http://www.americanwisdomseries.comPresents
MATTHEWChapter 9
Caution to students of God's Word - Please remember two things when using our studies: #1. Our commentary is not God's Word. It is only our interpretation or understanding of "His Word" and even though we try our best to be accurate we may or may not be correct. #2. The King James translation, or any other translation, of the original Hebrew text has some words which were given different translations at different places probably because of the interpreters preconceived ideas of what they think God meant to say. For example: According to the notes in the "Drake's Annotated Reference Bible" the Hebrew word hayah in the KJV is Trans. (became) 67 times, (becamest or came to pass) 505 times, (become) 66 times, and (come to pass) 131 times, but for some reason in Genesis 1:2 it is translated (was)! That sure changes the way a person perceives the original creation of the earth, doesn't it? Gen. 1:2 And the earth was (became) without form, ... Having said that, let us continue with our "Key Knowledge" lessons. These are pamphlets containing knowledge, we believe, you must have to fully and accurately unlock and understand the Word of God.
John 15:26
But
when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father,
even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall
testify of me:
John 16:13-14
[13] Howbeit
when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all
truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear,
that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
This Bible Study was originally written by Roger Christopherson,
published at http://www.theseason.org/
Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.
Now here is our revised study of:
Matthew Chapter 9
"The Palsy, the Testimony, Two Women, and Two Blind Men."
The deeds that Jesus will do and accomplish has a great message in it for those men and women of God that wish to be successful in their Christian life. It teaches you what you can do, and what you cannot do, in your Christian walk. There are different levels that you can receive and teach from these next few chapters.
Matthew 9:1 "And He entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into His own city."
Remember, Jesus and His disciples had just arrived from the other side, He healed two men of evil spirits and the spirits went into the swine, and killed themselves. The people came out from the town near by and demanded that He leave. So they entered back into the ship, and went back to another side of the sea. He went to the city of Capernaum, and in the Hebrew, it means the city of Consolation.
Matthew 9:2 "And, behold, they brought to Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: andJesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee."
This man was paralyzed, and as Jesus walked in, He saw their faith. As the man was lying on his cot, the loved ones around were as sad as the paralyzed man was. When Jesus told the man to be of good cheer, it is like a cheerful greeting, but "thy sins be forgiven thee" is a void statement, unless it comes from God. Anyone can utter the word, and the scribes in the room knew what the words meant, and when the words were spoken by someone other than the Messiah, it was wrong.
The miracle that was done here was that the sins of the man with palsy were forgiven by the Son of God. However for those non-believer it was just so many words. These scribes were the elite of the church, and they were upset by this.
Matthew 9:3 "And, behold, certain of the scribes said with themselves, "This man blasphemeth."
Notice that these scribes did not say it out loud, "they said within themselves", that Jesus Christ blasphemed. It is only God that can judge a man or women by the content of his or her heart. Psalm 7:9 reads; "Oh let the wickedness of the wicked [lawless] come to an end; but establish the just: For the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins." Only God knows what is in your heart, that is to say, your mind. These scribes said that Jesus blasphemes because He forgave sins; and this would show that they looked on Jesus as just another man.
So as they are thinking their thought, we are seeing another miracle, that of Jesus reading their minds. Now as Jesus sees what they are thinking He says to them:
Matthew 9:4 "And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, "Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?"
These scribes had not spoken yet, and Jesus is responding to their thoughts.
Matthew 9:5 "For whether is easier, to say, 'thy sins be forgiven thee'; or to say, 'Arise, and walk?' "
He is about to present His credentials to these scribes, and Jesus does it with a question. For in both cases it would take the act of God, to forgive sins, or to heal the man of palsy. It is as easy to say one as to say the other, and Jesus has called their attention to this fact.
There is a deeper level to this spiritually. Thy sins forgiven the means your soul shall live forever in a perfect body. The healing will affect only the physical, for there will be no one handicapped in the spiritual body. Jesus words had to have impressed them.
Matthew 9:6 "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, "(then saith He to the sick of the palsy,) "Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house." "
"That ye may know", God is telling them, I am going to give you some proof. This documents form Jesus mouth just who "the Son of Man" is. He is the Living God walking on earth. Jesus then turns from the scribes to the sick man on the cot, and said; "Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house". This is the real test. Christ told him first thy sins are forgiven thee, and now, He healed the man with palsy.
The man will either get up and walk, of Christ is going to be embarrassed, and called a fake.
Matthew 9:7 "And he arose, and departed to his house."
Anyone can say, thy sins are forgiven, but only God can demonstrate by action, and heal the sick immediately. The sick mans muscles had deteriorated to the point where there was no strength left in them; yet instantly his body was restored, and he got up and walked with full strength.
This was a powerful thing that Jesus did before the scribes as a witness to His deity.
Matthew 9:8 "But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, Which had given such power unto men."
"Unto men" reads in the original text, "unto a man". The multitudes of people standing around saw the miracles, and they glorified God for the works, but they just couldn't attach the fact that Jesus was God. They gave the glory of the act to God, and still looked on Jesus as common man. Jesus gave His credentials by the two acts, and the public accepted the acts as being of God.
The only credential of a true man of God, is in his ability to carry out what he says He will do. If you state your a healing pastor, are the sick healed; if you are a teaching pastor is what you are saying backed up from the word of God, or just so many words. The traditions of men label a man's ministry, while the man filled with the Holy Spirit of God has the insight to read and tell others what God's word says with clarity and understanding. He rightly divides the Word of God, which means he applies the message to the right time period, and knows where and how the verse fits into the entire plan of God.
Whatever gifts that you use, you must first obtain them from the Holy Spirit of God, and when He gives you the gift, He will also provide the direction and the opportunity for your use of that gift. However, education is very useful for it provides for your provision and getting along in the world, and understanding just how the wicked ones work.
Matthew 9:9 "And as Jesus passed forth from thence, He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and He saith unto him, "Follow Me," And he arose, and followed Him."
As Jesus was leaving this multitude of people, Jesus saw this tax gather sitting at his table working. Jesus looked at him, and told this tax collector to "follow Me". This man is Matthew, and now now he becomes one of the disciples as he arose and followed Jesus.
Matthew
was considered an enemy of the people by occupation, collecting taxes
for Rome. When the Holy Spirit of God speaks to you through His Word,
and commands that you change what you are doing, and set a new course
for life, are you willing? When you say, I am a
Christian. I believe and am
committed, but are you willing to make a definite change when you are
convicted to do so.
