A Church Full of Sinners

Matthew 9:1-13 (ESV pg. 813)

Big Idea: We are all terrible, wretched, hopeless sinners in desperate need of Grace.

  1. Introduction
  2. Jesus promised, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30 ESV)
  3. We regularly miss out on this rest, because coming to him requires acknowledging our need.
  1. Divine priorities (vv. 1-8)
  2. What we find most important, we typically do first.
  3. Jesus views sin as a bigger problem than paralysis.

“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” (Matthew 5:29–30 ESV)

  1. Of the things we call “not that bad,” Jesus says “you’d be better off maimed.”
  1. Healthy or Sick? (vv. 9-13)
  2. When Jesus calls Matthew to his closest circle, he defies all contemporary wisdom.
  3. Tax collectors used to “bid” for the right to collect taxes.
  4. Once the government got their bid price, the tax collector could keep the rest.
  5. Matthew was a tool of an oppressive government who made a living taking advantage of his fellow Jews.
  6. When Jesus eats with the tax collectors and other sinners, he continues to do so.
  7. The Pharisees “grumble,” (complain) to Jesus’ trusted circle.
  8. They want the disciples to lobby for Jesus to honor them instead.
  9. If not, at least the accusation will undermine Jesus’ authority with them.
  10. Jesus’ response: those who know their need for me will have me. (Quotes Hosea 6:6)
  11. How healthy you feel will affect how quickly or often you see a doctor.
  12. It’s not that the Pharisees don’t need to be saved, it’s that they don’t think they need to be saved.

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23 ESV)

“None is righteous, no, not one;” (Romans 3:10 ESV)

  1. What he is saying that those whom he will save are the ones who recognize their own sin.
  2. The Pharisees give tithes and offerings, pray regularly, worship often, know the Old Testament inside and out…but that does not make them good.
  3. Nevertheless, they are convinced they are good, and sleep well at night.
  4. The tax collectors and prostitutes know that their need is complete.
  1. Human nature today matches then. Are you healthy or sick?
  2. If you know that you are sinful, join me at the bad people table.
  3. Don’t deceive yourself!

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.” (1 Corinthians 4:3–4 ESV)

  1. Rules and regulations prove guilt, not innocence:

“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” (Romans 3:20 NIV)

  1. We try hard to convince ourselves that we are healthy, not sick.
  2. Deflection: ignore my own sin by focusing on someone else’s.
  3. Relativism: assume that my rules can be different than other people’s.
  4. Comparison: acknowledge my sin, but think that it’s OK as long as it’s not as bad as someone else’s.
  5. Compensation: try to make up for good by doing bad.
  6. Denial: acknowledge wrongdoing, but reject the idea that it will be punished.
  7. Atheism: deny the existence of divinely-imposed morality altogether.
  8. All behaviors are evidence of our own scrambling to cover our guilt.
  9. None are valid.
  10. God knows all sin, holds us to his standard, does not grade on a curve, and will punish every sin with death, a sentence that we cannot make up for with “good” deeds. (Romans 6:23)
  1. Christ asks of you. Do you recognize that you are sick and in need of a doctor?
  2. If you will come to him confessing your sin, he will receive you.
  3. If you will not, he says “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

This Week

Read

Romans 3:19-28

Consider

When this passage speaks of “law,” it refers to the commands that God gave Israel to obey. According to this passage, what can the law accomplish?

What can not be attained through the law?

Verse 25 speaks of “propitiation,” “atonement,” or “sacrifice” depending on your translation. This means that God’s perfect justice will see all sin punished, but that the punishment was poured out on Christ rather than believers.

What do we do to deserve this incredible gift, and how might this affect the way you think about your own “goodness”?

Do

James 5:16 tells us to confess our sins to each other. This is incredibly difficult because it requires me to acknowledge just how bad my sin is, and to recognize that I am the kind of person who does that particular sin. It is much more comfortable to let others assume that I am better than that.

Find another Christian this week and confess a recent sin to them. As you do so, ask God to forgive you, and receive that forgiveness.

Pray

Confess to God that you are sick and need his forgiveness. Repent of any sin He brings to your mind, and ask Him to protect you from the pride that might ever cause you to forget your need for his undeserved Grace.