The Lordship Of The King

The Lordship Of The King

Our text:

Matthew 12:1-50

It is in this chapter of the Book of Matthew where we will see that the Jewish religious leaders will make known their rejection of Jesus as Christ the Jewish Messiah. We will and we have seen that Christ Jesus has fulfilled the prophesies from the Old Testament. He has performed miracle after miracle. Jesus is the King of the Jew and He had presented the Kingdom to them up to this time. Everything up to this point in this Gospel has proven Christ Jesus to be the promised One. We have seen the blind regain there sight, still impossible in our day. We have seen lepers cleansed of their disease. We have seen demons driven out of people, not by exorcism but by command. We have seen the dead raised back to life. There could be only one explanation of these miracles.

These things proved that God had visited His people. (Immanuel)(God with us). The Old Testament predictions of the Messiah, the manner of His coming, and His works were being fulfilled before the eyes of this nation and these Jews.

BUT: They "refused" to recognize Him!

AND: They had no "heart" for Jehovah God in the flesh!

In the words of Jesus about a Gentile and then the nation of Israel:

Mat 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, [I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel].

Mat 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 8:12 [But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness]: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

We will see in this chapter that the kingdom of heaven will be put on hold until the second coming of Christ. Christ will now reveal the kingdom of heaven in mysteries. Christ Jesus will be the revealer of secrets and the Apostle Paul would later explain these to the Gentiles and to the Jews.

*****Our Text:

Mat 12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

Mat 12:2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

(The Lord of the Sabbath)

The Sabbath is an essential day to the Jew. To keep it is part of the laws given to the Jew. They pride themselves in this day and boast of the keeping of it. The Pharisees saw that this law was enforced and put great burdens on the people by adding to this law that was written by the hand of God and needed no additions.

To the Christian this is not so. There are many religions that in our day adhere to the Sabbath Day as the day of worship but that is simply not what the Word of God says. Those that believe this usually also have other doctrine they have twisted from God's Word. Some of these others are, "soul sleep", universalism, loosing your salvation amongst other things.

The Christian is dead to the law:

Rom 2:14 [For when the Gentiles, which have not the law], do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, [ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ]; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Gal 2:19 [For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God].

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The believer in Christ is above the law in the sense of Christ because he is complete and perfect in Christ. The rule of the walk of the Christian is the walk of Christ inside the believer.

The Sabbath day is connected with the Earth and with Israel, but the believer "IS NOT ISRAEL" "NOR DOES THE BELIEVER BELONG ON THIS EARTH".

The great and true Sabbath is still coming in the future at Christ's return.

At this time the Christian believer has no Sabbath to keep. If we desire to keep the Sabbath day holy then we must keep the seventh day and not the first day of the week holy. Some will say that the Sabbath day has been changed to the first day of the week but that also is not true, there is no scripture to lead us this way.

The first day of the week is the Lord's day, "the day of the resurrection", "the day of the new creation"(Born Again). This day was kept in the very beginning of the Church Age and is a memorial to Christ who was raised from the dead on the first day of the week. This is the day of the New Testament Church to worship in honor of Our Lord, on "His" day.

A man once wrote: "Israel was commanded to observe the Sabbath; the Church is privileged to enjoy the first day of the week, Sunday"

1.) To Israel it is a test of her moral condition.

The Sabbath makes known what Israel can do for God.

2.) To the Church it is proof of eternal acceptance.

The "Lord's Day" perfectly declares what God has done for the Church.

There is no law about this day in the Bible, the Christian believer is in perfect liberty with "no yoke of bondage" upon him:

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, [ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another].

Gal 5:14 [For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.]

Gal 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

Those that insist on the Sabbath day and call themselves Christian only cause confusion and God is not the author of confusion:

1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

*****Jesus and some disciples were passing through some farmland on a Sabbath. Some of them were hungry, by law they were allowed to pick from those crops enough to satisfy that hunger. We must remember there was also no buying or selling on the Sabbath, they could not buy their lunch:

Lev 19:10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.

The Pharisee did not view this to be legal because it violated their traditions and their additions to the law.