Christ is the living Word, and when He speaks to you through the Scriptures it is still the same, follow Me. Some of you have a destiny from God, and you have felt it since you were a child. When the traditions of men are taught, you know that it isn't right, you know that there is a purpose that God has put you on this earth for, yet you can't quite put your hand on in. That insight will come to you by the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God. One works with and supports the other. The word of God is powerful, and will convict if you just allow it to.
Matthew 9:10 "And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples."
While Jesus and the other disciples sat down with Matthew the tax collector to eat, here came some of Matthew's friends in and sat down to eat also. They are sinners and people that were hungry for not only food, but the word from Jesus. This is very common today, as most Christians will have nothing to do with the wicked, for they are more afraid of how it will affect their character in the eyes of others, then in planting a seed for Christ.
It is easier to teach bold admitted sinners of the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, and His love for them, then going into an established Church house, where the doctrines are the traditions of men and the doctrines of demons. Most of those Christians are set in their ways, and their minds are closed to the truth of God's word. The hard core sinners have not been lied to by those planting the traditions, and they know that what they are doing is against God. They understand sin, and they understand forgiveness when it is offered.
Matthew 9:11 "And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto His disciples, "Why eateth you Master with publicans and sinners?"
We are talking about some super religious type people of the day. Of course they are afraid to approach Jesus, and of course these super religious type would rather attack the disciples instead. They try to put the guilt trip on them. Remember that these disciples are all new followers of Jesus, and these Pharisees know that you can destroy the ministry by attacking the followers. It sort of sounds like the super church-houses of today, and how they attack anyone that doesn't follow their traditions.
Matthew 9:12 "But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them, "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick."
Jesus is telling these Pharisees that He is Messiah, and the reason that He came to the earth is to heal the sick, both physically and spiritually. But if you have all the religion that you can possible have, then in your righteousness, you don't need Me. You won't accept me, because in your own mind you are already saved by your righteousness.
If you are on "cloud nine", then you have already flown out of here [in your rapture theory]; and your mind is closed anyhow. This is Jesus approach to those Pharisees. You just can't tell someone that thinks he knows everything about traditions, about the Word of God, their minds are set, and closed. They just don't want to hear it.
Matthew 9:13 "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, 'I will have mercy, and not sacrifice:' for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Jesus is telling this pack of Pharisees, this tribe of churchmen, to go and find out what I have just said. Remember these words, "I will have mercy and not sacrifice". The righteous here are the self-righteous, and they are Hypocrites.
Jesus is quoting from the book of Hosea all the way. He is saying, I want to have mercy, I don't want your sacrifices, I don't want your burnt animals. Hosea 6:6, 7; "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. [6] But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against Me." [7] The word "Hosea" in the Hebrew means "salvation, and Jesus is quoting from it.
Going on into Hosea 7:1; "When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria:" Ephraim is the house of Israel, or Christian nations, and Samaria is the capital here "watch mountain". "For they commit false hood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without," [7:1] The thieves and therobbers are the ones that claim to be righteous and the preachers. Remember the Book of Hosea was written to the people living in the time of the end, but it still applied to the self-righteous of Jesus day.
Why would these "one verse" Janglers keep spouting their one verses to back up their traditions? Because they just don't understand the plan of God, and the Word of God, so the traditions of men have become their way of life. Jesus told them to "go find it", go to the book of Hosea, and try to understand what it is saying. They won't, for they are "the troop of robbers" that are stripping the house of God clean of the truth of God's plan.
Jesus was sent to Israel, and there were many among Israel that were of the "Nethinim" [Kenites] that were not of Israel. "Nethinim" means that they were "given to service", or liturgical duties, of the priesthood, and scribes but not by God. They assumed the duties, and were unopposed by the men of the house of Judah. These duties were set aside for the Levitical priesthood, and coming out of Babylon over four centuries before Jesus Christ's birth, both Ezra and Nehemiah had seen that these Kenites had taken over.
I Chronicles 2:55: "And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez [Jerusalem]; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab." The entire book of Hosea is direct to the "Lost sheep of the "House of Israel", not the Jews. But these Kenites have become the self-righteous leadership over the House of Judah, Jesus is playing with these Kenite Pharisees' minds.
The "House of Israel" was scattered in 722 B.C by the Assyrians, and migrated through the Caucasus Mountains, to the north and western Europe, and the Americas. Today they are lost, because they don't even know who they are. They call themselves "Caucasians", and they think "Caucasian" is a race of people, because they have forgotten the event. Hosea 1:10 identifies them as the "sons of the living God". Christ is the living God, and those sons would be called Christians. Jesus Christ knew where they were, and who they are, and today they have become as numerous as the sand of the seas, scattered around the world.
Matthew 9:14 "Then came to Him the disciples of John, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but Thy disciples fast not?"
These disciples are the followers of John the Baptist. They are asking Jesus directly, why do your disciples not fast and we have to fast many times? A fast is when you give up something because you are grieving over something lost or gone.
Matthew 9:15 "And Jesus said unto them, "Can the children of the bride chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast."
The bride chamber is a happy place, and those in with the bride are happy for her. Jesus is asking the question, and the answer is, of course not? Jesus is referring to His death soon. The fast will come shortly, but not while the wedding is going on. The time for Christ's disciples fast will be at His crucifixion, when the Groom is taken from them. Christ is still physically with them and teaching them at this time.
Matthew 9:16 "No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse."
Jesus is answering John's disciples with a parable. Jesus is showing them that this old garment, is the traditions of these Pharisees, the hypocrites; They were not the teachings of the Old Testament, but of the traditions that they had put in place of the Word of God. They were the do's and don'ts of the self-righteous, and never was part of God's Holy Word, and never will be. It is the silliness of man's teaching.
When you have a old pair of pants on, that you really like to wear; it is real comfortable. Then when you wear a hole in it in the knees, you repair it with new material, and new thread. When it come time to wash it again, and the soap and hot water work on the old fabric, the new fabric shrinks right up, and yet the old is so well worn, that it stays the same. When you put the pants on to wear it again, you have puckered knees that stick out like a sore thumb.
