Matthew 9:1-13

Matthew 9:1-13

Jesus makes dramatic claims on our lives. In The Sermon on the Mount He issues a radical call to discipleship. How does he prove those claims? His authority is evident in three healings. This authority is expressed in His demand for absolute loyalty. He proves His authority and the power over nature and control of the supernatural.

Now, He proves His authority in forgiving sin. The forgiveness of sin, in the ultimate sense, is the province of God alone. Jesus is claiming God-like authority! Either He is God or He is delusional. But talk can be cheap. To say sins are forgiven doesn’t mean they are forgiven. The healing, which is impossible to fake, is offered as proof that what might be faked is, in fact, real. The people were filled with awe. Notice Matthew says they, "Glorify God who had given such authority to men." So, who are the men referred to here? why does Matthew use the plural "men'? Is this a reference to the church and disciples or is this a reference to the Incarnation? The former is a better answer as Matthew wants to support the early Church and its work among Jews.

It is in the context of unassailable authority that Jesus calls and dines with Levi. While scribes were professional professors of the law, the Pharisees were more general and the term refers to men for whom the focus of ritual obedience was primary, such as tithing and ritual cleanliness. For the Scribes the focus was on knowledge of the Law and regulations with its implications. For the Pharisees avoiding any and everything that might violate the law was primary. The academic focus of the Scribes and the ritual focus of the Pharisees could lead to a religion that was entirely self focused. For Jesus the priority was God's desire to rescue the Lost Ones. In order to prevent religion from becoming stale academics or an empty ritual, the love of God and His agenda must be paramount. Jesus commands that I contemplate the passage from Hosea, "I desire compassion not sacrifice." God wants me to live holy, but holy living is more than ritual keeping. Holy living is heart-motivated, it is merciful and it is expressed in fellowship with sinners.

"Lord, help me to think deeply about what it means that You "desire compassion not sacrifice. AMEN"