The Jesus Way (slide)
5th Sunday • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 6 viewsWe need to strive to see the world through Jesus’ eyes instead of our human eyes.
Notes
Transcript
Joke
Joke
A man was painting his house when a poorly dressed fellow approached and said he was down on his luck. He asked whether he could do something to earn a meal or a few dollars.
The homeowner thought for a minute. “Sure,” he said. “Take this can of yellow paint, go around back, and paint my porch.”
An hour later the man returned.
“Finished already?” asked the homeowner.
“Yeah,” the man said. “But I have some news for you. That’s not a Porsche, it’s a Mercedes.”
Open (slide)
Open (slide)
3d glasses
2 sheets of plastic
make you sick
even though it seems like it they didn’t change the actual movie (not actually real)
the 3d glasses would change your perspective to make the movie appear 3d.
The glasses make it so that you can see the movie the way it was meant to be seen.
humanity has a hard time seeing people in a good way
humans don’t look for good, its as if we want to see the worst in people.
there is no benefit of the doubt
Believers have the opportunity to be different. However, believers don’t always take that opportunity.
Think about the 3d glasses for a second, if you want to experience the movie in the way it was designed to be seen you have to see them through the glasses. If you want to see humanity the way that humanity was made should be seen with love and compassion, you have to change your viewpoint and see them the way Jesus does.
This leads us to our scripture today. Turn with me to Matthew 9 we are going to be in verses 9-13, and hopefully by the end of the day we will see by Jesus example of calling Matthew how to see people differently. Jesus does three specific things in this scripture that will help us do just that. First of all Jesus shows us that…
Jesus Sees What We Don’t (Slide)
Jesus Sees What We Don’t (Slide)
As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
Jesus has started his ministry and is doing signs and wonders. In fact Jesus just finished healing a paralytic while at the same time irritating the religous leaders.
Now he is traveling with his disciples in Capernaum and they come across Matthew.
These are some facts about Matthew that are very important.
Facts about Matthew.
Author of the book of Matthew.
He was the 7th disciple called. Andrew, Simon/Peter, James, John, Philip, Nathaniel, Matthew.
The Bible says that Jesus called Matthew, Matthew dropped everything and then started following Jesus. The same way Peter, Andrew, James, and John did. They were fishermen. Their legacy was that of a fisherman. Their future was to be a fisherman. Until Jesus called. Jesus called and they answered. So did Matthew.
Then I read a statement that changed the entire narrative of the story for me.
In John MacArthur’s book 12 Ordinary Men he says…
“In all likelihood none of the twelve was more notorious as a sinner than Matthew.” - John MacArthur (Slide 4) 12 Ordinary Men
Let me explain why.
Tax collectors were the most despised people in all Israel.
They were hated by all Jewish society, in fact they were hated more than the occupying Roman soldiers.
They were traitors to their own people.
The tax collectors would buy tax franchises from Rome.
They collected their own people money.
They extorted money from their own people.
They even hired thugs to get the money owed.
They were rich! Off the backs of their own people.
The tax collectors were considered equal to the harlots, and the other deplorables,
Thats who Matthew was. That is who everyone saw. Matthew the tax collector.
When you think of Matthew what do you say first.
Matthew the disciple.
Matthew the Bible author.
Or is it Matthew the tax collector.
You don’t say Peter the fisherman. You don’t say Philip the carpenter. But when we think about Matthew we know that he collected taxes from his people.
Then….
Matthew heard Jesus call. Matthew gave up everything. Matthew answered Jesus call.
“He said not a word, for his soul was in the speechless surprise of unexpected grace. Far from being depressed about what he left behind, his heart overflowed with joy. He lost a career but gained a destiny!” - Jewish Scholar Alfred Edersheim (Slide)
Jesus saw something that no one else could. Jesus saw Matthews heart. Jesus saw what Matthew was worth and it was a lot more than a tax collector.
Think back to when Samuel was picking Saul’s replacement. The big strong Saul looking brother of David came up and Samuel was sure this was the one. Then look at what God said about Davids brother to Samuel.
(SLIDE)
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
God picked David, knowing how much David would mess up. Knowing the gravity of the sins he would commit.
Jesus chose Matthew not on popular opinion. Not on someones advice. Jesus chose Matthew because Jesus SAW Matthew.
…….
Next our passage jumps to a dinner Matthew put on in order to show everyone his new teacher. He was proud and honored. Matthew wanted everyone to know about Jesus. So he called everyone he knew who would come.
Jesus came and sat and fellowshipped at that banquet and that shows us that…
Jesus Sits Where We Can’t (Slide)
Jesus Sits Where We Can’t (Slide)
And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.
WHAT I MEAN: Jesus sit on the moon and we can’t. Not that people are not able to sit. Its more the fact that people just cannot bring themselves to sit or associate with people that they do not like or agree with.
The word sinner.
many tax collectors and sinners came
Matthew 3. Paradigmatic Healing (8:1–9:35)
The word sinners is used here by Matthew because first-century Judaism used the term in at least two specialized senses: (1) Am-ha-aretz (“the people of the land”), i.e., the vast majority of Jews who did not follow the stricter sectarian regulations of the Pharisees; and (2) particularly grievous sinners—the most criminal and disreputable types of people in society.
