In last week’s message the missionary journey of the 12 apostles was limited and localized to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Moving into verse 16 Jesus pivots towards the future work of the disciples past Pentecost and into the time of the Great Tribulation. The key theme is opposition will be experienced by all disciples in every age. But how do we respond to those that are hostile to the gospel message? Jesus instructs us to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves so that we can survive as sheep among the wolves. This calls for a certain shrewdness in dealing with those that oppose our message but at the same time keeping our behavior blameless before a watching world. This sounds easier said then done but our dependence must be upon the Holy Spirit who guides us in all things (Jn. 14:26).
5. For you are a people holy to the
LORD your God. The LORD your God
has chosen you to be a people for
his treasured possession, out of all
the peoples who are on the face of
the earth.
Israel: God’s Chosen People
6. For I am not ashamed of the gospel,
for it is the power of God for
salvation to everyone who believes,
to the Jew first and also to the
Greek.
To the Jew First
First Point
Dealing with Sin is Jesus’ First Priority
Matthew 9:1-2
1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”
First Point
Dealing with Sin is Jesus’ First Priority
Matthew 9:1-2
1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”
Second Point
Dealing with Critics was Jesus’ Lowest Priority
Matthew 9:3-6
3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing[a] their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
The people in Jesus’ day took blasphemy very seriously. Offenders died. Even an unproven accusation of blasphemy could prove life-threatening. In such a climate, the charge of blasphemy worked almost as well as a contract for murder. Blasphemy meant to curse, revile, or insult the name of God. Innocent persons could be accused, convicted, and killed without having a chance to defend themselves. In fact, the public cause of Jesus’ death was blasphemy. Those directly responsible for his execution wanted the charge posted: “This man said, I am King of the Jews” (John 19:21 nrsv).
Barton, B. B. (1996). (p. 173). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew (p. 173). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
3. To show that the most important thing Jesus came to do was to deal with sin.
Second Point
Dealing with Critics was Jesus’ Lowest Priority
Matthew 9:3-6
3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing[a] their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
The people in Jesus’ day took blasphemy very seriously. Offenders died. Even an unproven accusation of blasphemy could prove life-threatening. In such a climate, the charge of blasphemy worked almost as well as a contract for murder. Blasphemy meant to curse, revile, or insult the name of God. Innocent persons could be accused, convicted, and killed without having a chance to defend themselves. In fact, the public cause of Jesus’ death was blasphemy. Those directly responsible for his execution wanted the charge posted: “This man said, I am King of the Jews” (John 19:21 nrsv).
Barton, B. B. (1996). (p. 173). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew (p. 173). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
