Matthew 9:4-13 Jesus Calls Matthew

Matthew was a tax collector. Tax collectors were despised by the Jewish people because they represented the Roman government and were often dishonest. They would charge extra taxes, pay a flat rate to Rome and pocket the rest. On top of that, Matthew was a Levite. The Levites were the chosen tribe of Israel to represent the nation and from them they chose those who would serve in the temple, making him even more despicable to his people. But Jesus calls him to follow. At a party, probably Matthew’s farewell party in his own house, Jesus and his disciples share a meal with tax collectors and sinners. Table fellowship in Israel was reserved for people in the in-group. The mere act of entering the house of a pagan made the person unclean and sharing a meal with them was unthinkable. When the Pharisees question the reasons for fellowshipping with them, Jesus explains using three sayings.

The first one is a metaphor: as the sick needs a doctor, so sinners need a Savior. The second one is a quote from Hosea where Jesus exalts mercy over sacrifice. Hosea indicted the people of God for being unfaithful to the covenant as they oppressed and murdered their neighbors. Mercy is the readiness to help those who are afflicted and in need out of compassion. Rituals and ceremonies mean nothing to God unless it is performed by a heart that desires to serve and obey the covenant. The third saying refers to Jesus’ mission. He came into the world precisely for this: to call on sinners and not on those who perceive themselves to be righteous. Jesus’ mission is to call on all of us sinners of the world to show us mercy by healing our sinful souls so that we might learn to show mercy unto others.

Matthew found mercy in Jesus. To follow Jesus is to accept his mercy. Jesus has great compassion for us and desires to help us with our miserable plight as sinners. But accepting his mercy is not to receive alms that provide a temporary relief to our condition leaving us as we are. To follow Jesus is to hear his call upon us as sinners and to respond with repentance to experience his healing power over our sinful souls. Matthew was totally transformed by God’s mercy leaving a despicable life behind. And Matthew learned to show mercy to his fellow tax collectors as he invited them to meet Jesus.

Father, thank you for sending Jesus into the world to show us mercy. Help me live in eternal gratitude for healing my soul. Teach me your ways that I may live showing mercy unto others as well.

Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus Calms a Storm

Jesus’ disciples were no strangers to the sea. Many of them were fishermen. I am certain they had their share of experiences with storms  at sea. This storm must’ve been strong enough to get them concerned about their safety. “The boat was being swamped by the waves” and they thought they were perishing. In such a dangerous situation, Jesus is asleep. They decide, in their desperation, to wake him up and ask for help. Their plea is for Jesus to rescue them from the dangerous situation. It seems they had enough faith to believe that Jesus was able to get them out of trouble. Nonetheless, when Jesus is awakened, he attributes their fear to their “little faith.” Why is the faith little? It is enough to ask for help in danger, but not enought to be confident (not threatened) in the face of danger. Jesus then rebukes the winds and the sea producing calm and causing the men to marvel at his control over nature.

Jesus is the Son of David, Son of Abraham, Son of Man, Son of God who has sovereign control even over nature. He is the Lord of Creation. To follow him is to trust he is in control of all things at all times. He expects us to trust he is able to rescue us from trouble, but he also wants us to trust that he is in control of all circumstances of life without fretting.

Jesus, increase my faith to trust in you. May I learn to trust you can rescue me in my hour of trouble, but also that I may confidently trust without fear that you are in control of all circumstances while I am going through the trouble.

Matthew 8:18-22 The Cost of Following Jesus

Following Jesus has a cost. We do well to understand that cost before we engage in following Jesus and as a constant reminder of the commitment we have made to this journey. 

In the narrative passages of Matthew, you find he mentions a specific follower with the crowd or crowds in the background. Here Matthew mentios a scribe and a disciple with the crowd. The crowd is a group of people who have heard of Jesus’ fame and is after his gifts. This kind of follower is interested in getting something - a healing, a feeding, a thrill. Following Jesus requires stepping out of that crowd and moving towards Jesus with a different attitude. It requires taking a risk as you identify yourself as a true follower. You will no longer blend in with the crowd. The scribe comes to Jesus and says: “I will follow you wherever you go.” A true follower is willing to go wherever the following takes him/her. Jesus spoke of a narrow gate:

Matthew 7:13 
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

                                               

The characteristics of this path is twofold: few find it and the way is hard.

