Matthew 9: 9-26

The Calling of Matthew

Imagine a toll booth along the side of a dusty road outside Capernaum in the time of Jesus. Inside that booth is Matthew, a tax collector. As a Jewish tax collector, he would be an agent of the "enemy" of the Jews- the oppressive Roman Empire. Basically, he collected the hard-earned money of the Jewish people and then paid the taxes imposed by Caesar.  

 Jewish tax collectors were seen as outcasts and traitors. Jesus, purposefully, sought out Matthew- someone that society shunned.

1. A man with Leprosy, a Roman Centurion, two demon possessed men, and now a tax collector...

-What are some things that these people had in common?

-Why did Jesus pursue people like this? Would His ministry not have been effective if He only pursued the social elite- the very rich, the scholars, etc.?

2. Jesus walked up to the tax collector and simply said- "Follow me."

-Why didn't Matthew ask "where" or "why?"

3. Jesus accompanied Matthew to his house where a dinner was being served. At this dinner, there were other tax collectors and people that are noted as "sinners" in the text.

-Who would be seen as a "sinner" in the time of Jesus? How about in 2008? 

-If eating dinner with someone was seen as a sign of friendship, why would Matthew call these "sinners" his friends?

4. The Pharisees are shocked that Jesus was eating dinner with these "sinners." In response to their shock, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." He continued with "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

-Why would a sinner need to be spiritually healed?

-Would they recognize this need?

-What did Jesus mean when He said that He "did not come to call the righteous?" Isn't being righteous a good thing? Was Jesus referring to those that are self-righteous? 

Jesus Questioned about Fasting

Jesus was questioned about why His disciples were not fasting. 

1. What is fasting? 

-Why do people do it? 

-What are some inappropriate reasons to fast?

2. Review v 15

-Why does Jesus refer to Himself as the bride groom?

-Why would Jesus say that an appropriate time to fast would be after He leaves?

A Dead Girl and A Sick Woman

A woman's medical issue has led to bleeding for 12 years. 

1. Like leprosy, her bleeding would make her ceremoniously unclean...

-How would this illness affect her socially? Spiritually?

2. Review v 20, 21

-Why would this sick woman believe that healing could be brought about by simply making contact with the clothes that Jesus wore?

-Is her faith similar to that of the Roman Centurion or is it different in some way?

3. Review v 22 

-How did this faith develop?

-Do you have that level of faith?

-What if Jesus hadn't healed her? Would her faith have changed? Would yours?

 A ruler in the area came to Jesus for healing of his young daughter. However, when he approached Jesus, the daughter was already dead...

1. Imagine you were able to witness the miracles that occurred in the time of Jesus.

-Would you naturally assume that He also had the power over death and that He could resurrect your daughter?

-If you had mentioned this to your family, before you left your home to look for Jesus, what do you think their reaction would be? Do you think that they would share your faith?

2. When Jesus arrived at the ruler's house, He told the assembled crowd to "Go away, the girl is not dead but asleep."

-What did Jesus mean by this statement?

-Why did He indicate that she was sleeping and not dead? Wouldn't the family have known the difference?

-If the child was able to "sleep" through the noise, why did Jesus ask for noisy crowd to "go away?"

Teacher: Troy Nesbitt

Matthew 9: 9-26