Matthew - Week 25

Mercy Not Sacrifices 

READ 

Matthew 9:12-13 

12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” 

The Pharisees were indignant when they saw Jesus associating with tax collectors. Jesus’ remarks were directed at the Pharisees when He said, “those who think they are righteous....” The tax collector, Matthew, and his friends knew they were sinners and needed help. The Pharisees emphasized offering sacrifices, but Jesus wanted them to show mercy. 

REFLECT 

Have you noticed when you witness for Jesus that those who think they have no need are not impacted by your words? 

RESPOND 

With a friend, read Proverbs 15:8-9 to see what God says about unbelievers offering sacrifices. Read also 2 Corinthians 4:4 to see what keeps unbelievers from responding to the Gospel.  

The Time to Fast 

READ 

Matthew 9:14-15 

14 One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?” 15 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” 

Jesus considered fasting as related to mourning. In this analogy, He was considering Himself the groom. There was no reason for His followers to fast while He was still with them. He foresaw a day, however, when He would be taken from them and then His followers would fast. The disciples of John the Baptist were impressed with the external expressions of their and the Pharisees’ fasting. 

REFLECT 

Be careful not to be more impressed with external expressions than with one’s heart attitude. 

RESPOND 

Read again the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 6:16-18. Had the disciples of John the Baptist remembered these words, they would not have been impressed with the fasting of the Pharisees or their own fasting.  

Patches and Wineskins 

READ 

Matthew 9:16-17 

16 “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before. 17 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.” 

This passage of Scripture contrasts the Old Testament law system with the New Testament revelation of the age of grace. Jesus was not trying to patch up an old system; He had come to establish a completely new one. One of the main problems faced by the apostles and evangelists of the first century was Judaism. Some wanted to mix their legalistic rules with grace. Jesus made it clear that the two could not be mixed. 

REFLECT 

Are you guilty of sometimes trying to mix the rules of the works of the Old Testament with the grace offered by Jesus in the New Testament? 

RESPOND 

With a friend, think seriously about not mixing law and grace. Read John 1:17; Colossians 2:16-17; Ephesians 2:8-9. It is legalistic to insist believers today live by a set of rules instead of their love for Jesus. 

A Bold Request 

READ 

Matthew 9:18 

18 As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.” 

The news of Jesus’ healing power had swept the region. The leader of the synagogue kneeling before Jesus was an act of worship as well as one of desperation. This Jewish leader had confidence Jesus could bring his daughter back to life. All he asked was that Jesus would come and lay His hand on her.  

REFLECT 

Are you amazed at the confidence people had in Jesus to be able to heal? 

RESPOND 

The miracles Jesus performed were to demonstrate He was the promised Messiah and had the ability to forgive sins. Other periods of miracles were during the time of Moses, as recorded in the book of Exodus and Elijah’s time as recorded in 1 Kings. The greatest miracle one can receive today is the forgiveness of sin and a changed life. Any physical healing is temporary because someday we will all be in eternity. But the spiritual miracle of salvation is eternal. 

Made Well by Faith 

READ 

Matthew 9:19-22 

19 So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him. 20 Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, 21 for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment. 

Jesus and His disciples headed to the home of the leader of the synagogue to bring his daughter back to life. On the way, this woman, who had constant bleeding for 12 years, came up behind Him. She did not think He had to touch her to be healed; she thought she only had to touch the fringe of His robe to be healed. What great faith she had. Jesus commended her for her faith and spoke healing into her body. 

REFLECT 

Are you impressed with the various ways Jesus could heal? Sometimes it was by touching; at other times at a distance; and here by someone touching his robe. Jesus is not limited by the means He uses to work. 

RESPOND 

Read Mark 5:24-34 to see Mark’s account of the healing of this woman. Comparing the Gospel accounts helps one to realize that the human authors God used were not including exactly the same details. They were directed to include only what was needed to support their intended theme to their readers. Matthew was especially writing with the Jewish people in mind, and Mark the Roman people. By the inspiration of the Scriptures these accounts are now available for all to read.