Jesus is comparing the repair job on the garment to the self-righteous man that is so deep in traditions of men, that when they hear the real truth of God Word, the "new fresh garment material", and apply that word to their old traditions, it causes them to squirm and pucker up. If it sounds too vulgar for God's Word, maybe you're too self-righteous for God. Are you too steeped in your traditions, to hear and understand God's plan?
So if you didn't get the first example, Jesus is going to give another analogy. Maybe you didn't understand the message of the old pair of pants.
Matthew 9:17 "Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved."
When the juices are green and fermenting, it builds up quite a pressure. Understand here that in the original text, "Bottle" is "wine skin"; it is not glass, but an animal skin. A new animal skin stretches, when it is green and pliable. The old wine skin is stretched to the limit, and is fixed to the point that it is solid. Jesus is telling these people that if you put new wine in an old wine skin there is no give to it, and it will burst.
When you put the real truth into an old fixed in traditions church, that is just what will happen to them. They are so fixed in their minds that they just can't handle the truth of God's Word. Jesus is talking about the righteous scribes, and ministers, and lay persons that are set in their traditions and doctrines, and they just can't give when the truth enters their midst. However the sinner, and publicans can give, they are hearing the new wine that is the Word, and when they hear they can and will give, and become pliable to what God wants them to do.
The "new Wine" is the teachings of God's Word that Jesus is giving, and those teachings will split that old church house wide open. In most church houses in the world today, should Jesus walk into their midst and go to the pulpit, they would be harder to convince then these old self-righteous scribes and Pharisees were to convince. If He was to teach the real truth, today's churchmen would throw Christ out, or it would split that church wide open. They are not pliable to the word of God. Christ's teachings are powerful, when activated by the Spirit of the Living God.
Try to understand the teachings of Christ in the simplicity that He taught them. For it is only through those teachings of Christ that you can apply them to your life, to have it a value to you. And through them, you can find peace of mind.
Matthew 9:18 "While He spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped Him, saying, "My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live." "
This "certain ruler" was a leader in the synagogue, and he is asking for Jesus help, even after his daughter is dead. This is real faith, for he is asking Jesus to bring back the soul even after that soul of the daughter has departed the body. This ruler had to know beyond any doubt that this was the Messiah, of he understood that it was only God that could raise one from the dead. This ruler is saying, she is even now dead.
This healing is recorded in greater length in Luke 8:40 and on. This ruler knew that if he could get Jesus to lay hands on his child, she would come to life. He declared such, "she shall live".
Matthew 9:19 "And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did His disciples."
Luke points out that this girl is twelve years old, and there is a more in-depth lesson to this, in that she is twelve, her age is symbolic of the "House of Israel". The House of Judah knows who they are, but Israel in large part is asleep. God is speaking to Israel that is dead spiritually.
Matthew 9:20 "(And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment:"
Here is that numerical value of twelve again, and it is also another female.
Matthew 9:21 "For she said within herself, "If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole."
Notice what the woman said; "If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole". This again is faith. If you want your prayers answered, you have to have that same faith, and know beyond any doubt that your request will come to pass. There can be no doubt in you. If it is His will you will be healed, or you prayer answered, and it will be according to God's will.
When the man with palsy sought healing, God forgave his sins first, and that was truly the greatest miracle. For only Christ can forgive sins. When you are dealing with faith, the forgiving of your sins are greater then the healing of the physical body. This woman knew absolutely that she would be healed, even before she touched Jesus garment, she had the faith.
Don't waste your time in prayer if you have doubts before or after you pray.
Matthew 9:22 "But Jesus turned Him about, and when He saw her, He said, "Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole." And the woman was made whole from that hour.)"
Luke 8:43 points out that she had this issue for twelve years, and had spent all her living [money upon physicians, and none could heal her, so this was her only possibility of getting healed. She saw others being healed, and she knew that if she could just touch the lowest part of Christ's garment, she would be healed.
Matthew 9:23 "And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,"
Now we are back at the house of the ruler, with the dead twelve year old daughter, and the house was filled with the people preparing the body, and the mourners for family and friends. These were the professionals mourners, that hired out to do their act, in most cases.
Matthew 9:24 "He said unto them, "Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth." And they laughed Him to scorn."
When Jesus walked into the room, He took authority and ordered them out. And they looked up at Him through their artificial tears, and laughed and made fun of Jesus. This is just as we see that Israel [Christians] are doing today. They are going through with their ceremonial act, and when a teacher of God's word speaks to them, they give out the same laugh and scorning, if it differs from their dead traditions.
Remember in Ezekiel 37, where Ezekiel is told to go and prophecy against that whole valley of dry, dead and disconnected bones of the whole House of Israel. The meaning was that they were spiritually dead. Even today, Israel/Christianity is most all dead and she just doesn't know it, they are just like this twelve year old girl. They sit Sunday after Sunday, and suck up the small dribble of milk from their pastor, and expect that to satisfy their spiritual needs all week. Physically it just wouldn't keep them alive, and that is why they also are spiritually dead.
My fellow Christian, if you expect God to bless your life, it is time that you get into all of God's Word, and except the whole Word as the complete plan of God, and start paying attention to what is going on around us, before it is to late for you. Make your spiritual life as important as your physical life, and feed both alike.
Matthew 9:25 "But when the people were put forth, He went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose."
When Jesus made the point, in a stern voice, they all went. Jesus then went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up. In Luke 8:55 it states; "And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and He commanded to give her meat." When the girl came to life, Jesus told them to give the girl food that she can live by, meat and not milk (The Spiritual Meat of "His Word"; Not the Milk of "His Word" that you get in most church houses today!)
When we have Christ come into ones heart, that mind becomes hungry, and they need to be feed from the Word of God. They need meat to sustain themselves, and not the dribble of milk spattered out from most pulpits of today. (Preachers, Are YOU paying attention!) To understand the full Word of God brings comfort and peace of mind.
Matthew 9:26 "And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land."
That fame went out of the miracles of Christ, and it is also the fame of today. Jesus made this girl who was dead to live, and that is a miracle, but you miss the whole meaning of the lesson, if you don't teach also what the twelve year old girl, and twelve year blood issue stood for. In the simplicity of Christ's teachings, that it stood for the lost tribes of Israel (MOST ALL OF THE SO-CALLED CHRISTIAN CHURCHES OF THIS 21ST CENTURY).
