Matthew 9:1-17

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

A Paralyzed Man is Healed, and Matthew is Called to be a Disciple

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Jesus confronted both sin and sickness.

  2. Jesus changed both people and programs.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Have the right attitude toward fasting.

QUESTIONS

  1. What was the purpose of Jesus’ miracles?

  2. Did only the paralytic believe, or did his friends believe as well?

  3. Why did the Pharisees accuse the Lord of blasphemy?

  4. What was the point of Jesus’ question in Matthew 9:5?

  5. Matthew was a publican, or tax collector. Why were tax collectors disliked?

  6. What was the point of Christ’s parable about new and old cloth and new and old wineskins?

ANSWERS

  1. Jesus’ miracles showed that He was the Son of God and the promised Messiah.

  2. The paralytic and his friends showed faith by coming to Jesus. Matthew 9:2 says Jesus saw their faith.

  3. Jesus forgave the man’s sins, and only God can forgive sins. The Pharisees realized Jesus was claiming deity by doing this; thus they accused Him of blasphemy.

  4. If you are God you have the authority and ability to fulfill both statements. If you are not God, neither statement means anything.

  5. Tax collectors, like Matthew, were disliked by their fellow Jews because they collected taxes for Rome. They would often cheat the people by overtaxing them and keeping the profit for themselves.

  6. The Lord’s coming signaled a change in programs. The dispensation of Law was ending and the dispensation of Grace was beginning. The two could not be mixed.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. The miracles of Jesus give us a glimpse into the future. Discuss how they are a foretaste of what it will be like when the Lord returns to establish His millennial kingdom.

  2. In Matthew 9:13, Jesus declared, “For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” The Lord meant He could not help people who thought they were righteous and did not need help. Only those who knew they were sinners and realized their need for a Savior would respond to His call. The same is true today. Before he can be saved, a person must realize his need for a Savior. Have you realized your need for a Savior?

CHALLENGE

  1. Remember how creative the paralytic’s friends were in the way they brought him to Christ. You can also be creative in the way you introduce your unsaved friends to Christ. Try to do so this week.

KEY VERSES

  • “‘But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins’—then He said to the paralytic, ‘Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’” Matthew 9:6

  • “For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matthew 9:13



Matthew, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsMatthew 9:1-17