1.) It was working on the Sabbath, because they had to pick the food they ate, they were reaping.

2.) It was work, because when they picked the grain and rub it in their hands they were sifting, threshing and cleaning was also work that was not allowed on the Sabbath.

Remember these Pharisee considered rubbing wax on a cask just to stop it from leaking on the Sabbath as work that simply was not allowed. The Orthodox Jews of our day still recognize thirty nine categories of work that are prohibited on the Sabbath.

The Pharisees quickly challenged the Lord Jesus Christ, who cannot sin, that He indeed was allowing His disciples to sin.

*****Our Text:

Mat 12:3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

Mat 12:4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

Mat 12:5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

Mat 12:6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

Mat 12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

Mat 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

When Christ Jesus had met Satan at the time of temptation, He used the Sword of the Lord, "the scriptures" as His weapon, The Word Of God, His Own Word.

Now as He meets the offspring of the Devil, He again will use the Word of God to defeat them.

We should be learning that we always have a weapon against all evil and that weapon is the Word of God.

(Jesus said: "Have you not read"?)

1Sa 21:3 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.

1Sa 21:4 And the priest answered David, and said, [There is no common bread] under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.

1Sa 21:5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, [and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel].

1Sa 21:6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

Exo 25:30 And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.

Lev 24:5 And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake.

Lev 24:6 And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD.

The loaves of bread which the officiating priest placed every Sabbath day upon the golden table in the Sanctuary, before the Lord, were twelve in number, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The loaves must have been large, since two tenth deals (about six pints) of flour were used for each. They were served up hot on the Sabbath day in the Sanctuary, when the stale ones, which had been exposed the whole week, were taken away, and none but the priests were allowed to eat them.

In an extraordinary move, David and his men partook of the shew-bread [they were indeed in great need of nourishment]. Jesus showed from this that ritual observances [must at times give way to moral duties in case of urgent necessity], thus He justified His disciples in plucking corn on the Sabbath day.

In "type" when David, God's anointed, was rejected and was a fugitive, the holy things connected with the ceremonial laws given to Israel ceased to be holy. The sin was David's rejection and [this made the consecrated shewbread to be common] as David said to the High Priests.

The rejection of God's anointed (Christ Jesus) had profaned all things. You see by the Pharisees rejecting Christ Jesus [they had profaned all the holy things of the law]. They had rejected Him and had no love for Him.

It was a ridiculous thing for these religious leaders, hypocrites, to speak of the keeping of the Sabbath at the same time rejecting the Lord Of the Sabbath!

Even in our day, and increasingly so, the divinity of the Bible, the Lord and His redemptive work is being denied by many so called Christians, who still hold to outward forms, rituals, the keeping of holy days and ceremonials.

Christ said, "how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless"

The Bible says:

Num 28:9 And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof:

Num 28:10 This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

This also demanded work and according to the way these Pharisee interpreted the law, this work was not allowed on the Sabbath.

We can see Our Lord even now, showing in "type" Grace. Jesus indicated that all laws and ceremonies were to find their end in Him. He was the true Priest. He was the true Sacrifice. He was the Redeemer to take away "all sin". He is the One to bring the true Sabbath Day of Rest. He is the Lord of the Sabbath and He is also the Son of Man!

Hos 6:6 [For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings].

Hos 6:7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

Christ Jesus repeated Himself again to these hypocrites:

Mat 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mat 12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

Mat 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

Mar 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

Mar 2:28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

*****What we will see is that even after these statements Christ did not turn His back on them. It is a lingering, and patient love we can see and need to learn from Him here as He turns towards their synagogues.

*****Our Text:

Mat 12:9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:

Mat 12:10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

Mat 12:11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

Mat 12:12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

Mat 12:13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

As Jesus Christ entered into the synagogue, He was confronted with a man that had a withered hand. "This was most likely a setup" and these Pharisees immediately hurled a another challenge at Jesus Christ Our Lord.

For knowledge sake, there was a widespread controversy among the Jews as to what medications were allowed on the Sabbath. Any application of medicines to the outside of the body was strictly forbidden for it was not seen as life threatening. Some internal medicines were allowed.