Christ will soon pay the price on the cross here and salvation will be open to all, but the tribes of Israel have duties and obligations in the prophesies of God's Word. Thank God there are many that are starting to open their eyes, and allowing those truths to transform their lives into spiritual vessels that God can use.
Matthew 9:27 "And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed Him, crying, and saying, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on us."
These two blind men could not see, yet they knew that He was the Son of God, and they cried out to Him in passion, "have mercy upon us." Mercy is the unmerited favor by God, to undeserving man. These two men knew of the Messiah that was prophesied to be born of a virgin in Bethlehem, and they knew that this Jesus was He. They had no doubt.
Live Links below to some "MEAT of HIS WORD" to get you started,
7027 Christian, if you are going to get any benefit from reading your Bible, you had better have Christ spit on your eyes like the blind man from Bethsaida!
#7011 Men as Trees Walking
#7017 OK, it is now time to "grow-up" and mature in the Word of God.
#7000"The Parable of the Sower" (Jesus Christ told His disciples (which means you if you are one) that unless they understood the Parable of the Sower they would not be able to understand any of His parables.)
#7000&7007 combined "Two Sowers of seed; both the good and the bad"
#1087 "Find and Fill in the Gaps"
Spiritually what is this telling us? Two stands for witness in the Scriptures, and it is required that two witnesses voice out, for words to be accepted. Here the two blind men both are assured of who Jesus Christ is, and they sound off, "Thou Son of David have mercy on us."
This miracle follows the raising of the girl, and here you also have the "key to David", so you can see that what Christ was really talking about, is that Israel is not not only dead, but is blind. They don't have eyes to see.
Matthew 9:28 "And when He was come into the house, the blind men came to Him: and Jesus saith unto them, "Believe ye that I am able to do this?" They said unto Him, "Yea, Lord."
These two blind men followed right behind Jesus into the house, so Jesus turned to them and if they really believed that Christ could heal them. Their answer was absolute and firm, "Yea Lord."
At the end of your prayer, if Christ appeared to you and asked you, do you really think I will do that for you? What would your response be? A firm, Yea Lord!, or mush flowing in garble out of your mouth. A weak, If you think you can Lord?"
When you pray be absolute and positive, that is the faith that is required of the Lord.
Matthew 9:29 "Then touched He their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it unto you."
The eye is the mirror of the soul, and most souls are dead. Jesus reached out and touched these two blind men on their eyes, and said "According to your faith be it unto you."
This is a proposition, friend, and the proposition is that if you believe when you are asking, it shall be done. But if your playing around, your wasting your time. Christianity is not a religion, but it is a reality. It is real, and when you accept it as real, it becomes your way of life. If it is a game to you, then it become just another chance in your life; and the odds are stacked against you.
If you are pretending playing church, it is blasphemy to God, especially if it carries Christ's name.
Matthew 9:30 "And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, "See that no man know it."
Jesus told them to keep the most important event in their lives a secret. I think He knew what they were going to do.
Matthew 9:31 "But they, when they were departed, spread abroad His fame in all the country."
You can just see these two joyful souls running around the town sounding out the good news. Jesus Christ can still heal the blind today, and heal the sick, and when He does it, it allows you to give those around you an example that God still honor's faith.
Matthew 9:32 "As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a dumb man possessed with a devil."
What this is saying, is that these two men that just received their sight went out into the street and got this other man that could not speak. He was frightened by the devil to the point of losing his ability to talk.
Spiritually speaking, this man couldn't speak the truth, because the devil had seared his mind with traditions, and false doctrines.
Matthew 9:33 "And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, "It was never so seen in Israel.".
The people were saying, we have never seen anyone do this before. Take the in depth meaning here, get the devil out of your system. Get the devil out of your churches, and including those Scripture lawyers that twist the Scriptures on every corner, to fit their own purposes. You know; the pass the plate religion.
Friend, it is time to get down to the depth of the true meaning of God's Word, and learn to live in peace. When you open your mouth, let it be the truth, speaking for the true Christ, instead of tradition.
Matthew 9:34 "But the Pharisees said, "He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils."
Satan had his influence on earth all the time, even in the heritage of the Pharisees doing the talking. Yet this had never been done before by anyone. Satan is the weaker one when he comes agains anyone of God's elect, for they know the power of God that we have in His Holy Spirit, when we claim the name of Jesus.
Matthew 9:35 "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the People."
The gospel of the kingdom is the things that we have just been studying. It is the teaching of the twelve tribes, their passing, and how that they need to be waken up. How that if they will see and repent, God will change their lives.
Matthew 9:36 "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd."
As Jesus looked over this mass of people, He took pity on them. He saw that they were like a bunch of lost sheep heading in all direction, with no one to lead them. The Pharisees had taken the priesthood and this mob of people was getting fed by these Kenites very little of God's Word, and a whole lot of tradition. They were fed just enough to keep the fund rolling into the offering plate. And if you notice that when Jesus is challenged, it is almost always from this same band of leaders.
Not much has changed from the time of Christ, for we have the same small band of Pharisees today, those Kenites with their liberal minds, that stand for everything but what the Word of God teaches.
Matthew 9:37 "Then saith He unto His disciples, "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;"
There is no difference today then it was in Jesus day. The masses of the people of Israel are still spiritually dead, and the harvest is truly plenteous. There is a time coming very shortly when you will either know the truth, or God will cause you to be blind for the truth. The signs of the end times are becoming history on a daily basis, and Christians go right on like they have all the time in the world.
God is looking for the laborers today, just as He was in Christ's day, and there is just as much a shortage.
Matthew 9:38 "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest."
We are to pray that people will wake up and become the laborers to go forth and give out the true Word of God to the spiritually blind masses.
Editor's Note::: We are going to stop here in our "Book of Matthew Study" to review some commentary from chapter 9 in an earlier study we published of Matthew. I don't believe you will find much difference in the general opinion of these two authors, but to read another person's perspective of events that took place may prove helpful in your understanding of the gospel of Matthew.Jesus and His disciples got along well with real "down to earth" people who were not "phony baloney" religionists.
It is hard to believe that anyone would ask Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, to leave their presence like the Local Pig Growers Association in Gergesenes did our last study. Nevertheless, Christ did as they wished and entered into a ship and went back to His own city.
Christ is now in Capernaum and we are about to see Messiah use a handicapped man of faith to witness unto unbelieving scribes. To that end, take notice that there is a "behold" in each of the next two verses to draw our close attention to that which is written. The first "behold" concerns those with faith in Christ and the second "behold" concerns those without faith who harbor evil thoughts in their hearts.Matthew 9:1
And He entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into His own city.