20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Jesus’ reply makes clear to the wannabe follower that the following will cost him. While animals and birds in nature have a resting place on earth, the Son of Man doesn’t, implying that all his followers will suffer the same fate. While on earth, Jesus’ followers will not have a place they can call home (Eph.2:19). It also implies that the following is not one of comfort and ease, but challenging and difficult. The title Son of Man comes from the book of Daniel (7:13-14) and speaks of the Messiah to come as one having a dominion, glory, and kingdom that are not of this earth, but in the heavenlies. When a person enters the kingdom, (s)he becomes a citizen of heaven (Phil.3:20) and at the same time a stranger and an alien upon the earth. No disciple is greater than his master. If Jesus was hated and persecuted, so will his disciples.

21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” Jesus also makes clear that the follower would have to reset priorities. While the family is worthy of loyalty and priority, Jesus demands a higher loyalty and priority than family. Jesus has nothing against family or funerals, but the priorities of a Jesus’ follower cannot be in them. We have to go beyond being involved, like the chicken, to being committed, like the pig, to this ham and eggs breakfast.

Jesus calls us to follow, counting the cost, with unqualified commitment.

Matthew 8:1-4 Jesus Cleanses a Leper

For the purposes of this series, I am skipping Jesus’ discourses. While I am not giving space to the discourses in the series, it does not mean that they are not valuable. It only means that I am not focusing on them here, but they are part of the context to understand the narratives. The first discourse is in chapters 5-7 and it is what we know as the Sermon on the Mount. In this sermon, Jesus explains how his followers ought to live their lives as part of the Kingdom of God. The ethical standards that Jesus lays out in this discourse are very high. Some people get confused with Jesus’ moral teachings and the Law. It is important to note that the Law is not equivalent to morality. While God’s laws are moral, they don’t define the extent of all morality. Sometimes laws define just a minimum moral requirement, but Jesus speaks of the full moral value of life in the kingdom and he taught it with authority.

Right after preaching this sermon, a leper comes to Jesus as he is walking down the mount and asks to be healed. Leprosy was a term used to describe a wide range of skin diseases that made a person “ceremonially unclean.” To be unclean meant that the person had to live outside the community until the leprosy healed and the priest had to approve his/her reentry into the community after examining and certifying that (s)he had healed. Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah that was prophesied by Isaiah, a healing Messiah. Actually, the healings were a sign to the people that God was at work in their midst. But I want to highlight the leper as a follower in contrast with the crowds that “followed” Jesus.

Like many others, the leper had a need. But in contrast with the crowds, the leper came to Jesus, knelt before him, called him Lord, and asked to be cleansed. The leper shows the attitudes of a true follower: he got closer, he worshiped, he believed. The way in which the leper asks shows that he had no doubt that Jesus could, but he pleaded that he would. Lepers were outcasts of society in those days, but Jesus does not hesitate to stretch out his hand and touch him to heal him. Jesus shows his compassion and takes action by showing mercy. In the same way, Jesus touches us when we come to him to be cleansed from all unrighteousness (1Jn.1:9).

Lord, cleanse me from all unrighteousness. May I get closer and acknowledge you as my Lord. Help me believe that you have the power to cleanse me from my uncleanness.

Matthew 4:18-25 Jesus Calls the First Disciples

Here is one of the specific callings Jesus makes to people to follow him. Peter and Andrew, James and John are fishermen who work in the Sea of Galilee. What does it mean for these men to follow Jesus? Jesus tells them that he will make them fishers of men. What does “fishers of men” really mean? In the following context, we can see that Jesus’ ministry activities included teaching and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom as well as healing people afflicted with disease. In the previous context, we can see that the content of the gospel message is “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Then, fishing for men (and women) is to invite them to enter the kingdom through repentance after praying for their needs. We find this same paradigm in the early Church of preaching the Gospel and praying for people’s needs (Acts 4:29-30). When was the last time I asked an unbeliever if he wanted me to pray for his/her needs to God? A prayer for their needs may lead them to repent and believe! Who knows what God will do?

