Tag: Matthew
Does God love the IRS?
Scripture reading for January 10th: Matthew 9:1-17, Psalm 7:10-17, Proverbs 2:16-19
Have you ever been audited by the IRS? Did your IRS agent invite you over to his or her house? Jesus came by Matthew’s tax collection booth and called him to follow. Matthew responded by leaving and following Him. He invited Jesus to come over to his house and Jesus came and ate and laughed with Matthew’s “sinner” friends, causing quite a stir among the religious community!
“When the Pharisees saw this, they asked the disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:11-13) Jesus loved all men, but He could only bring health to those who realized that they were sick. Those who could not admit that they needed a doctor would not find healing. Likewise, those who could not confess sin would not find repentance.
This is the danger of religion. Religion reduces our righteousness or spiritual health to some man-made rules that we try to keep. We are told that if we just do this or confess to that, all will be well with our soul. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day meticulously tried to keep God’s law and judged those who did not do all that they had commanded. Their pride in their religious good works blinded them to their need to confess and repent from their own sins. (1st John 1:9)
Our Father sent Jesus to walk and live among His people, demonstrating His love and desire that all would repent and be made righteous. Our righteousness is a gift of God by grace through faith in Jesus, not the result of our keeping His laws or man’s religious rules. (Ephesians 2:8-10) Jesus loves all sinners, even tax collectors like Matthew! Responding to Jesus by repentance and faith leads to following Jesus and eternal life! Praise the Lord for His mercy! Thank God Jesus loved sinners enough to call them to follow Him and them eat and laugh with them! May we show Christ’s love to the lost and hurting people we come in contact with each day!
Jesus, please leave us alone!
Scripture reading for January 9th: Matthew 8, Psalm 7:1-9, Proverbs 2:12-15
Jesus left a fruitful place of ministry in Capernaum at Peter’s house where he healed many sick and cast out numerous demons. The Holy Spirit led Him to cross the Sea of Galilee to a region known as Gadarenes. This was Gentile territory and the people there raised lots of pigs. But it wasn’t for the pigs that Jesus would go there!
As Jesus and the disciples crossed the water, a severe storm threatened to capsize their boat. Even the experienced fishermen among the group were frantic and woke Jesus from his sleep in the bow of the boat. Jesus stood up and rebuked the storm and a great calm settled over the sea. He also rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith. (Matthew 8:24-27) They were amazed at His authority and wondered who He really was.
Upon arrival, the disciples and Jesus were greeted by two men who were demon possessed. These men came out of a cemetery and spoke directly to Jesus, addressing Him as the “Son of God”. It is interesting to note that the demons knew Jesus as the “Son of God” when the disciples were still wondering! These evil spirits also knew that Jesus had authority over them and begged Him to send them into a large herd of pigs nearby. Jesus did not dialogue with these spirits, but simply said, “Go!” As they entered the pigs, the pigs rushed headlong over a steep bank into the sea and all were drowned.(Matthew 8:32)
Mark told the story in a slightly different manner that gave more detail than Matthew. Mark told of one man who was called “Legion” because of the many demons in him. Mark also numbered the pigs, saying that there were nearly 2000 in that herd! As Jesus was leaving, the man who was delivered begged to follow Jesus in his boat, but Jesus sent him back to share with his family and the region what God had done for him. (Mark 5:11-20)
The saddest part of this story is the people of that town’s reaction to these men’s deliverance. They came to Jesus and begged Him to leave their region! (Matthew 8:34) The loss of their pigs was more important than the freedom of two souls from the devil’s grasp! As you think about this story, what emotions do you feel for the various characters represented?