Calling a Publican to Be His Disciple
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
7/16/2017 PM
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Text:
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Matthew 9:9-13
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Psalters: |
279, 240, 63, 144 |
- Matthew’s call.
- About Matthew very little is known; he was one of the least conspicuous of the twelve apostles.
- He is “publican,” i.e., a tax collector.
- The Pharisees put publicans were in the same class as “sinners.”
- Matthew immediately arose, “left all,” and followed Jesus.
- Matthew was so grateful to Jesus for this honor that he made “him a great feast” in his own house (Luke 5:29).
- This was to honor Jesus, to thank Him for the salvation he was graciously given, and to demonstrate his joy.
- He invited a great company of publicans in order to meet Jesus and to urge them to be spiritual followers of Jesus.
- The self-righteous Pharisees vent their criticism against the disciples who had chosen such a person to be their teacher.
- They wrongly judged the sinners, themselves, and Jesus.
- Jesus responds by speaking of His purpose for coming into this world, namely, as the great spiritual Physician.
- Jesus explains with the figure of a doctor who has the sick (not the healthy) come to them – they know they are sick.
- Jesus does not come for the “righteous,” i.e., those who are righteous in their own eyes.
- Jesus declares His purpose for coming into the world: to call sinners to repentance.
- Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6 which condemns Israel for doing religious duty (sacrifices) without a heart of love for one’s neighbors.
- The Pharisees add to their sin by forbidding those who are sick to be healed (18:9).
- So Jesus tells these great teachers to go and learn (13a)! They claimed to know it all, but Jesus tells them to study.
- “For” - when one truly understands that God desires mercy, then he will know Jesus calls sinners not the righteous.
- Jesus’ “call” is the efficacious work of God bringing the elect, regenerated sinners to conscious knowledge of their salvation.