One important observation concerning the Scriptures needs to
be clarified at this point. This is the
principle of the ‘progress of revelation.’
This principle states that over time God has revealed more and more of
Himself and His ways through His prophets and eventually through His Son. This ‘progress of revelation’ does not ever
contradict earlier revelation but it enhances, clarifies, and gives additional
information. Last time we looked at the
teachings of Jesus concerning entrance into the Kingdom of God and saw that
they included some clearly new (and yet not contradictory) information. Indeed, many things He taught were already
stated in the Law and the prophets.
There were also some things that would no longer be needed because their
purpose would be completely fulfilled in the person and work of the Messiah –
things which Jesus compared to old wineskins and worn out clothing.
Now this time we are going to look at a new emphasis on an
old idea – faith. Even the ancestor of
the Jewish faith, Abraham, was especially commended for his faith. Just being born into the Jewish nation and
observing all the points of the Law was not really enough to qualify one to
enter the Kingdom of God, Jesus said.
“Your righteousness needs to exceed that of the Pharisees” (Matthew 5:20)! In every age and in every place, God has
always required that a person exercise faith in Him to be in good standing with
Him. So, it is still true today. The content of what could be understood about God changed over time but the idea of trusting in God the creator alone and not trusting
in Man the creature has always been true.
The two pericopes
that we are going to look at in Matthew chapter 9 will help us to understand a
bit more about faith. This is where we left
off last time. Jesus was having dinner
with a group of tax collectors – all friends of Matthew who has just begun to
follow Jesus. Recall that just before he
called Matthew, Jesus had demonstrated His authority to forgive sins by healing
a paralyzed man. The next thing we saw
Him calling Matthew to follow Him and immediately Matthew sets up a big dinner
and invites all these tax collectors AND sinners. Recall that when the Pharisees grumbled about
Him eating with this type of people, Jesus pointed out that He came to call
sinners!
Then after a conversation with some followers of John the
Baptist, which we discussed at length, somebody else interrupts Jesus dinner! Notice that Jesus is completely calm about
these interruptions. He always has time
for people who need Him. So now let’s
look at Matthew 9:18-26.
Who is it that interrupts Jesus at Matthew’s dinner? It says a ‘ruler’ in the ESV. In Mark’s gospel it gives us further
information. This is a ‘ruler of the
synagogue.’ He’s in charge of the goings
on at the local synagogue—probably in Capernaum. (Archaeologists have uncovered this ancient
synagogue by the Sea of Galilee.) Now
this ruler is quite an important religious figure in the Jewish community. But notice the first thing he does when he
approaches Jesus. He kneels. (Another version says, “He bowed low.”) Usually, it is the other way around for this
man. But he is demonstrating one of the
characteristics of the blessed ones who will see God—the poor in Spirit. He is willing to humble himself and come to
Jesus. Why? Because, he says his “daughter has just died,
but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.” He trusts that Jesus is able and willing to
raise his daughter from the dead! So how
does Jesus respond to this interruption?
He got up from dinner and followed him along with his
disciples. (This is also an important
observation for those who thought He spent too much time at dinners. It’s the people He meets over dinner and
their needs that always have the priority.) There they go down the road with a
huge crowd following Him. Notice that
someone else in the crowd figures on interrupting Jesus before He arrives at
the ruler’s house. It is a woman who has
had a discharge of blood for twelve years.
I don’t know if this was associated with 12 years of painful cramps,
too, but it prevented her from ever going to the Temple precincts. The Temple was the center of worship for all
Jews and she was not allowed to get anywhere near there. She was desperate. So how does she approach Jesus? She was too humble to even approach Him
directly like the ruler had done. She believed that she would be healed just by
touching the tassel on his robe as he passed through the crowd.
But Jesus, knew her the moment she touched His tassel. He said, “Take heart, daughter. Your faith has made you well.” Ah to be called a daughter or son of God! Why did He say, “Take courage?” Because she was fearful. We need never fear coming to Jesus even
though our sin is absolutely contrary to His way. But the fear did not negate her faith. She was healed that instant. Then Jesus continued down the road to the
ruler’s house.
When they arrived, there was a crowd of mourners and flute
players who Jesus told to go away. “The
girl is NOT dead but is sleeping.” They
laughed at Him. But the ruler cleared
the house finally and Jesus held the girl’s hand and she arose! And the news of this went all over the place.
Now notice the two different approaches made to Jesus. The important ruler humbled Himself and bowed
down before Jesus while the woman had to get up the nerve to even touch His
tassel. They both exercised faith. They both required boldness to ask Jesus but
it was expressed in two different ways.
When we come to Jesus to ask for something, how do we approach Him? In humility?
In boldness? (It matters not). In faith? (This is essential). However, the ruler and the woman both exposed
themselves to the possibility of public humiliation and laughter especially if Jesus didn’t come
through. But He did come through because
of their faith. He was both willing
and able.
Now the last pericope we will look at is in Matthew 9:27-31. So Jesus left the house of the ruler and went
back to the home where He was staying in Capernaum and as he traveled there two
blind men began calling out to him and following Him. They said, “Have mercy on us, Son of
David.” And they even managed to follow
Him inside the house. How are they
approaching Jesus? Yes, with faith and
boldness and notice they are calling Him something—yes, “Son of David.” This is a title for the Messiah. They knew
the Messiah was supposed to raise the dead (which he had just done) and heal
the lame and the blind, too! And when
Jesus, said to them, “Do you believe I am able to do this?” they immediately
said, “Yes, Lord.” Remember we
pointed out that the word “believe” is simply a verb form of the noun
“faith.” You could just as well translate
this, “Do you have faith that I am able to do this?” The original language is much clearer than
English which has at least half a dozen words we can use to describe this:
faith, trust, reliance, belief, count on, cling to, etc. Notice that they weren’t asked if they
believed that Jesus exists—that is understood.
They weren’t asked if they believed Jesus is willing—they were asking
Him to be willing. They were asked if
they believed Jesus was able to heal
them. This is the same with us when we
exercise faith. We must believe His
promise to give us eternal life.
So, what happened? He touched their eyes. Then he said, “According to your faith be it
done unto you.” Whoa! According to my faith? What happened? So, they had believed that he was able and now
their eyes were opened! And he told them to keep the miracle to themselves but
of course they blabbed it all over.
Jesus wants people to believe in Him – not in other people’s
experiences.
So, Jesus is teaching the people that if they want something
from Him they have to have faith in Him.
This deliverance He offers concerns both physical and spiritual healing
because both realms were created by God and ruined by sin and need His
transformation. Most importantly, this transformation
will be needed to gain entrance into the kingdom of God. This has spiritual implications they are only
barely able to grasp now. We already
know that entrance into the kingdom has spiritual conditions that only He can
fulfill yet He has already pointed out His ability to heal is just a
demonstration that He can also forgive sins—sins which prevent us from entering
the kingdom. Just as He heals by faith,
He also grants us entrance into His kingdom by faith.
© 2018 Eric Thimell
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