The man with the withered hand could not be classified as dangerously ill but also there was no known cure for this disease. The Pharisees "did" believe it was lawful to save a life or they would have involved themselves in murder.

"The first thing we should notice here is that these Jews knew Jesus had the power to heal at will". [They did not question His healing ability even when it involved a healing that could not be done by any other person on this earth]. True miracles even in our day of medicine.

Was there anyone in that synagogue that would have allowed their own sheep to suffer from falling into a pit? No not a single one! These people would not even respond to the remarks of Christ Jesus.

Jesus Christ concluded then that it must be lawful to do good on any Sabbath. It was a miracle when this man stretched out his hand and proved that Jesus had completely restored this man's arm to full use.

What happened next?

1.) Not the amazement of such a miracle, for they knew Jesus could heal but they were furious that Christ had publicly shown the foolishness of their traditions that did not adhere to the law.

Luk 6:11 And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

2.) Not amazed at the proof that God was indeed among His people but they plotted the death of the One that rejected their own traditions.

Mat 12:14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

3.) Not believing and worshipping but they even entered into an alliance with the Herodians and the Sadducees and other religious leaders to get support, for they were determined to kill Jesus from this point forward.

Mar 3:6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

These Pharisees from this point forward did not hide their feelings of Christ Jesus but openly defied Him and were determined to put Him to death!

*****Our Text:

Mat 12:15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

Mat 12:16 And charged them that they should not make him known:

Mat 12:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

Mat 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

Mat 12:19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

Mat 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

Mat 12:21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

These acts of Christ cause so much hostility that He left Jerusalem and returned to Galilee.

Mar 3:7 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,

Mar 3:8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.

What we see is that all nations that bordered Israel had now heard of the Messiah and they came to see Him with their own eyes but they came because of the miracles, the same miracles that were rejected as proof by the Pharisees.

Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Isa 42:2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

Isa 42:3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

Isa 42:4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

Isa 42:5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

Isa 42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

Isa 42:7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Isa 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Isa 42:9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

In the midst of His enemies Our Lord Jesus Christ remained calm, trusting in the Father and was well pleasing to Him.

Our example:

2Ti 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

*****Our Text:

Mat 12:22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

Mat 12:23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

Mat 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, [This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils].

Mat 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Mat 12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

Mat 12:27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

Mat 12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

Mat 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Mat 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

Mat 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Mat 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

Mat 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Mat 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Although the scriptures speak of sins against the Holy Spirit:

1Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

It is the blaspheming of the Holy Spirit that usually comes to mind. To consider this sin we need to look a little deeper.

Christ Jesus had made known Himself to His nation of Israel:

Matthew chapters 5-7 (His teachings)

Matthew chapters 8-10 (His miracles)

The religious leaders had come out to investigate:

Luk 5:17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: [and the power of the Lord was present to heal them].

You know they could have been healed also but they simply had no faith!

They have come to their conclusion in this Chapter 12 in Matthew. They rejected the Messiah and then they sinned against the Holy Ghost.

To explain:

The sin against the Holy Spirit also involved a sin against Christ Jesus:

Mat 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

These Pharisees had witnessed all that Christ Jesus had done but they said He had done these things in the power of Satan. They did not reject the miracle but they rejected the source of those miracles, that of God.

It is this rejection that is the foundation of the sin against the Holy Spirit.

The scriptures are precise that Christ Jesus worked in the power and influence of the Holy Spirit:

Mat 12:18 [Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him], and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

The Pharisees rejected this scripture:

Mat 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

The Pharisees had observed first hand the the public ministry of Jesus Christ! They had seen His miracles with their own eyes! Yet they still said the works were that of Satan. This sin is final and unforgivable because they had personally witnessed the works of Christ Jesus. They could have been forgiven had they only rejected Christ Jesus.

Mat 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him:

But they had rejected the final witness, the Testimony of the Holy Spirit. There is no further witness to be given and thus this sin is eternal:

"but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come"

There was no opportunity for repentance, it was unpardonable and would never be forgiven!

Can this sin be done today?

To commit the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit today would require the "physical" presence of Jesus Christ in which He would teach and perform miracles while hearers and onlookers would reject His ministry and claim His work was that of Satan.