These folks not only showed they had faith by bringing this paralyzed man (sick of the palsy) lying on a cot, to Jesus Christ, but He already knew what great faith was in their hearts just as verse 4 will document He already knew the evil thoughts of the scribes who were present at this "testimonial" event. You see, the scribes knew that only God can forgive a man's sins but they obviously did not believe that Christ was the Messiah, and Jesus knew it was so in their hearts. Therefore He would use this opportunity as a witness and testimony against their unbelief. Actually, the faith alone of this handicapped one to "be of good cheer" should have been witness enough to these scribes![2] And,behold, they brought to Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
And as far as the paralytic man was concerned, when Christ told him to "be of good cheer" because he had received forgiveness for his sins, you can be sure he was indeed joyous over that! How so? Because we know he had "faith" and those who have faith are far more joyous over the spiritual things that pertain to salvation and the promise of eternal life living in an incorruptible body than the things that pertain to the flesh which they know shall surely perish. Therefore his spiritual cleansing made him spiritually whole and for men and women of faith, His grace is not only sufficient for them but something over which to rejoice and give thanks and "be of good cheer".
Now let's see how Christ uses this faithful handicapped person to teach certain of the scribes a spiritual lesson.
Again, these "certain" scribes did not believe that Christ was the Messiah and since God is the only one who can forgive sins, they reasoned that as a mere man, He was being blasphemous. Of course Christ knew exactly what they were thinking.[3] And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
And now for the $64,000 question:[4] And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
The one obvious point to this question is that neither would be "easier" for a "man" to say, for a mere man could not do either one! In other words, it would take divine authority, the power of Almighty God, to say either one and make it come to pass, wouldn't it? So if Christ demonstrated that He had the power to tell the paralytic man to "arise and walk" it would document that He had the power to do the other, i.e. to do the more important though unseen of the two which is to forgive him of his sins.[5] For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
Uh oh! The unbelieving scribes now have a problem, don't they? Christ just gave awesome credentials that He was indeed the Son of God in the flesh (the Son of man) and that He did have power on earth to forgive sins.[6] But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith He to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
Christ not only healed this man of his infirmity but also gave him the strength to be able to stand up and lift up his bed and walk away, for without it those unused and atrophied muscles would not have gotten the job done.
This is an interesting statement concerning the multitudes who although they marveled and glorified God and the works of God in giving power unto "a man", they still "saw" Christ as a "man" and not as the Messiah. This is pretty typical of some of the multitudes of Christians today who follow after miracles (even seeming miracles) performed in the sight of men but who remain ignorant of the true Word of God and therefore do not know Him (Mat. 7:23).[8] But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
Next, Jesus calls a publican, a tax collector of all people, to be His disciple. Imagine that!
Remember from our first study that Matthew (called Levi in Mark) means "Gift of God"? It is a fitting name for one of God's elect, a true disciple of Jesus Christ who loves and serves Him by doing His will and serving the brethren. Are you a "Matthew" to those around you? Notice also in this "calling" that there was no pleading nor an "altar call" and that it is was Jesus Christ Himself, the Divine Word of God, who chose Matthew to follow Him. You see, as one of God's elect chosen before the foundation of this world (Eph. 1:4), Matthew instantly recognized the Voice of the True Shepherd and was therefore willing to "forsake all" and follow Christ.[9] And as Jesus passed forth from thence, He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and He saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed Him.
Matthew rose to the occasion and followed Christ as do all of God's elect. Of course Matt's co-workers and his associates were real "sinners" as far as the goody-goody-two-shoe Pharisees were concerned. They (the Pharisees) would put people down just for the mere fact that they weren't "religious" in following after their traditions.Luke 5:28
And he left all, rose up, and followed Him.
Jesus and His disciples got along well with real "down to earth" people who were not "phony baloney" religionists. And you know what? It is much easier to converse with sinners and plant seeds of truth than it is with religious people, such as Christians who are "set in their ways" with the traditions of men and think they are "good" while others who do not meet their standards they consider to be beneath them and unworthy of their association. I'm sure you know the "religious" type. In fact, Luke's account of Christ's words gives us a real good description of how the self-righteous Pharisees looked upon publicans and sinners.Matthew 9:10
And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.
Wow! The Pharisee is actually thanking God that he is not as other men are, but better than everyone else. "My, my! Aren't we something special on a stick?" The fact is that he is all of those things mentioned, an extortioner, unjust (being displayed right now), and an adulterer in the spiritual sense, i.e. an idolater!Luke 18:10
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.[11] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
And just look at all my good works, God![12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
The Pharisee didn't have the time of day for the publican who was honest and humble before God. Good thing our Father did![13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
And so we have a good picture of Matthew 9:12 coming up... i.e. of the self-righteous (those who think they are whole) and the sinner (those who are sick in need of a physician).[14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Obviously, these self-important, self-righteous hypocrites wouldn't be caught dead associating with such "low-lifes"! This statement also documents that these Pharisees had no love or compassion (as in mercy) for the spiritual welfare of publicans and sinners. Would seem that these great self-exalted "spiritual leaders" have determined that the salvation of the souls of such publicans and sinners isn't important to God. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (see Matthew 23:13)Matthew 9:11
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
By the way, instead of questioning His disciples (perhaps in hopes of seeing what else they might find to accuse Him of) you would think these Pharisees would have asked Christ directly! Nevertheless, He heard what they asked and gave them a fitting answer.
Wow, that's a strong indictment of their hypocrisy, isn't it? Like so many "religious" people today, they think because of their sacrifices, the religious things they do, i.e. their offerings and their faithful church attendance and all the charities and missionaries they support, etc., that they are doing God's will and they are "whole", not like those sinners and publicans! In other words, they believe that they are in good standing with God and that He looks favorably upon them for their "wonderful works". Remember what Christ said about all that in Mat. 7:21-23? The point is, one cannot "repent" unless one knows he or she is a sinner and has need of repentance![12] But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
To that end, Jesus now instructs the Pharisees to go study and learn the meaning of the great analogy He just gave them. He refers them to the book of "salvation", which is the Book of Hosea in the Minor Prophets (Hosea means "salvation" in Hebrew), and in fact He even makes their homework easy for them by telling right where to go... no not there... but rather to where it is written "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice" which is found in Hos. 6:6.
