Stepping into chapter 10 we enter the second mission discourse in Matthew’s gospel. The new challenge facing Jesus is his time is limited and his disciples need to be quickly trained for the work of ministry that lay ahead of them. Calling the twelve to himself he sends them out to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But not before he gives them his own power and authority to authenticate themselves as his messengers. For the first time in Matthew’s gospel, we have a complete list of the disciples. A group of rag tag men that will soon turn the world upside down with the gospel. Through them the message of salvation must go to the Jew first (Rom. 1:16). The lesson for us is we too have a message proclaim but it isn’t limited to just the Jews we are to share the gospel of grace with everyone around us.
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.