How did Peter, Andrew, James, and John respond to the calling? They left boat, nets, and family to follow Jesus. Becoming fishers of people begins to show a cost. It may mean to leave family and livelihood behind. This is very important. Contrast that response with the crowds that “followed” Jesus without becoming disciples because Jesus’ fame as a healer spread throughout the area. It is possible to “follow” (seeking God’s benefits) without really following (offering our lives). Jesus wants us to follow him so that we may become fishers of people who boldly proclaim entrance in the kingdom through repentance and offer prayers for their needs.

Father, teach me to follow your Son to become a fisher of people. Grant me boldness to proclaim the Gospel and pray for unbeliever’s needs.

Matthew 4:1-11 The Temptation of Jesus

Sinless Savior

 For this Lent Season, I have put together a series of devotionals that will be posted here every morning starting with Ash Wednesday and ending with Easter based on the narrative passages of the Gospel of Matthew. The devotional series will also be the basis for a preaching series every Sunday including Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. The title of the series is Following Jesus. Jesus calls us to follow him, but do we understand what following Jesus really means? I pray that our journey through this series will help us understand it much better.

Some of us are called to lead, but all of us are called to follow. A good follower, in our use of the word, is one who is interested, enthusiastic, and supportive of the person or cause (s)he follows. Christians are called to follow Jesus. Our level of interest, enthusiasm, and support depends on the depth of our admiration for the person we are following. It is fun to watch what fans of Jeremy Lin are willing to do. They cheer. They paint posters. They are present for every game in hope for a win. The enthusiasm is contagious. They are calling it Linmania.

Who is this Jesus? Why should we follow him? Matthew, in the opening chapter of his gospel, presents his genealogy as proof that Jesus is the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, the legal heir to the throne of Israel. Jesus is the anointed Messiah to rule over God’s people. In the passage before his tempation, Jesus is presented by Matthew as the Son of God in a supernatural event in which the Father speaks in the presence of the Holy Spirit: “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased” (3:17). In chapter four, Matthew presents more evidence that Jesus is the legitimate Son of God: He overcame the devil!

The Bible is chalk full of leaders whom God called, but failed miserably in one way or another. From Adam to John the Baptist, we find betrayal, doubt, and sometimes blatant disobedience. Among all the biblical leaders, two stand out in Scripture: Moses, representing the Law and Elijah, representing the Prophets. Both of their outstanding ministries were marked by a fast of 40 days and 40 nights and so is Jesus’ which brings the kingdom of God through the new covenant in his blood. He is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. Moses failed. Elijah failed. But Jesus overcame the devil and that’s why he is worthy of a following. He is the Son of David, Son of Abraham, Son of God, our sinless Savior.

Jesus stood up to the devil and proved that God’s Word is better than physical food. In fact, Jesus considered doing the will of the Father his own food, better than any physical bread available - even if he himself could bring it about from stones by his own power. Jesus stopped the devil on his tracks because he was willing to trust God instead of testing him. He did not make any resentful demands on God’s promises for the sake of prestige, but submitted all of his life into his sovereign hands with contentment. Jesus rejected the devil’s idolatrous offer of possessions choosing to worship God alone because he preferred God’s fellowship above any other. The devil tried to ruin Jesus’ ministry, but he could not because he overcame every temptation as a victorious, sinless Savior - that’s why he is worth following!

Jesus calls on people to follow him at least six times in the Gospel of Matthew (Mat.4:19; 8:22; 9:9; 10:38; 16:24; 19:21). The following Jesus is talking about is a lot more serious than Linmania. It is not just to accompany him on the road for awhile to cheer and be supportive, but to devote our lives to learn from him and live like him at whatever cost - to become his disciples! He has the power and authority to call us to follow him because he is the sinless Son of God, our Savior. Why is his victory over Satan so important?