Our Father in not interested in a bunch of "religious" people doing "religious things" like giving sacrifices and burnt offerings. What He wants is for His children to be loving and merciful, not as the self-righteous Pharisees, and to come to Him in true repentance and love Him.Christ came to call sinners to repentance so if you are too good to follow Him and help call sinners too, then perhaps you are just too good for Jesus Christ.[13] But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Here is the passage of Hosea to which Christ referred:
So if you are "playing church" then stop and "get real" and be honest with your Father and begin to study His Word, else how can you know how to follow Him? That's what the apostle Peter said as he closed his second epistle, "Grow in grace (loving kindness, mercy), and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)Hosea 6:6
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
To "deal treacherously" means to be "unfaithful" as in to break one's vows, i.e. to transgress the (marriage) covenant God made with you. Even this very day, though our people have the Written Words of the Living Word right on their coffee tables or book shelves, they ignore His warnings and the instructions He gave them through the prophets and the apostles and they have allowed themselves to be lulled to sleep and spiritually seduced by that old serpent, the false messiah, even Satan. And their "many" preachers of whom Christ warned them to be wary in Mat. 24 and Mk. 13, lead them right down the path to spiritual death by substituting a "form of worship" for the love and knowledge of His Word.In other words, they do not teach and communicate His Word chapter by chapter and verse by verse but rather substitute the religious traditions of men to which people become accustomed and firmly set in their ways.[7] But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.
We are now going to learn through Christ's simple analogies how incompatible the religious traditions of men are with the pure living truth of God's Word!
First, here is a question presented by John's disciples.
So why didn't Christ's disciples fast like John's students and the Pharisees?Matthew 9:14
Then came to Him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
The chamber of the bride, i.e. the bridechamber, is a joyous place as everyone is happy for the bride. So obviously that cannot possibly be a time of mourning, can it? Neither can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as the apostle John explains. It is also a time of rejoicing greatly.Matthew 9:15
And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
The friend of the bridegroom, the best man, goes forth and helps make the preparations for the wedding. John, like the best man and friend of the Bridegroom, helped make the preparations for the Bridegroom's entrance. He was that voice in the wilderness crying "Make ye ready". (Of course God's elect, those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, know that Christ is still with us in Spirit in these last days.)John 3:29
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
Now Christ lets us know that you cannot hang on to the old worn-out traditions of men's church systems and simply add some truth here and there and end up with an improvement.
An old garment that has been worn and washed many times becomes not only thin through loss of material but also having been shrunk to its limit looses all its stretch and elasticity. In other words, there is no give left in it! So if you sew a patch of new (unfulled in Greek) cloth, which means it has not been washed and is therefore unshrunk, to an old garment, the new patch will soon pull away from the older material and the hole will now be "made worse", i.e. made even larger than before.Matthew 9:16
No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
You see, some religious people have worn their old comfortable traditions for so long that those ways have become just like an old garment. But again, you cannot continue to wear the traditions of men thinking you can just patch up the old garment with a little truth here and there because you will end up with a bigger confusing mess than you started with. No, you must be willing to forsake the old garment and put on the new, which is that gospel armor of Ephesians chapter 6. The bottom line is... It's time for a new coat!
Here's another great analogy showing how the traditions of men and the truth of God's Word do not mix.
There are two things one needs to know in order to understand this analogy. First, many bottles back then were made of leather or from the skins of goats. As they aged they hardened and became less pliable, as if set in their ways.[17] Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
Secondly, "new wine" is wine that not ceased the fermentation process which until completed continues to cause expansion. Therefore, if you put "new wine" in old hardened denominations which are not flexible and will not expand with the fermentation, those bottles with burst and you will end up with nothing! Yes, it is unfortunate that so many are that hardened by traditions that they unable to accept new (at least new to them) truth from our Father's Word.G779 askos as-kos'
From the same as G778; a leathern (or skin) bag used as a bottle: - bottle.
How about you? Are you willing to learn from the Word of God or will you stick to the traditions of men?
Let us conclude today's study with an excerpt from the introduction to E. W. Bullinger's book, "How to Enjoy the Bible", pg. 6:
That is some pretty good advice if you don't want end up as an old dried out bottle ready to split and crack when you hear new truth!"When we come to ask ourselves, and say, "Where did I learn this?" "How did I get this?" "Who taught me this?" it is astonishing to find out how much we have imbibed from man, and from tradition; and not directly and for ourselves from the Word of God.All that we have learned from our youth up must be tested and proved by the Word of God. Where we find it is true we must learn it over again, from God. And where it will not stand the test of His Word we must be not only content, but thankful to give it up; and receive Divine revelation in the place of man's imagination."
You "see", the sin of America in these last days is IDOLATRY
Jesus Christ told us in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 that there would be famine in the last days prior to His second advent. He also said in Mark 13:23 "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things" and so it is that through the prophet Amos He tells us exactly what the famine of these last days is and you know what?
Not a famine of bread nor water! We are in the midst of it now:
Amos 8:11
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
Many people from all over the country, from sea to shining sea, are looking for a church in their area that teaches the Bible straight on, chapter by chapter and verse by verse. They keep searching around but cannot find one. Indeed, there are some good Bible teaching churches but unfortunately they are few and far between.[12] And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
Because of the great spiritual dearth, our land has become as a spiritual desert, a parched valley full of dead dry bones as so graphically depicted and explained in Ezekiel 37... you know, the Valley of Dry Bones! (For additional study go to pamphlet #1274) where God placed Ezekiel in the midst of a valley which was full of dry bones. ӻ)[13] In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.
This next verse explains the problem!
If you do some homework as instructed in 2 Tim 2:15, you will learn that Dan and Beer-sheba were where the idolatrous golden calves were set up for people to go and worship instead of having to go to Jerusalem according to the Word of God. So the people quickly began to suffer from the Mad Cow disease of idolatry, which is what the "Sin of Samaria" is![14] They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beer-sheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.
You "see", the sin of America in these last days is IDOLATRY which is the following after the traditions of men instead of seeking after Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and getting to know Him! Though they do it in ignorance because they lack the knowledge of His Word, our people actually worship a false god, the instead of Jesus, the "other Jesus" who is preached through the traditions of men, the one Paul talks about and was concerned about in Cor. 11:4, "For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." Again, the other Jesus is the one perpetuated by the traditions of men, not Jesus Christ the Word of God.