The "sin" of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is not the same as the "sin" of unbelief!

Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

This sin is the only one that will keep you out of Heaven. We must believe in the redeeming Power of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

There is no indication in scripture that if you refuse Holy Ghost conviction the first time that the Holy Ghost will not try again to convict you, though keeping in mind we can still grieve the Holy Spirit and His convicting power is not without number. Of course "unbelief" will not be forgiven if a person permanently persist in unbelief!

There are many who had lived in open sin and worldly lust and been saved by the "Grace" of God that almost despaired thinking they had committed this sin and could not be saved. It is still being taught in some so called churches. There are also those that fell into sin willfully after being saved that think they have lost their salvation. This also is not the unpardonable sin:

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Only in this time of "Grace" do we find such a merciful God!

The widespread doctrine of "falling from grace" in the sense of the believer's possibility to be lost DISHONORS CHRIST AND HIS WORK TO SAVE US!

Grace is Grace, there is no substitute for "Grace"

God's Riches At Christ Expense

*****Our Text:

Mat 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Mat 12:41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Mat 12:42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

Mat 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

Mat 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

Mat 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

These Pharisees, teachers of the law, knew full well that Christ Jesus was claiming to be the Heaven sent Messiah. They had seen the miracles and could not deny them. Now they gave a new challenge. They requested a sign.

Christ explained that this request did not come from faith [but from unbelief]. These were a wicked people. Jesus said there would be only "one" sign:

You know Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites. The fact the Jonah had been three days and three nights in the whales's belly, and from there he had been sent forth alive to preach in Nineveh was evidence to them that Jonah had been sent from God. The Ninevites had not known the whole story of Jonah but only what they had seen. Jonah came forth of a whale and began preaching the Salvation of God.

And so it would be again. After three days and three nights in the heart of the earth The risen Messiah, the resurrected One, Our Lord would go forth from the grave to eternity.

The Ninevites did not question the words of Jonah.

All the Queen of Sheba needed was a good report of Solomon and it was good enough to cause her to travel a great distance to find the truth, which she did.

The Ninevites needed redemption of sin. The Queen of Sheba sought after wisdom. Both found what they needed and Christ said, He is all we need!

Christ said:

"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation".

In "Type" John the Baptist had come to find the House of Israel full of evil spirits. John's preaching had brought repentance. Multitudes were awaiting the coming kingdom but before the kingdom was established this nation had been turned again by it's religious leaders into a place more evil than when John had begun. The Nation of Israel would be under a greater judgment from this point forward. Israel which had abandoned idolatry was now in worse shape with the teachings of the Pharisees and her religious leaders.

*****Our Text:

Mat 12:46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

Mat 12:47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

Mat 12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

Mat 12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

Mat 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

What we can see here is that Jesus Christ rejected "blood " ties as constituting a true spiritual relationship. The only ones accepted into the family of Christ would be related by "Faith". No one will get into Heaven by physical birth. We all must be spiritually "Born Again".

The Nations that reject Christ are in a worse state because of that rejection than they were before they heard the Word of God.

God does not change:

Mal 3:6 [For I am the LORD, I change not]; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

We can see that because of this rejection by the Nation of Israel, then Christ Jesus would reject them at this time. We can see that God has set aside the Nation of Israel and He will prepare the way for the next form of God's program, the time of the Church Age and the time of "Grace"!

2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Let's Pray!

The Messenger Of The King

The Messenger Of The King

Our Text: Matthew Chapter 11:1-30

We have a time line from the information of verse one. When Christ Jesus had sent out the Apostles then these things of chapter eleven take place:

Mat 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Mat 11:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, [he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities].

We are never alone. If by God's will you are called to do something for God, you must realize that Christ Himself is also out working and if He is working then God is working.

There is no work yet to be done in the means of salvation, Christ finished that work on the Cross. There is only the work given to every one that calls on the name of Jesus to be fulfilled:

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Christ Jesus, is the Lord of the Harvest, as He sent forth laborers, He also enters into the Harvest Himself.

