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Matthew Chapter Nine

 
The Call Of Matthew (9:9-13)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Who is a suitable prospect...
 a. For the kingdom of God?
 b. For becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ?
 
2. Who among your neighbors, friends, etc., do you think are most
 likely to receive the gospel?
 a. Those who are devout, religious, and respectable?
 b. Or those who may be ungodly, irreligious, and socially 
 unacceptable?
 
3. If any passage ought to give us caution against pre-judging suitable
 prospects for the gospel...
 a. It should be Mt 9:9-13
 b. In which we read of "The Call Of Matthew"
 
[In this passage we learn lessons by way of precept and example 
regarding discipleship and the mind of Christ that we do well to 
remember. Let's begin by turning our attention to...]
 
I. MATTHEW'S CALL AT WORK
 
 A. MATTHEW, THE MAN...
 1. His name was also Levi - cf. Mt 9:9; Lk 5:27
  2. Mark mentions him as the son of Alphaeus - Mk 2:14
 a. Note that another apostle, James, was also named the son of
 Alphaeus - Mt 10:3
 b. This has led some to think they were half-brothers, but
 many doubt this
 
 B. MATTHEW, THE TAX COLLECTOR...
 1. His occupation was one of collecting taxes for Rome
 2. The term "publican" describes this position, filled by Jews
 contracted by the Romans to collect taxes from their brethren
 3. As such, they were highly despised and equated with sinners
 - cf. Mt 9:11; 18:17
 
 C. MATTHEW, THE CALLED DISCIPLE...
 1. Perhaps to the amazement of many, Jesus tells him to "Follow 
 Me" - Mt 9:9a
 a. This was a call to become His disciple - cf. Mt 4:18-22
 b. Contrary to what may have been the expectations of many,
 Jesus saw something in Matthew that made him a suitable
 prospect
 2. Matthew demonstrates that Jesus' estimation of him is not 
  unwarranted
 a. He accepts the call of Jesus: "he arose and followed Him"
 - Mt 9:9b
 b. Just as Peter, Andrew, James and John had done earlier
 3. Of course, this same tax collector, despised by his Jewish
  brethren...
 a. Became one of the twelve apostles - Mt 10:1-4
 b. Wrote this gospel of Matthew attempting to save his own
 brethren in the flesh!
 
[That such a despised tax collector could be a useful disciple to Jesus
becomes apparent even more as we read next about...]
 
II. MATTHEW'S FEAST AT HOME
 
 A. THE NATURE OF THE GUESTS...
 1. Matthew threw a feast in honor of his new Master - Mt 9:10
 a. But then..."many tax collectors and sinners came"
 b. Who "sat down with Him and His disciples"
 2. As host, Matthew undoubtedly invited and permitted his ungodly
 friends to sit and mingle with the Lord and His disciples!
 -- Didn't Matthew know what social customs he was violating? Of
 course, but he had already learned a lesson that was about to
 be taught to others
 
 B. THE CHALLENGE OF THE PHARISEES...
 1. This religious sect of the Jews are shocked - Mt 9:11
 a. The Pharisees were separatists (the name means "separated
 ones")
 b. They were strict observers of the traditions of the elders,
 especially when it came to ceremonial cleanness - Mk 7:3
 2. They wonder why Jesus would eat with tax collectors and 
 sinners (the latter likely including prostitutes)
 a. They inquire of Jesus' disciples
 b. Likely they did so standing outside, as the disciples
 themselves went in an out, for it is unlikely the Pharisees
 would dare go into such a gathering of sinners!
 
 C. THE RESPONSE OF THE SAVIOR...
 1. An explanation for why it is proper for Him to mingle with
 sinners - Mt 9:12-13
 a. It is the sick, not those who are well, who need the care
 of a physician
 b. So it sinners, not the righteous, who need Someone calling
 them to repentance
 2. A rebuke for what was lacking in their own lives - Mt 9:13
 a. Sacrifice without mercy means nothing, as taught in Hos 6:6
 b. Implying that their religious devotion lacked the quality
 of mercy, or they would not have so despised sinners in
 need of salvation
 
[In the call of Matthew followed by the feast at his house, Jesus by
precept and example taught important lessons concerning evangelism and
discipleship. To elaborate, let me share...]
 