Remember in our last study Jesus explained by analogy that our people are so steeped in and accustomed to wearing the traditions of men that they cannot let go and put off that old garment. Even when they do hear new truth from the Word of God (New to them that is!) they take it and try to fit it into their traditions, which is like trying to patch up an old worn out robe with new pieces of unfulled cloth. It not only doesn't work but the holes in the old garment are made worse as the new cloth tears away from the old fabric and they end up with a bigger mess than they started with.
Christ then explained in another simple analogy that so many have become stiffened and hardened through their traditions, perpetuated by the "many" (Mat. 24:5) preachers and ministers who keep them in ignorance by not teaching His Word chapter by chapter and verse by verse, that they are like old leather bottles which have lost their ability to stretch and expand.Thus when new wine which is symbolic of new truth is poured in, they cannot handle it and they burst asunder as the fermentation of the new wine tries to expand their minds.
Now Jesus Christ is about to "send forth" (apostolos) His 12 disciples to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Mat. 10:6) who like sheep that have no shepherd have been scattered abroad both literally, as history documents, and spiritually into a state of confusion. He has been teaching and instructing and admonishing His disciples (students) in preparation for the commission He will give them and now just before He sends them forth, He is going to let them (and us) "see" and learn about the spiritual condition of the true House of Israel, which today basically comprises the Christian nations of the world such as America, Great Britain, Canada, etc.
Finally, as the last item of our introductory, take note of the Biblical numerics given to us in today's study for they play a major part in helping us understand on an "expanded level" that which is written. For example, the number "two" in Biblical numerics denotes witness and so it is that we are going to see "two" women and "two" men in today's study give witness to the spiritual condition of the house of Israel. We will also find the number "12" used in these passages giving further emphasis that the witness refers to the 12 tribes of the House of Israel.
The phrase "While He spake these things unto them, behold..." connects this event, the dying of this 12 year old girl (Luke 8:42), to what Christ has been explaining to the scribes and Pharisees, and His disciples too, about the traditions of men causing people to become hardened (spiritually dead) and unable to expand their minds to accept "new wine" from the Word of God. In other words, the analogy we are going to see concerns the woman's spiritual death which will occur unless she is "raised up" from her "slumbering" by Jesus Christ, the Word God. (see Romans 11:7-8)Matthew 9:18
While He spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
This father and certain ruler of the synagogue had the faith to know that Jesus Christ, the Word of God, could bring his dying daughter back to life.
All twelve disciples (Mat. 10:1) went with Christ to observe and be taught the spiritual lessons He prepared for them before He sent them forth to the lost sheep of the House of Israel to teach. If you are one of His disciples then follow Him also and pay close attention...He is teaching you, also.[19] And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did His disciples.
So Christ and His disciples are on there way and... behold... what have we here?
We have the first woman, the "12" year old girl who is dead, and now a second woman who has been diseased with an issue of blood, i.e. hemorrhaging (haimorrheo), for "12" years. By the way, according to Lev. 15:25 if a woman has an issue of blood outside her normal period, then she is considered "unclean". That's right! The majority of the House of Israel are spiritually "unclean"! Leviticus 15:25 "And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean." Also, according to Luke's account the woman spent all her money upon doctors who did nothing for her... except take all of her money.[20] And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment:
(Did you ever notice how that people will only pay their auto mechanics when they fix their cars but they pay their body mechanics (doctors) whether they fix their chassis or not.)
Well, this woman finally saw the light and came to Christ knowing and believing in her heart (within herself) that if she could but touch the vesture of Messiah, she would be made whole.Luke 8:43
And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
The word "garment" is "himation" in Greek (#2440) as is the same word translated "raiment" in Matthew 17:12 and "vesture" in Rev. 19:16.Matthew 9:21
For she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole.
Raiment is symbolic of righteousness and so this woman believed (had faith) that if she could get to and grab hold of His righteousness, the Word of God, that she would be made whole.Rev. 19:16
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
The Comforter Himself was present to give comfort and He told the woman (He called her "Daughter") that her faith, i.e. her belief in seeking after the righteousness (garment) of Christ, has made her whole. And so it is with the House of Israel that she is diseased and unclean because she follows after the traditions of men, those "spiritual physicians" who cannot help her... but still take her money, instead of seeking to grab hold of the Word of God that she might be made whole. In other words, most of our people do not hunger and thirst after righteousness and so they are spiritually diseased and unclean. Go to the Great Physician and be made whole!Matthew 9:22
But Jesus turned Him about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
Ok, Jesus and His disciples have finally arrived at the ruler's house.
Back in those days, before Benjamin Franklin flew his kite, they didn't have electricity and thus there were no CD players and stereos on which to play sad mournful funeral music, so they hired professional rock and mourn groups... probably with names like the "Ungrateful Dead". Anyway, Christ saw all the commotion and entered into the ruler's house and took charge.[23] And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
Jesus Christ told them to pack up the band and send the wailers home! The party's over because "the maid is not dead, just sleeping"! Understand that this was a direct statement from Jesus Christ, from the Living Word of God, and for that they laughed Him to scorn! So if you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, take heed and take notice how people receive the truth from His lips; Yes, when they read it in their Bible, that is, if they even bother to read "The Little Black Book". Many Christians today will laugh and scorn when they hear one of God's servants tell them something which conflicts with their precious traditions, even if that servant documents it after the manner of "Thus saith the Lord" or "It is written"! Many of you have experienced this very thing when you tried to tell someone what really happened in the Garden of Eden, right? Pop! Crack! There goes another bottle![24] He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed Him to scorn.
In Luke's account we read that Christ cleared out everyone except for the mother and father of the maiden and His disciples (Peter, James, and John are specifically mentioned). He also "commanded" to give her "meat" after she arose.[25] But when the people were put forth, He went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
"Meat" is symbolic of the more mature, meatier teachings of God's Word as opposed to just baby's food, i.e. milk, which represents the first steps or the basics of salvation and baptism which all too often is all that is ever fed to people in traditional churches.Luke 8:55
And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and He commanded to give her meat.
