Matthew 9:14-34

Four Healings and Growing Disciples

I want to briefly touch on Matthew, and why I believe Christ called him. His name is Levi, and thus he comes from the Levitical Priesthood. Christ chose him for this specific purpose that He would write the Gospel for the GOD's chosen. people. Mind you, outside of being called, and having his friends over to meet Jesus, we never hear of him in any other accounts. Yet, He then writes his Gospel account. While studying the Gospel of Matthew, one you must take into account whom he is writing to. The 1st century Jews.

I am quite amazed how far he fell, after all, he could never go back to being a tax collector, and even if Jesus never called him, he was never ever going to be accepted into the priesthood, because to them, he was like the woman bleeding, just another unclean, and un approachable leper to them.

Wherever a man is found by Christ, He sets Himself to find others, and the Lord is willing to co-operate in any effort to bring others to know Him. He will sit with perfect grace among publicans and sinners, lifting them to His own pure and holy level. He is always to be found where there are sin-sick souls; and where hearts are famished for love and joy, He is with them as their bridegroom.

1. Matthew 14-17 Fasting

1. Why were John's disciples joining the Pharisees in their questioning of Jesus on this matter?

1. It is probable that this question was put to Jesus after John was in prison.

1. At the time John's disciples would have been grieving mightily.

2. Fasting was the natural expression of sorrow, and maybe they wondered why Jesus and His disciples did not join in on their grief

3. After all Jesus and John were cousins, and John Baptized Jesus.

2. I have heard that maybe Jesus was letting John's disciples know that because their teacher was in captivity. It was appropriate that they should fast.

1. However, I am with my disciples, and it is a time for joy.

2. It is not fit that they should use the tokens of grief, and fast now.

3. When I am taken away, it will then be proper that they should fast.

4. Possibly, but I'm not sure I agree,

5. Just thought it worthy to share for you to ponder

2. We know why the Pharisees complained.

1. They were overly strict in keeping all the prescribed fasts, as well as many of their own choosing, with painful regularity.

2. They resented the absence of this legal tendency in the circle of disciples about Jesus,

3. they felt themselves superior to the Galilean fishermen, and asked for an explanation.

3. Jesus starts by responding to both John's disciples and to the Pharisees

1. Explains how the friends of the bridegroom are preparing for a marriage feast,

1. This is a joyous time, not a season for fasting, which is a sign of sorrow.

2. When the bridegroom is taken away, then it is time for sorrow and fasting

4. Jesus then uses the example of wineskins to make His point to the Jewish Religious leaders

1. New wine will burst old wineskins

2. What Jesus is bringing is not something every soul is capable of receiving

1. There is a reawakening coming that will renew the true intent of GOD's spiritual law.

2. The new wine of Christianity requires new vessels to contain it.

3. Judaism is religious system had no true reformation taking place

1. They worshiped their traditions over GOD

2. It became about the rulers and their traditions

3. GOD was no place to be found in their system

4. They have ignored and taken advantage of GOD people

4. Jesus did not come to reform Judaism,

1. That would be like putting new wine in an old wine skin

2. New wine is Christianity,

1. Old wineskins are Judaism

2. Like old wine skins, Judaism cannot handle it, the leaders have eternally super glued themselves to the Law they proved they themselves cannot, never have, and never will be able to follow.

3. Freedom in Christ has no part in the bondage of legalism.

5. So how do we understand how this affects us today in our modern situation

1. We need a revival, but not just the people. Church leaders need to have one also

2. Throughout history, great revivals just created new denomination

1. New denominations always seem to end up with the same result

2. Because, many times they use the same old wineskins

1. Some had true reformations, but most failed

3. True revival needs true evangelism based on the fundamental truths of the Word

4. We need to stop trying to slowly pour our new ways into the old ways just so they will be acceptable to those who refuse to change.