III. SOME OBSERVATIONS
 
 A. DON'T PREJUDGE YOURSELF OR OTHERS...
 1. Don't think one is ever too wicked to become a disciple of
 Jesus
 a. Either yourself or someone else
 b. Few could surpass Paul for the sins of which he was guilty,
 yet the Lord saved him - cf. 1 Ti 1:12-16
 2. Jesus sees people, not for what they are, but for what they
 can become
 a. As in the case of Simon, whom He called Cephas (Peter) 
 - cf. Jn 1:40-42
 b. Peter did not live up to his name (a rock), until several
 years of growth as a disciple
 3. We must never forget...
 a. Jesus died to save sinners
 b. No Christian is perfect, only forgiven
 c. A saint is a sinner who keeps on trying
 d. Churches grow out of weakness, not strength
 1) I.e., willing to accept weak, imperfect members, helping
  to them grow
 2) A church never grows by turning away weak people
 e. What Jesus said to the Pharisees: "...tax collectors and
 harlots enter the kingdom of God before you" - Mt 21:31
 
 B. DON'T CONFUSE SEPARATION WITH ISOLATION...
 1. It is true that we must be separate - cf. 2 Co 6:14-17
 a. We cannot have fellowship with sin
 b. We cannot engage in the wicked deeds of others
 2. But we must not isolate ourselves - cf. 1 Co 5:9-12
 a. We may withdraw from an erring brother, true
 b. But we cannot withdraw from those in the world
 3. While not of the world, we have been sent into world - Jn 17:
 15-18
 a. To be the salt of the earth, we must mingle with the meat 
 - Mt 5:13
 b. To be the light of the world, we must shine in the darkness
 - Mt 5:14-16
 -- While we must be concerned about the influence of the wrong
 kind of friends (1 Co 15:33), we must be willing to reach out
 to those who are lost!
 
 C. DON'T FORGET THE IMPORTANCE OF MERCY...
 1. We cannot receive forgiveness if we are not merciful - Mt 6:
 14-15
 2. We will be judged by a standard with no mercy if we are not
 merciful - Ja 2:12-13
 3. Religion (sacrifice) without mercy is not pleasing to God!
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. In "The Call Of Matthew", Jesus demonstrated the transforming power
 of the gospel...
 a. Able to take a despised tax collector and turn him into a beloved
 apostle
 b. Able to appeal to social outcasts, providing love and hope for a
 new life
 
2. By the feast at his house, Matthew demonstrated the transforming
 power of the gospel...
 a. Turning one who likely had been motivated by greed into a 
 gracious host
 b. Making one who may have formerly reveled in the evil conduct of
 his friends, now concerned about their spiritual well-being
 
If upon honest reflection of this passage we see ourselves more like
the Pharisees than Jesus or his new-found disciple, may the words of
Jesus move us to repent of our self-righteousness:
 
 "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who
 are sick. But go and learn what this means: `I desire mercy and
 not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but
 sinners, to repentance." (Mt 9:12-13)
 
Are you in need of the spiritual healing provided by the Great 
Physician...?

Moved By Compassion (9:35-38)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. A major problem regarding evangelism today is the lack of 
 motivation...
 a. Many Christians seem to lack the motivation to teach others
 1) Years go by, and little is done to share the gospel
 2) Rather than being troubled by this fact, many just attain a
 state of complacency
 b. Yet motivation is "the steam that drives the train"
 1) With proper motivation, a Christian will seek to save the lost
 2) Even if they don't know how, they will not rest until they are
 doing something that might lead others to Christ
 
2. What motivated Jesus to save the lost?
 a. What prompted Him to come to this earth?
 b. What propelled Him to go from city to city with the gospel of the
 kingdom?
 c. What moved Him to endure the shame and pain of dying on the
 cross?
 
3. Several factors could be listed...
 a. His strong sense of purpose (to do His Father's will) - Jn 6:38
 b. The Father's love (which He wanted to share) - Jn 15:9; 17:26
 c. The potential condemnation those He sought to save (of which He
 warned) - Mt 10:28
 d. The joy set before Him (helping Him to endure the cross) - He 12:
 2
 -- Each of these factors can help motivate us as well
 
4. But there was one factor which is mentioned in the text for our 
 study today...
 a. Our text is Mt 9:35-38, in which we read of the on-going ministry
 of Jesus
 b. Notice verse 36, "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved
 with compassion for them..."
 
[Compassion for the lost...could the lack thereof explain why many
Christians do not actively seek to save others? To help answer that
question, let's first take a closer look at...]
 