What we will see in these scriptures is more of the fading of John the Baptist and also more of the rejection of the King as we proceed.

While Christ Jesus was ministering around Galilee, John the Baptist had preached boldly to all that would listen and he had gotten the attention of government. It is a shame that the people that make the laws are usually more guilty of breaking the laws they have put in place. Just as in our day the government of Herod was corrupt and immoral and when God's people point these things out then, God's Children and God's Ministers are treated like the bad guys. The hate crimes legislation that is coming more and more into this world is centered against the Word of God.

We cannot allow this to stop the preaching of the truth of the Gospel.

Jesus said:

Joh 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

The government of Herod had put John the Baptist behind bars but the world would see that though they reject the truth of the Word of God, the world cannot stop the Word of God.

Luk 3:19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

Luk 3:20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

It amazes me when I see day by day what our government does in the name "of the good of the people" but no matter, by that same Word of God, I must pray for them.

The Word of God will bring change to the individual and it takes individuals to make families, and communities and nations. Sadly the world and it's governments are on their way to destruction and do not want to see change. They see themselves above the law!

John the Baptist was locked up because he preached the truth of God's Holy Word!

*****Our Text:

Mat 11:2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

Mat 11:3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

Mat 11:4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

Mat 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Mat 11:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

We will see in this passage:

1.) A disheartened John the Baptist.

2.) The assurance given by the Lord Jesus.

3.) A commendation given by the Lord Jesus.

You know it should have been that the religious leaders should have come to the defence of John the Baptist, for John preach the truth of the Word of God but instead they remained quiet or they sided with government.

This is just a taste of how religion and government will work together in the coming years and during the first part of the tribulation period after the Church is called out. This "sign" we can see now in the very day we live in.

Religion will send you to hell. Only Jesus Christ, "the Rejected One", can save us.

Sure John got impatient. John was a man of the wild and now he was locked in a dungeon behind four walls. John was a preacher with the Word of God burning in his heart, yet government had silenced him. John had preached judgment yet that judgment had not yet come.

Once Christ had sent the Apostles out to preach and He also, many good reports were being heard and some had reached John in prison. John knew that the Messiah was to put down oppression and deliver Israel. John was ready to see these things happen.

The miracles that Christ did were supernatural, not natural and they conformed to the Old Testament concept of the Messiah. The only evidence Christ Jesus would send back to John was this same evidence given to the nation of Israel everywhere Christ preached.

The Bible says:

Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

Isa 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Isa 42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

Isa 42:7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Isa 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Isa 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Isa 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

John the Baptist knew all these things but he showed impatience and wanted some reassurance from the Lord Jesus.

John had come in the in the spirit and the power of Elijah, but remember even Elijah had had his days of discouragement.

We get our assurance from the Bible knowing that Christ Jesus has fulfilled and will fulfill all prophesy. We know He died on the Cross and was raised from that dead. That tomb is still empty! We know of all the great things our Lord did while on this earth and we know He is coming back to get us.

John's faith was in the Old Testament, he believed Christ was the Messiah but he had only heard of the works of Christ for a few months. We may see doubt in John but we need to look at our own selves for do we even have the faith that John had?

Jesus adds:

"And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me"

When things do not go the way we expect them to go, do we let our guard down and start blaming God for our sorrows. We are wrong when we do!

John reached out for answers and he reached out to Christ Jesus for it is He that has all the answers. John knew if Jesus could fulfill what was written in Isaiah then He truly was the Messiah.

*****Our Text:

Mat 11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

Mat 11:8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

Mat 11:9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

Mat 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Mat 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

Mat 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

Mat 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Christ Jesus then turned to the multitudes, many of whom had heard the preaching of John the Baptist and had believed. John stood before all that came and John preached the truth of God's Word. He didn't bend or yield to the majority, He spoke the truth and the One God, who over rules all earthly authority. John preached the same message to Herod that he would preach to you or to I.

The Bible says:

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 15:58 Therefore, [my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord], forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

We must resist any attempt to change to God's Word, knowing that such change is of the Devil:

1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

We must help each other so we can all stand on God's Word:

Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

John was not a reed that swayed in the breeze. John also did not seek physical comforts. You see there is comfort in this world for only a season. The comforts and the things of God are eternal. John was not perfect nor was he infallible.

