Streetlights New Testament - Flipbook - Page 28
M at t h e w 9
page 16
Which seat do you sit in—
sick or blind?
MATTHEW KNEW HIS NEED FOR GOD. He heard Jesus’ call and left everything to follow Him. The religious people of Matthew’s day thought Jesus was crazy for
making Matthew a disciple. In their opinion, he was scum! They couldn’t believe Matthew was being given a chance to be made new. But Jesus cut through their pride with
two powerful statements. First, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do”
(Matthew 9:12). Second, “I have come to call not those who think they are righteous,
but those who know they are sinners” (Matthew 9:13). Jesus loves making people well
when they humble themselves and follow Him. It’s incredible to think that Matthew
went from being the shady scum of society to the author of the Gospel we are reading
now. But God transforms whoever will follow Him!
So which seat do you sit in? Are you like Matthew? Do you know your need for Jesus?
Or are you like the religious leaders, who were blind to their need for Jesus because they
thought they were righteous already? It’s clear in Matthew 9:9-13 that those who admit
they are spiritually sick sinners who need Jesus’ new life will receive forgiveness and a
new identity. But those who think they are well already, without Jesus’ help, will remain
in their self-righteous and sick spiritual state.
TH I
Then he added, “Now go and learn the mean
ing of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy,
not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not
those who think they are righteous, but those
who know they are sinners.”
13
A Discussion about Fasting
14 One day the disciples of John the Baptist
came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t
your disciples fast like we do and the Phar
isees do?”
15 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn
while celebrating with the groom? Of course
not. But someday the groom will be taken away
from them, and then they will fast.
16 “Besides, who would patch old clothing
with new cloth? For the new patch would
shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leav
ing an even bigger tear than before.
17“And no one puts new wine into old wine
skins. For the old skins would burst from the
pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the
skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins
so that both are preserved.”
PR
NK &
AY
Jesus Heals in Response to Faith
As J esus was saying this, the leader of a syna
gogue came and knelt before him. “My daugh
ter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring
her back to life again if you just come and lay
your hand on her.”
19 So Jesus and his disciples got up and went
with him. 20 Just then a woman who had suf
fered for twelve years with constant bleeding
came up behind him. She touched the fringe of
his robe, 21 for she thought, “If I can just touch
his robe, I will be healed.”
22 Jesus turned around, and when he saw
her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your
faith has made you well.” And the woman was
healed at that moment.
23 When Jesus arrived at the official’s home,
he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral
music. 24“Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t
dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed
at him. 25After the crowd was put outside, how
ever, J esus went in and took the girl by the
hand, and she stood up! 26 The report of this
miracle swept through the entire countryside.
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