Why Jesus Came | Matthew 9:1-17
Series: All: All Authority, All Nations, All Allegiance
Scripture: Matthew 9:1-17 (Main)
Title: Why Jesus Came #Forgiveness (Darien Gabriel)
Bottom line: Jesus has all authority in the world and therefore deserves all allegiance from the world.
Discussion questions for group and personal study.
1. What would you say if someone asked you, "What is your greatest need?" Explain your answer.
2. Explain the difference between suffering that is directly related to your own sin and suffering that comes as a result of living in a fallen world.
3. If someone said that Jesus never claimed to be divine, how could you respond by using the account of the paralytic?
4. How might Jesus' calling of Matthew give us hope for unbelievers we know who seem unreachable with the gospel?
5. Why do disciples of Jesus fast now? What does this say about our ultimate hope?
Final Questions (optional or in place of above)
What is God saying to you right now?
What are you going to do about it?
Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast
Intro
Illustration: imagine you have a house do you live in that you owe most of the money on. Maybe you’ve lived there two years and you still owe 28 years on your 30 year mortgage. Now imagine that your AC unit goes out. That’s about $5000 to fix and you just don’t have that kind of money sitting in the bank to buy a replacement. But it’s in the dead of summer or the dead of winter and you really need it now. so you ask the Lord for help. I imagine the Lord send somebody to help and you expect that they’re coming over to give you money to fix the AC unit. But instead what they give you is enough money to pay off of your house all of your house. you expected them to pay for the AC unit, but not the whole house he would be elated. This is in a sense what Jesus did when he came to the man who was paralyzed. The man came, hoping and expecting, and believing that Jesus could, and would heal him of his paralysis. And he would’ve been extremely happy if that happened. But instead, Jesus said your sins are forgiven. How do you think he would’ve reacted? I think two feelings would’ve run through him at that moment. First I think he would have been disappointed and surprised. After all, he came to be healed of his paralysis what could be better than that. Second, I think he would have been overwhelmed with gratitude. I think, in the presence of Jesus, looking into his eyes, he would’ve recognized holiness, and recognized his need for forgiveness In Flash. As a result, I think he would’ve been cognizant of the immensity of the gifts he just received, and how much better it was, then to be healed of paralysis.
“Many of you no doubt know of Joni Eareckson Tada, who has been a quadriplegic for several decades. She is confined to a motorized wheelchair.
However, she paints by holding the brush in her mouth, she composes music, she writes books and speaks at conferences, and she has a glorious testimony and an international ministry. She says that she knows that when she gets to heaven she will be whole, and she cannot wait for that moment. In the meantime, she is trusting in the love of God to sustain her during this earthly time of travail. She has said that she would rather be in her wheelchair knowing that she is forgiven in Christ than to be whole without His forgiveness.” RC Sproul, Matthew,
Bottom line: Jesus has all authority in the world and therefore deserves all allegiance from the world.
The world = all authority over disease, demons, the Devil, danger, disciples, death and damnation. That’s pretty comprehensive, wouldn’t you say? Would you say that anyone with that kind of authority in our world would be worthy of all allegiance? Do you live like this?
3-2-3-2-3 pattern
“Sermon on the Move” where Jesus is demonstrating his authority and the kingdom of God coming being good news.
9:1-8 Miracle of the Paralytic
Q. What do I want you to know?
A. That Jesus has the divine authority to forgive sins.
Q. Why?
A. Because we all need his forgiveness to be reconciled to God. Perhaps we didn’t believe he had that kind of authority. He demonstrates that he does here.
Q. What do I want you to do?
A. Respond in faith asking for God to forgive you of your sins today. Be as specific as you can knowing that he’ll reveal your sins to you as you need him to.
Q. Why?
A. This leads to you pledging your full allegiance to Christ as you gladly submit to and worship him.
9:9-13 Discipleship
Q. What do I want you to know?
A. Jesus has come not to call those who think they don’t need his forgiveness (the “righteous”) but sinners (who know they need his forgiveness).
Q. Why?
A. Because while God is sovereignly calling people to follow him to repent and believe, we often think we’re ok and don’t need his forgiveness and ignore him. We have a response to make. But we also have a choice. We can choose to trust and follow. And we can choose to reject his gracious offer.
Q. What do I want you to do?
A. Recognize your need for his forgiveness. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We’re all diseased by sin. Jesus is our only cure.
Q. Why?
A. So that you’ll receive this new life that Jesus offers and walk away from dead religion.
9:14-17 Discipleship
Q. What do I want you to know?
A. Jesus brings a newness (covenant, power, kingdom) that cannot be confined to the old forms.
A. Or, “Jesus came not to reform or patch-up a legalistic Judaism but to bring about something new: salvation (forgiveness of sins) by grace through faith.”
Q. Why?
A. So you can experience true life and not a fake religion.
Q. What do I want you to do?
A. Enter this new life by embracing and following Jesus Christ.
Q. Why?
A. He’s the way to true life.
Q. What do I want you to know?
A. Fasting is denying ourselves the things of this world.
Q. Why?
A. So that we keep seek first his kingdom and his righteousness ahead of things of this world.
Q. What do I want you to do?
A. Fast and pray for Jesus’ return.
Q. Why?
A. To help us keep his return at the forefront of our thinking each day.
Conclusion
David Platt gives us:
A Pause after reading Matthew 8
A. Let’s trust wholeheartedly in Jesus’ authority.
B. Let’s rest peacefully in Jesus’ authority.
C. Let’s submit completely to Jesus’ authority.
D. Let’s rejoice gladly in Jesus’ authority
References/Bibliography:
“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes
“Matthew” by RC Sproul
“CSB Christ Chronological,” Holman
“Jesus Manifesto” sermon series, by Darien Gabriel: https://youtu.be/x65i2tqFrXk
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)
Outline Bible, D Willmington
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)
ESV Study Bible
ESV Gospel Transformation Bible (GTB)