Jesus declared John to be a "prophet", that is a messenger from God who declared that message. John himself was actually a fulfillment of prophesy:

Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

John's message was one of repentance! John the Baptist was greater than any of the prophets for he was the prophet that introduced the Messiah to Israel. The others had only foretold of His coming. The ministry of John the Baptist marked the climax of the Law and the Prophets.

John had actually come in the spirit and power of Elijah:

Luk 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

John had even dressed like Elijah:

2Ki 1:7 And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?

2Ki 1:8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

Like Elijah, John had a message of judgment for an apostate nation:

Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

We should not get confused because the Bible still states that Elijah will come but that will be in the tribulation period:

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Mal 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

This will be just before the second coming of Christ and is most probably during the time of the two witnesses:

Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

We know in history no such judgments followed this time of John the Baptist.

John had one ministry. He was to prepare the nation of Israel to receive the Lord Jesus Christ and to present Jesus to this nation:

Joh 1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

Joh 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

Joh 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

Joh 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

Joh 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

*****Our Text:

The leaders of Israel refused to honor John and the Word he spoke:

Mat 11:16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

Mat 11:17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

Mat 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

Mat 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. [But wisdom is justified of her children].

We can see that Jesus Christ was dealing with the rejection in this little parable. The religious and the government of the nation of Israel were going to have their own way no matter what the cost. Just as children at play reject the ideas of others and insist on their own way so when John came fasting the Jews rejected him. When Christ came and did not fast He also was rejected. This generation found fault no matter what was done.

We can see this continuing in our day as the Word of God is rejected by those that have their own humanistic way and cannot be changed.

The Bible says:

Pro 17:24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

Wisdom is an Old Testament name of Our Lord. In fact in Proverbs 8 it says that Wisdom is a person and that person is Our Lord:

Pro 8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

Pro 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Pro 8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

Pro 8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

Pro 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Those that believe are the children of Wisdom thus the children of God!

It is now after these words that we see our first mention of the word "woe" the "judgment of God". Christ now pronounced judgment on those that reject His Works, His Miracles. Christ explains that the Gentiles would have believed had they witnessed such glorious works and would have received His message.

In other words there is a separation of His Word and of the His Kingdom.

In other words there will be degrees of punishment.

Those that have witnessed the power of God and rejected that power will suffer more than those that have not seen Jesus and the Works that He did while He was on this Earth.

Similarly this will hold true in our day. Those that witnessed the life changing of those that have received the Lord Jesus and still reject His Gospel will suffer more than those that have never heard the Word of God.

Why did the Jews, who knew and had the Old Testament at this time, reject Christ Jesus. Some will say that Jesus did not fulfill the Messianic prophesies. Some will say that Jesus could not fulfill His claims. Christ Jesus will now give us the real reason.

Jesus said this nation, His own people, were blind and unable to see until this blindness was removed:

The Bible says:

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

We can know that they will get another opportunity during the tribulation period after the Church has been called out.

We can also see that during the Church Age that their are many Gentiles that walk that same path but they will not get another chance during the tribulation period after the Church is called out:

Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Eph 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

The religious leaders of Israel considered themselves to be wise and learned because they were students of the scriptures. They thought of themselves as already having the right relationship with God so they rejected the words of Jesus Christ.

Christ said if you did not have child like faith you would never accept His Words.

The only way to know the Father is to know His Son. If men will not accept this simple statement they will never know the Father who is in Heaven:

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Jesus Christ will readily reveal the Father to all that call on His name.

Even in the middle of all this rejection, Christ Jesus extended His hand in mercy. He invited them to receive His "yoke".

The "yoke" is a symbol of submission. Not only to submit to Him but to learn from Him. True salvation is found only in a person, it is not found in traditions. That person is Jesus Christ. To "come" means to trust Him.

These people were burdened down by the traditions of the Pharisees.

To "take" that yoke upon yourself is a deeper relationship with Christ Jesus. It is He that will give us rest.

