit is so versatile, and God works in so many wondrous ways in which we can't predict. This isn't a religion, it is a relationship, and through Jesus Christ.


36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."


Like Jesus we should have compassion on the needy. Most of the time we are so desensitized we don't realize we act like heartless beings.
This would also be a call for people into ministry and missions because the harvest is plentiful and there are many lost sheep without a shepherd.