I. JESUS' COMPASSION FOR THE LOST
 
 A. JESUS HAD COMPASSION FOR THE LOST...
 1. As mentioned on numerous occasions
 a. In our text - Mt 9:36
 b. Prior to feeding the five thousand - Mt 14:14
 c. Prior to feeding the four thousand - Mt 15:32
 d. Toward various individuals
 1) A leper - Mk 1:40-41
 2) A demon-possessed man - Mk 5:1-20 (cf. verse 19)
 3) The widow of Nain who had lost her son - Lk 7:11-15
 4) The two blind men - Mt 20:30-34
 2. He was moved with compassion when He saw people:
 a. Weary and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd
 b. Suffering from diseases, demon possession, and hunger
 
 B. HIS COMPASSION MOVED HIM...
 1. To heal the sick and demon-possessed, raise the dead, and feed
 the hungry
 2. To personally teach those in need of a Shepherd - cf. Mk 6:34
 3. To call upon His disciples to pray for more laborers - Mt 9:
 37-38
 4. To send out His disciples as laborers - Mt 10:1-7
 
[Jesus was truly "Moved By Compassion" for the lost. Thus motivated,
He did what He could to meet their needs, especially their need for
salvation! Now let's a few moments to consider...]
 
II. OUR COMPASSION FOR THE LOST
 
 A. DO WE HAVE COMPASSION FOR THE LOST?
 1. Are we moved when we see...
 a. Multitudes of people who are without Christ?
 b. Individuals who are lost in sin?
 2. Can we say we have compassion for the lost, if we've made...
 a. No effort to teach someone the gospel?
 b. Little effort to even get to know those who are lost?
 3. What have you done in the past year for the lost?
 a. The answer to this question reveals much about our 
 compassion
 b. Are you pleased with the answer?
 
 B. HOW CAN WE DEVELOP COMPASSION?
 1. Does our inactivity suggest a lack of compassion?
 a. Is it evident that we have not been as concerned for the
 lost as we should be?
 b. What can we do to develop compassion?
 2. Compassion for lost souls can be developed by...
  a. Letting God teach us how to love - 1 Th 4:9; 1 Jn 3:16-17
 1) God teaches us through the example of His Son
 2) By frequent contemplation of God's love for us, the more
 we will love others!
 -- Thus the Word of God is essential for developing 
 compassion
 b. Spending time around people
 1) To love people, we need to get to know them
 a) As stated by Will Rogers, "I never met a man I did 
  not like"
 b) The more we come to know people, the more likely we
 become concerned about their well being
 2) We need to beware of becoming isolated from people
 a) Certain technological advances can be a hindrance to
 getting out and being with people (e.g., television,
 air conditioning, computers)
 b) Remember, Jesus was often moved by compassion when
 among the "multitudes" and "individuals"
 
 C. HOW SHOULD COMPASSION MOVE US?
 1. To do whatever we can do...
 a. Such as teach others - cf. Mk 6:34
 b. Unable to teach? Then compassion should move us to:
 1) Learn to teach others - cf. He 5:12; 1 Pe 3:15
 2) Make arrangements for others to be taught
 a) As Philip did for Nathaniel - Jn 1:45-46
 b) As Cornelius did for family and friends - Ac 10:24,33
 2. To seek to involve others in saving the lost...
  a. By praying that the Lord will send more laborers - Mt 9:38
 1) This is something everyone can do
 2) Even if we can't yet teach, we can pray! - 2 Th 3:1
 b. By sending out others to teach - Mt 10:1,5-7
 1) Jesus did more than teach and pray, He trained and sent
 out His disciples
 2) We can be involved with sending out others also
 a) Encouraging the training of those willing to teach
 b) Supporting financially those who go out to teach 
 - Ph 4:15-16; 3 Jn 5-8
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. Without compassion for the lost, there is no "steam"...
 a. We may have the knowledge and the opportunity to teach others
 b. But like a train on a track with no steam, we will just sit there
 -- Is that what we have been doing regarding evangelism? Could it
 be we are lacking the "steam" necessary for evangelism?
 
2. With compassion for the lost, we will not rest until we are doing
 something...
 a. It may not be the same thing as others, but it will be something
 b. If we don't know how or what to do, compassion will motivate us
 to keep looking, studying, etc., until we find something to do
 -- For as the "steam" builds, we will not be satisfied until we
 begin moving and releasing the steam, just as Jeremiah said:
 
 "Then I said, `I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore
 in His name.' But His word was in my heart like a burning fire
 shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could
 not." (Jer 20:9)
 
May the example of our Lord Jesus, the true Word of God, whose 
compassion moved Him to save us, burn in our hearts until we too are
"Moved By Compassion"!

－－《Executable Outlines》