Matthew 9

Read chapter 9

Why did Jesus tell the paralytic that his “sins” were forgiven?  _______________________________________________________ (answer in vs. 6)

The Jews of that time assumed sin was the primary cause of all suffering.   Jesus did not teach that personal acts of sin were the direct cause of disease in all cases.  Like in John 9 where Jesus healed the blind man - the disciples asked “who sinned?  This man or his parents, so he was born blind?”

We know that Jesus can heal and perform miracles…… but In Vs. 1-8 what does Jesus have the power over?  __________________  (This is the first time it’s mentioned in Matthew).

Who is the disciple Jesus calls in vs. 9? ____________________  What happens?  ___________________

Matthew is also called Levi (so when we see the name Levi in other gospels – it’s the same person).

Who are the righteous in vs. 13? __________________________________________________

Who are sinners? _____________________________

(those who know they have a terminal disease, those who are hungry & thirsty, those who are broken, those who know they are sinners….)  We must know that we have a need to be healed on inside….we must be willing to die to self/sin.

Augustine:  “Save me from that wicked man….myself!”

John Wesley:  ….”Vile and full of sin I am”

Apostle Paul:  1^st Timothy 1 vs 15: ….”Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost”

Apostle Peter: Luke 5 vs. 8 …”go away from me Lord for I am a sinful man, O Lord”

If you are feeling well do you go to the Doctor?  __________

If you are really sick do you go to the Doctor? ____________  (sin is the sickness Jesus is referring to in vs. 12)

In vs. 15 why is Jesus talking about a wedding? ……..Who is the bridegroom? _______________________

Read Rev. 19:7  …… and Read Rev. 21:9   …….. Jesus is referred to as “ ________  ________________”

In vs. 17….what is a wineskin? ________________________________________________________________________

In those days, they put wine in leather skins for transporting.  If new wine was put into the skins – it would continue to expand during fermentation ….if it was put into an older wineskin that was cracked/ stretched/hardened….the wineskin would burst.  (The new wineskin – made of goats hide was soft and moldable).  Good comparison to our hearts …..they are either hard…self-righteous……. or they are soft, moldable, able to be used.  The Gospel cannot reach a hard heart that’s self-righteous ….. the heart must recognize the need to be transformed.

Psalm 51:17 ….. the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, …..

Jesus performs 4 more miracles:

Heals Woman who’s bled for 12 years vs. 20  What did woman touch? ____________________________________

Heals the daughter who was dead ….vs. 24 …..  what did the people do ? ______________ _______________________

Heals  2 blind men….vs. 28-29 …… How does Jesus heal them? _________________________________________________________

Heals man unable to speak…..vs. 32-33 …… What was in the man that kept him from speaking?  ______________________________

In vs. 37 ….what is the harvest? ________________________________________  who are the workers? _______________________