1. Within the church and in our lives, we have a tendency to attempt to pour new things or ideas into old molds. Some churches attempt to teach Christian principles that apply to today using Elizabethan English and pray in a language that is more than 400 years old. The church is not to be living in the past

2. Be bold, and honest about the problems

3. Do not hesitate with the truth

4. Get back to basics

1. Praying in groups

2. Fasting regularly

3. Make members and leaders at all levels accountable for their place with Jesus

2. Matthew 9:18-26 Rulers daughter and a bleeding woman (also covered in Mark 5:22 and Luke 8:41-56) We begin with a father with great faith

1. Mat 9:18-19 and 23-26 Daughter of Synagogue ruler restored to life

1. His name is Jairus, and he is a ruler of a synagogue

1. His daughter is dyeing, but believes Jesus can resurrect her life

2. He begins by worshipping Jesus,

1. This is not a typical Pharisees or religious ruler of the day.

2. This man is a man of GOD

3. He believes in Jesus and His miraculous healing powers

3. Jesus journey to the girl is interrupted by a woman who has been suffering from a terrible problem for 12 years

1. She comes to Jesus, but in a stealthy way so as not to be noticed

4. It was customary for the Jewish prophets to lay their hand on the person benefiting from the attention of a religious leader.

5. We read that Jesus was very personal with the needy

6. His faith in the ability of Christ to heal even from death, is absolute.

1. Jairus probably witnessed the fact, thus his strong faith in Jesus' ability to heal.

7. Jesus was delayed by the woman who touched his cloak, and learns the girl has died

8. He arrives to the house

1. Many people crying with flute players and much noise with all in sorrow

2. Jesus Sternly bids them to make room, because the girl is not dead

1. They ridiculed Him for they know she is

2. Scornful laughter and derisive jeering of the crowd did not deter the Lord.

3. Jesus puts everyone out but Peter, James, John, father, mother

4. He takes the girl by the hand and tells her to arise

1. The ruler's daughter lives again

1. Luke writes that her spirit returned to her, she was certifiably dead, but is now alive

2. The death of all the faithful is merely a sleep for some little time in the bed of the grave, from which there will be a glorious awakening when God will reunite soul and body.

3. We too shall learn to look upon our death in the right way that we do not become frightened before it as unbelievers do

4. Christ is the Fountain of life, and He can bring back to life even one which the grim reaper has claimed

5. Seems that Jesus desired no notoriety for Himself, but rather wanted the parents of the maiden to contemplate the miracle in quiet thankfulness

6. The report of this resurrection spread through that entire region. It was a matter unheard of till now that a dead person was raised to life again.

9. The widow's son at Nain, and Lazarus, were raised from the dead openly, but this damsel privately

1. Maybe because Capernaum slighted the lesser miracles of restoring health, and was unworthy to see the greater miracle of a life restored from death

2. These pearls were not to be cast before those that would trample them under their feet.

2. Matthew 9:20-22 Woman's faith heals her

1. After years of suffering it's a good bet that the woman was struck with fear, and apprehension that she would be rejected. Not by Jesus, but by the crowd surrounding him

1. After all, her malady had reduced her to the status of a leper

1. Being a physician, Luke pointed out that the woman spent her wealth on physicians who could not heal her

1. She had spent her money on physicians who could not heal her

2. She impoverished herself without getting better

2. This is actually triple curse she has had to live with

1. She could not touch people,

2. Family would probably have distanced themselves from her

3. Being unclean, she couldn't even go to the temple for spiritual help

3. After all these years, she was a poor unclean spiritual wreck with no friends.

2. Finally she learned of a physician who took no money

1. Been said, He only asks for you to have faith

2. She put her faith in the man from Nazareth.

3. Just the faith of a mustard seed is all we need

3. If only she can make it through the crowd gathered around Jesus, without anyone outing who she is

1. All she needed to do was touch His garment, and she knew she would be healed.

4. True, this woman’s faith was imperfect, after all she believed that there was virtue in His cloak.

1. This virtue is a type of what one scholar refers to as Actuated Faith

1. She set a point of contact for her faith.

1. Some were healed by the shadow of Peter (Acts 5:15)

2. By handkerchiefs or aprons from Paul (Acts 19:11-12)

3. Some actually believe the shroud of Turin has this power

2. This is a faith in objects, but only if they come from one known to have healing powers

3. This type of faith comes with an understanding that the miracle is already a fact, even before it happens.

5. Her touch was a magnificent evidence of her faith. It might be as slight as feather, but it was enough. Not grasping, but lightly touching!