Read what Paul has to say about "meat" in Hebrews chapter 5:
Are you a "babe" or a mature Christian, one who is knowledgeable in our Father's Word? It is ok to be a babe if you are a new Christian, but if you have been one for a long time and you are still ignorant of His Word, quite frankly you are in trouble!Hebrews 5:12-14
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. [13] For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. [14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Still today, the fame that Christ raised the dead and healed the sick are all that most Christians see in what transpired in these miracles. They simply do not have "eyes to see" beyond the flesh which does appear, and into the spiritual dimension concerning those things which do not appear. To that end, in the teaching of this next miracle we will see two witnesses to the fact that the house of Israel (No, not the little country in the middle east) has been blinded and then what can be done about it. By the way, Paul documents that all but God's elect are spiritually blinded in this generation.Matthew 9:26
And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
However, salvation is open to all and "whosoever" chooses to follow in His path (akoloutheo), and seeks Him out, and believes in Him, shall have their eyes touched, anointed by the Word of God, and they shall be "spiritually" opened giving them "eyes to see".Romans 11:7
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Here is what happened when Jesus departed the house of the ruler.
Though they were blind they chose to follow Him in His path, crying unto Him, talking to Him, calling Him by the Messianic title, the Son of David, and asking for His mercy on them.The Son of David is used here noting that they knew the true lineage of Christ, which is what the key of David concerns in the church of Philadelphia in Rev. 3. You see, the true lineage of the House of Israel is essential knowledge to the opening of the eyes as it turns the hearts of the children back to their father(s). The fact is, "The orphaned children of the House of Israel are lost". The question is, "Do you know where they are today?" God certainly does. To wit, a watchman cannot be sent to them if he or she does know who and where they are, can he?Matthew 9:27
And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed Him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
They were determined and persistent in following Christ all the way into His house (i.e. where He dwells... hello?) which means they really hungered and thirsted for the Word of God, believing that He could give them eyes to see... and He can![28] And when He was come into the house, the blind men came to Him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
It was according to His mercy that they were healed and the healing was done to their faith, i.e. that their faith could be strengthened with eyes to see.[29] Then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
Christ did not open their eyes to demonstrate to the world that He is able to perform physical miracles and that is documented by the very fact He emphatically charged these two NOT to make it known. Well, it seems they blew the very first command they were given after receiving their new eyes![30] And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
Of course these two once blind men were excited and zealous about what happened! Who wouldn't be?However, when Christ opens one's spiritual eyes, that in itself does not give one instant knowledge of God's Word but is rather the beginning of being able to "see", to study and rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15), i.e. as a true disciple (student) of His. Perhaps in all their exuberance they wanted to be apostles... but you see... first one must be a disciple who has absorbed the meat of His Word. (See also Ezk. 3:1-9.)[31] But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
Next up... a dumb man possessed with a demonic spirit.
Let's just get right down to the meat of this. A person who is possessed with an evil spirit cannot speak the "truth" and only Jesus Christ, the Word of God, has the "power" to cast out those evil spirits. To that end, Christ is just about to give that power to His disciples and make them apostles: Matthew 10:1 "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease."[32] As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
Their shall also be a work performed in Israel in these last days that shall be marvellous and wonderful!It is the work of the "seed that shall come" (Ps. 22:30-31) who are the sons and the daughters, the brothers and sisters, of the churches of Philadelphia and Smyrna who shall declare His righteousness, i.e. teach the truth of His Word. The works they do are spoken of in the quote from Joel in Acts chapter 2 and in the Song of Moses (Deut. 32) which the overcomers shall be singing at the victory celebration over the beast. Rev. 15:3 "And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints."[33] And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
Though His works are truly to be marvelled (vs. 33), notice how the religious leaders view them!
The very works of Jesus Christ were called the works of Satan by the religionists back then and so are the wonderful works of God in these last days called the work of the devil by many in the religious community.[34] But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
The teaching of the visions, the truth and the meat of the God's Word, to the House of Israel (Acts 2:17-18) and the proclaiming of the gospel of the kingdom in all the world (Matthew 24:14) are the works He shall do in these last days. And you know what? He shall accomplish them through both His servants and handmaidens![35] And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
And now Christ's final thoughts and words before He calls together His twelve disciples.
The word "fainted" is translated "harassed" in all the older manuscripts. You see, without a true shepherd like the Son of David, the true Shepherd, the sheep are unprotected from the wolves and the lions and the bears. And because they have had no one to lead them and protect them they have been relentlessly bombarded (harassed) with the traditions of men by the scribes and Pharisees and have thus been scattered abroad, which spiritually speaking means they are "scatter-brained", in a state of spiritual confusion, carried away by the king of Babylon (Satan, the false shepherd and his hirelings) into the land of Baby-lon (Baby-land or Babel-land) which means "land of confusion" (babel means "confusion" in Hebrew).[36] But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
So as Jesus looked over this multitude of people who were without a shepherd, He had compassion on them, took pity on them, for they were spiritually scattered in all directions indeed. What a pitiful condition the children of Israel are in at this late hour. Worse yet, there are very few labourers, few true disciples who are knowledgeable of His Word and qualified to gather in the harvest. You "see", the false shepherds, the hirelings, are nothing more than robbers of our people, but it is not the money they sheer from sheep that is the biggest problem. It is that by teaching people to follow the traditions of men instead of teaching them His Word, they rob them of the opportunity to enter into the kingdom of heaven! They rob them of life!
Go to the true Shepherd and listen to His voice for He will protect you and lead you to the lush green pastures of His Word.Matthew 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Even David was willing to risk his life to go after the predators such as the lion and the bear to protect his sheep.John 10:11-12
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Yes, there are many false prophets, false shepherds, in the world of Christianity today, but there are few labourers who teach His Word chapter by chapter and verse by verse.[12] But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
Can you also look out upon the multitudes and "see" the spiritual condition of our people caused by the famine, the lack of "hearing the Word of God", and the constant bombardment of the traditions of men?Matthew 9:37
Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
If so, and you are moved with compassion on them, then let us pray that our brothers and sisters will wake up from their sleep and become true labourers in the field!
Notice whose harvest it is! It is the Lord's harvest and so He shall send forth labourers even at the time of the great harvest which is the final generation, the generation marked by the planting of both the good and the bad figs on May 15, 1948. Please log unto see Fig Tree.[38] Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.
Yes, it is the generation called the "Baby Boomers" which "shall not pass away until all these things be fulfilled (Mat. 24:34)"! What a fitting description of this final generation!
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