His victory over Satan declares him to be the true Son of God. But there are other benefits as well. Jesus’ temptation guarantees us that he can “sympathize with our weaknessess” (Heb.4:15). He is fully God, but he is also fully human and experienced every temptation like us but without sin. He is worth following because he knows our struggle as human beings with temptation. Also, Jesus has set an example for us (1Pe.2:21) to follow. While we continue to struggle with our sin, Jesus wants us to fight against tempation like he did. Using the spiritual disciplines of fasting, prayer, and the Word we can fight the attacks of the enemy (Eph.6:10ff) like he did. He has promised to help us in our hour of temptation to find our way of escape if we follow him with all our hearts (1Cor.10:13).

Father, may my level of interest, enthusiasm, and support for your Son, our sinless Savior, be greater than Linmania. May I devote my life to learn from him and live like him because he overcame the devil and deserves my following.

Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus Calms a Storm

Life is like catching a boat into the sea. Some get in and set a course to a desired destination. Others get in but simply float aimlessly around carried by the waves of the sea. No matter what kind of boat we've boarded, we are all in "the same boat" when it comes to the storms of life. Some of those storms will bring waves that will swamp our vessels and threaten our lives.

What kinds of storms are we talking about? It can be anything that "rocks your boat." Storms come in different shapes and forms. It can be the loss of a loved one; the loss of a job; the loss of health. It can be an abusive parent; a runaway teenager; a sick rapist. It can be an oppressive boss; an oppressive neighborhood; an oppressive government. 

How can I survive the storms of life? Some think that the boat is the most important thing. The bigger, the better. The more advanced in technology, the merrier. But we must not forget the Titanic. Others think that personal training and skills are going to get you out of trouble. But we must not forget the many capable people who have lost their lives trying to fight a storm. It is not the boat or my personal skills.

What is the most important thing to survive a storm? If anything makes a boat special is who is in the boat. If I am to survive the storms of life, I must follow Jesus into the boat of his choosing. I can't expect him to follow me into a boat of my choosing; it is the other way around. Once there, I must trust him with my whole life. At times, my faith fails and it seems like God is asleep and does not care for me. The truth is that Jesus is in the boat and has not left me.

Jesus is not a mere man. He is God in the flesh. He came from the heavens to the earth with powers to command them at will. He calls me to follow him. He calls me to trust him. Is Jesus in my boat? I don't want to "miss the boat." Lord, enable me to follow you and trust you in the midst of the storms of my life.

Matthew 4:18-25 Jesus Calls the First Disciples

Jesus begins his ministry calling specific people to follow him. The purpose of the following is clear: to become fishers of men. I'm sure he used that image to connect with the disciples since they were fishermen. The reaction to the call was complete abandonment of the current lifestyle to embrace a new one. Literally, they dropped what they were doing to follow Jesus.

All believers are called to follow Jesus. All Christians are to drop their past lifestyle and embrace a new one. We are all called for the purpose of becoming fishers of men. We can't follow Jesus while holding on to the past life. We need to let go of our past life, especially anything that hinders our walk with God. We may not have to resign our jobs to follow Jesus, but what if we have to? Are we willing?

Of course, there is a call to follow Jesus in ministry. It is to heed the call to devote our mind, heart, spirit and soul to the cause of the Gospel.  It was very hard for me to accept that I had to resign my full-time job to become a Pastor. It took some time, but the Lord convinced me that if I was to serve him in this capacity I had to let go of the past lifestyle and dedicate myself to him and his kingdom. Many people wrestle with the call because of the cost.

The focus of a ministry can be lost so easily. The Lord is clear in his call that it is for the purpose to make them fishers of men. Am I becoming a better fishermen for the kingdom? There are so many needs in this world, that one can be engulfed by those needs and forget the true purpose of the calling. It is to become fishers of men.

Lord, help me heed your call day by day. To continue to count the cost and gladly follow you. May I never lose sight of the purpose of my calling. Make me a better fishermen for the kingdom day by day.