6. Jesus felt the power leave Him

1. He asked who touched Him, but there were throngs of people

2. Jesus knew who touched Him

3. He wanted her to make a public confession in her faith

7. One can expect her dreaded fear when He asked the question

1. Jesus turned and looked upon her, (Mark 5:33; Luke 8:47)

1. Yet she was healed, and was bold to admit her transgression of touching Him

2. Yes, transgression, she knew not to touch any person (Levie 15:1-33)

3. Religious leaders of the day were especially stringent on this

8. Then Jesus gives her His comforting assurance that all was well

1. "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." (Matthew 9:22)

2. Fear must have must vanished at His kind words,

3. She approached Him in faith and was greeted as a daughter to Him,

3. Something to ponder about the two incidents of the woman and the little girl

1. Christ raised three dead persons to life

1. One newly dead, one being carried to the grave, and one smelly dead for 4 days

1. The ruler's daughter (Matthew 9:22-24) (One newly departed)

2. The widow's son Luke 7:12-17 (One being carried to the grave)

3. Lazarus (John 11:1-44) (One smelly dead for 4 days)

2. No degree of death is so desperate as to be past our Lord's help.

2. Matthew informs us that the woman was bleeding for 12 years, and in Luke we learn this young girl was 12.

1. Contrast between Jarius' daughter and this woman is that the girl had 12 good years but the women had 12 years of ostracism and misery.

1. Yet both were in need of Jesus at the same time

3. I found some Jewish beliefs on the number 12, and while Matthew wrote his Gospel for the Jewish believers, he never mentioned the girls age, but Luke did

4. Conjecture on my part, and not essential I guess, but I find it interesting they happened at the same time. Almost as if they are related, but only the Father knows, and thus the Holy Spirit moved here to put them together.

5. One day we may find out more about many things we ponder once we get to heaven.

1. Maybe the woman was once a good friend of the little girl's family.

2. Maybe the woman shared in the joy of the birth of her friend's newborn baby.

1. Then her malady came, and the bleeding was so bad it made her as unclean and unapproachable as a leper.

2. It goes without saying that along with all her money, she also would have lost all her close friends.

3. Have you ever lost touch with an old friend, just to learn years later something tragic happened and thus the circumstances led you to lose touch, but you never quite knew why?

4. Or maybe they became part of the wrong crowd, and thus their lifestyle became anathema to your way of life and thus you shunned them.

3. GOD does have a way of bringing those in true need of salvation back into your life at opportune times. Just something to ponder.

6. Rulers child being his daughter, and Jesus says to woman “Daughter your trust/faith has delivered you”

4. Either the person asking on behalf of someone or the person themselves need to have faith in Jesus' power and ask for help or believe that Jesus can do for you what you need done.

3. Matthew  9:27- 31 Two blind men healed

1. “Son of David?” they yelled at him from a distance

1. The only other recorded case we read of where the blind pleaded with Jesus to give them sight, and obtained it, were 2 blind men alongside the road in Jericho. They cried out in the same manner, “Son of David''. The crowd warned them to be silent, but they just got louder and more persistent until Jesus called them over and healed them. (Matthew 20:30).

2. The opinion was held in Judea that the Messiah would be the Son of David, John 7:42. Jesus was openly acknowledged as coming from this family. (Matthew 12:23; Matthew 15:22; Matthew 20:30-31; Matthew 21:9 and 21:15; Matthew 22:45)

2. Following Him, He did not respond, until they followed Him into the house

1. So why did he not respond before outside?

1. Because He wanted this kept private.

3. They begged for mercy

1. They did not grumble against fate,

2. Did not demand their right to be healed

3. They did not complain about unmerited punishment

4. It is well known that when we lose a sense, the others will increase.

1. Lose your sight, and hearing gets better

2. Being blind they could not see the evidence of Christ’s miracles. Thus they only had the testimony of others who had seen the miracles.

