Posts Tagged ‘Matthew 9’

The Word 8.2.09

I found this passage extremely touching and encouraging this past week. It touches on several key points concerning Jesus. More to come soon. For now…I hope you find this account encouraging as it gives us all a better picture of Jesus the Savior.

Matthew 9:18-34 (ESV)

18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. 23 And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.

27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

32 As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”

First Principles for Young Believers

Here is a wise word from J.C. Ryle to “teachers of souls” concerning young believers and their discipleship. Reflecting on Matthew 9:14-26 in Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (Vol. 1), Ryle says:

We must be careful not to attach an excessive importance to the lesser things of religion. We must not be in a hurry to require a minute conformity to one rigid rule in things indifferent, until the first principles of repentance and faith have been thoroughly learned. To guide us in this matter, we have great need to pray for grace, and Christian common sense. Tact in dealing with young disciples is a rare gift, but a very useful one. To know what to insist upon as absolutely necessary from the first–and what to reserve, as a lesson to be learned when the learner has come to more perfect knowledge–is one of the highest attainments of a teacher of souls.

The fundamental elements of Christianity are the building blocks for the life of a Christian. Once the foundation has been built, the rest of the house can begin to be framed.

Expository Thoughts on the Gospels by J.C. Ryle

The Word 7.26.09

Jesus did not come to patch up people’s practice of the law. He came to fulfill the law and help us understand it in its proper context. Jesus gives John’s disciples a revelatory answer to their question about the discipline of fasting. Jesus tells them (in not so many words) that there will be plenty of time for fasting once he has gone to the cross and died. The crucifixion of Jesus will be an appropriate event for fasting. Just as new wine must be put into new wineskins, so Jesus comes to put spiritual disciplines and faithful devotion in its proper context. Fasting and other disciplines are an expression of a changed heart and mind, not simple adherence to a external ritual.

Matthew 9:14-17 (ESV)

14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

The Monday Muse

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