Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Ember Wednesday
So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."
And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!"
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, "Arise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"--then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." And he arose and departed to his house.
Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.
As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him.
Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "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."
And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!"
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, "Arise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"--then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." And he arose and departed to his house.
Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.
As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him.
Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "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."
Matthew 9:1-13
How strong is your faith? Do you see obstacles or opportunities? Do you come to God believing "that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him?" (Hebrews 11:6) Does your faith move you to act? On behalf of others?
Come to Him and believe. Come for forgiveness of your sins. Come for pardon. Do not come to have your sins excused. God cannot pass over your sins without punishing them. He will not condone your sins. But, because of his wrath for your sins that he placed on Christ, he can and will forgive them. Don't tuck one back for safekeeping. Lay them all on Christ. He already knows all of them.
This is why he came: to save his people from their sins.
On a personal note, I find something in this passage particularly beautiful that you may have missed. Matthew was a tax collector. Many of the other disciples were fishermen. And later in the Gospels, we read that they returned to fishing. Matthew, however, after having his sins forgiven, after knowing the Master, after tasting freedom, never returned to collecting taxes.
Come to Him and believe. Come for forgiveness of your sins. Come for pardon. Do not come to have your sins excused. God cannot pass over your sins without punishing them. He will not condone your sins. But, because of his wrath for your sins that he placed on Christ, he can and will forgive them. Don't tuck one back for safekeeping. Lay them all on Christ. He already knows all of them.
This is why he came: to save his people from their sins.
On a personal note, I find something in this passage particularly beautiful that you may have missed. Matthew was a tax collector. Many of the other disciples were fishermen. And later in the Gospels, we read that they returned to fishing. Matthew, however, after having his sins forgiven, after knowing the Master, after tasting freedom, never returned to collecting taxes.
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