When verse 10 (WRITTEN BY MATTHEW HIMSELF) says the word sinner he is saying that of all the sinners that came these were the most criminal and disreputable types of people in society, and they were his friends!!
particularly grievous sinners—the most criminal and disreputable types of people in society. The “sinners” most likely included robbers, murderers, drunkards, prostitutes, and any other sort of riff-raff.
The problem is that this is the norm in our society today as well. Including with Christians. People believe a different way. Do things a different way. Act a different way. Instead of sitting with them, eating with them, loving them like Jesus did these “sinners.” Society and unfortuntately some Christians walk on the other side of the street. You notice I didn’t say accept what they do. But there is a difference between loving someone and accepting their actions.
Back to the scripture. We go from Matthew accepting the call to this dinner. We have no idea if it was the same day, we just know what happened.
SCRIPTURE
Matthew is so excited about Jesus that he throws a party, a banquet, and invites all of his friends to meet his new teacher.
You notice I said friends. Because Matthew is so hated because he is the tax collector, that the only people that he can consider friends are the people that were on his level and hated as much as he was. (The “sinners” most likely included robbers, murderers, drunkards, prostitutes, and any other sort of riff-raff)
(Slide)
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.
Tax collectors and prostitutes often went hand and hand because they were considered on the same level. This might come as a surprise but I don’t like paying taxes. Shocker. No one does. But the level of hate here is astounding.
Jesus didn’t acknowledge the hate. Jesus showed by example how we are to love. By showing up.
(SLIDE)
Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
People should not see us they should see Jesus.
When we are saved we still are sinners. The only difference is we have a Savior who takes our sins and wipes them clean. Jesus doesn’t look at us and see a sinner who is beyond help. I do not want to be judged by the amount I sin because i am beyond guilty. I want people to judge me by how much Jesus they see in me.
Jesus and his disciples go and eat with Matthew and his friends, and you don’t read anything about them judging.
Jesus ate with Matthew and his friends because those were the people that needed Jesus the most.
All to often the people that others can’t bear to eat with are the people that need Jesus the most.
Jesus called Matthew, a man no one but the worst wanted around. Jesus ate with the scourge of society, a group of people that most wouldn’t talk to let alone eat with. Jesus did all of this because…
Jesus Loves People We Won’t (Slide)
Jesus Loves People We Won’t (Slide)
And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The majority of people try and love one another. Despite what you read on the interweb or see on tv. I truly believe deep inside that people don’t like the hate. But how can someone love someone that is absolutely unlovable. Matthew and his friends were just that. Unlovable. At least by human standards.
The Pharisees either saw the meal, or heard about the meal, and they were mad. They were mad because Jesus was going against what was proper and normal. Jesus was saying things that went against what the Pharisees taught. It went against their power. Jesus was claiming some amazing things. Jesus was teaching bad people about scripture and what it really meant to be a man or woman of God. Jesus ate with these “sinners.”
The Pharisees go on the attack. But they didn’t have the guts to confront Jesus himself, they went to his disciples.
If your teacher is so good what is he doing eating with those “sinners.”
You see this is the difference between the Pharisees and Matthew. Matthew the evil tax collector, the “sinner” didn’t hesitate to follow what his heart told him was right. He knew the truth and what was right, and for the first time in who knows how long he chose it. The pharisees on the other hand were more concerned with the fact that Jesus had eaten with these evil people than they were of trying to find the real reason why he was eating with those people.
It reminds me of the parable of the tax collector.
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
It’s not about what people see, it’s about what God sees. Its about the heart.
After hearing the Pharisees talking to His disciple Jesus decided to play their game only better, so Jesus answered the question posed by the Pharisees to the disciples by giving the disciples the answer.
Jesus spoke to his disciples but Jesus needed everyone. The Pharisees, the disciples, and the sinners this message.
But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus saw that the people that were sitting at the table needed him. They were lost and hurting. They were looking for answers. The Pharisees on the other hand were more interested in being right.
Close (slide)
Close (slide)
Humanity measures each other by what they see. By what they hear. They don’t give people a chance. I think you will agree, It would be great if we could put on some glasses just like this and see things the way that Jesus does. Just like those 3d glasses we talked about at the beginning we could wear them and while everyone else sees the world the way they want to we could wear those Jesus glasses and see the world the way it was intended to be seen. Unfortunately those magic glasses don’t exist. However, what we do have is prayer, where we can talk to Jesus on a daily basis and ask him to help us see through his eyes. WE do have his word that we can read and absorb and be more and more like Jesus by following HIS example.
If you curse me, then I will bless you
If you hurt me, I will forgive
If you hate me, then I will love you
I choose the Jesus Way
If you’re hopeless, I will defend you
If your burdened, Ill share the weight
If your hopeless, then let me show you
There’s hope in the Jesus Way
If you strike me, I will embrace you
If you chain me, I’ll sing His praise
If you kill me, my home is heaven
For I choose the Jesus way
Matthew chose the Jesus way. If your saved, you chose the Jesus way. We just have to show everyone else the Jesus Way.
Benediction
Benediction
A Prayer from Paul to the Church of Thessalonica and a prayer for us today.
May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