1. They believed by hearing, because “ faith comes by hearing”. (Romans 10:17)

They who, by the providence of God, are deprived of bodily sight, may  let, by the grace of God, have the eyes of their understanding so enlightened, as to discern those great things of God, which are hid from the wise and prudent

5. Jesus has but one question

1. They respond yes Lord

2. Jesus wanted them to affirm their faith

3. So he touches their eyes and heals them according to their faith.

1. According to their faith, means

1. Had they just been saying they believed, but did not

2. They would still be blind

2. Interestingly, Jesus did not always do something to heal

1. Sometimes He just said your healed

2. Sometimes he laid a hand on someone

3. Yet every time he healed a blind man, he always did some sort of action.

1. Maybe they needed a point of contact to truly believe He did it

6. After healing he sternly tells them not to tell anyone.

1. Now we get the reason He didn't heal them in public

1. Some think because Capernaum had slighted Him by not believing after all the miracles He performed there

2. I disagree, I believe this harkens back to the rule He gave earlier in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:1-4)

But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

7. Most likely they thought it was Jesus' humility that prompted Him to make such a demand. Yet being full of joy because of the light they now see, they shared the news news far beyond the boundaries of Capernaum and into the whole country

8. Isaiah tells us that “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,” (Isaiah 35:5)

9. Christ showed Himself to be of GOD by doing as GOD did in the beginning

1. By giving sight to the blind,

1. He commanded the light to shine out of darkness. (Genesis 1:3)

2. By raising the dead,

1. He breathed into man the breath of life, (Genesis 2:7)

3. By giving sight to the blind,

1. He commanded the light to shine out of darkness. (Genesis 1:3)

10. The failure of the men to keep their blessing to themselves goes right to the heart of being humble

1. God wants us to be blessed,

2. Yet, if we are blessed in private, then keep our blessings to ourselves

3. Do not parade around so everyone sees it

4. Often times, those blessed openly, are not as blessed as those blessed in privately

5. It shows our humility to keep it to ourselves

6. It shows our ability to be obedient to the one who gave in secret that you would honor their request

7. When I give in private, I do it so I do not come of as being braggadocious

1. I expect those I did the deed in private for, to keep it between us, and not to parade around so all can see what He has done

4. Matthew 9:32-34 Mute man healed

1. Leaving the house, the 2 men began speaking their miracle healing,

2. Probably passing them on the way, was a man who could not speak

3. A demon possessed man who could not speak was brought to Jesus.

1. Coincidence?

2. I think not

3. After healing the mute man, He did not warn him to not speak about it to others

4. Nothing is said about anyone's faith,

1. Although it took someone's faith to bring the man to Jesus

2. Jesus saw the need, drove out the demon and he could speak.

1. This would prove that the demons had been removed.

2. In this healing, there is no indication that there was anything more than a physical healing.

3. Thus no more needed to be said

5. This is the first of two times Matthew records Jesus healing a mute man.

1. He recorded the other healing in (Matthew 12:22-24)

2. Both times the Pharisees insinuate that there is intimate relation and fellowship between Christ and the powers of evil, that He is in league with Satan and can therefore command them at will.

3. Interestingly, Jesus purposely ignored the remark this time, but the next time he healed a mute man Jesus gave them a lesson on a house divided against itself. (Matthew 12:24-28)

1. The Pharisees could not deny Satan's power, but refused to admit Jesus did His miracles by the power of GOD.

2. Twice they blasphemed Him

Our body is a traveling tabernacle which our soul resides in, and the place the Holy Spirit desires to dwell. The Great Physician, Jesus Christ, came not only to remove all uncleanliness from the temple so that the Holy Spirit can reside there, but He also came to heal our physical bodies. IF we truly worship GOD in spirit and in Truth, then there is no limit to which GOD will use us for HIS glory. There is only one thing that limits GOD's ability to use us, and that is our own inability to give everything that is us to HIM.

You must understand that there is no limit to what Christ will do for us. If only we will trust Him. The measure of His giving is according to the measure of our faith, and the measure of our faith will be according to the measure of our abandonment to Him. Spread abroad His fame, but understand that today the World still hates Him, and will most assuredly hate us.