We will have peace with God:

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We will have the peace of God:

Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

To take the "yoke" of Christ is to be His disciple. That word "easy" means that the yoke will fit us well. That yoke is made for our lives and it will not be heavy:

1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

To "learn": To learn of Christ Jesus is to make life simple!

The Lord Jesus Christ sends this invitation out to "all", not just to the Nation of Israel.

Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

That "ROCK" is Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Let's Pray!

The Apostles Of The King

THE APOSTLES OF THE KING

　

Our Text: Matthew 10:1-42

The work of salvation was accomplished by Jesus "alone", at the Cross. The witness of His testimony and His resurrection can only be done by God's Word and by His "disciples". To be a disciple of Jesus Christ one must first accept and trust Him as Lord and as Savior.

The King needed ambassadors to carry His message and He still needs them.

An "ambassador" is: As an ambassador is sent to a foreign court to declare the will of the king, so every Christian, is Christ's ambassador sent to wherever He may send to declare the will of his King.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

We will now learn how our Lord, who is truly the Lord of the Harvest, sends forth His laborers. He does it here as the King, who came to offer the Kingdom to Israel.

These first ones sent forth, the Apostles, would announce the same message Jesus had just preached, the sermon on the mount and the same message of repentance of John the Baptist. This message was altogether in connection to the Kingdom and ended with the full rejection of the Kingdom by the nation of Israel:

The Apostle John says it best:

Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and [his own received him not].

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Jesus Christ was a Jew, of Judea. People could tell just by looking at Him that He was a Jew and He was rejected by His people the Jews.

Joh 4:9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, [How is it that thou, being a Jew], askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

After the "Rapture of the Church" this same message will be preached again by 144,000 Jews during the great tribulation.

Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, [till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads].

We cannot ignore any of the Word of God, but this Chapter 10 of the book of Matthew is not the same commandment given to the Christian disciple which is:

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This chapter 10 is devoted to the twelve apostles:

1.) We will see their names.

2.) We will see their "first" commission.

3.) We will see their provisions.

4,) We will see their opposition.

5.) We will see their assistant.

6.) We will see some reaction to their ministry.

7.) We will see some rewards of their ministry.

*****Our Text:

Mat 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Mat 10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

Mat 10:3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

Mat 10:4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

Mat 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Mat 10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

Mat 10:10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

***What is an "Apostle"?

The term "apostle" comes from the Greek word "apostolosos" and it basically [means one who is sent]. In a sense it is the same as the Latin word "missionary" or one who is sent forth for a specific purpose.

These chosen disciples, "Apostles", were empowered (not brute force but by authority from God) with many abilities, among those were the power to heal all disease and cleanse all manner evilness.

Notice:

1.) They received a personal calling.

2.) They were discipled by the Lord Jesus Himself.

3.) They were sent out as "ambassadors" to the King, (King Jesus).

These things are similar to the calling to those of the Church:

A.) It will always be personal calling from Our Lord.

B.) The Church is discipled by the Word Of God, which are the Words of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

C.) The Church is sent out to Witness to all we come in contact with.

Each one showed a love and loyalty to Christ at this time.

D.) Each Christian must be loyal Christ Jesus also. (faith)

Each Apostle had to meet certain requirements:

E.) Each Christian must meet certain requirements:

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

*****To be an Apostle:

1.) They had to have seen Jesus:

1Co 9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? [have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord]? are not ye my work in the Lord?

2.) They would have had to fellowship with Jesus:

Act 1:21 Wherefore of these men [which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

Act 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection].

3.) They had to be chosen by Jesus:

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

4.) It is these Apostles that laid the foundation, which is of Christ Jesus Our Lord, of the Church:

Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Eph 2:20 [And are built upon the foundation of the apostles] and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The names of the Apostles:

1.) Simon Peter *****[who hears and obeys, the "rock"]

2.) Andrew*****(brother of Simon Peter)[a strong man, manly]

3.) James***** (The son of Zebedee)[supplanter, with an abundant portion)

4.) John*****(Brother of James and son of Zebedee)[Jehovah is gracious]

5.) Philip***** [lover of horses, warlike]

6.) Bartholomew***** [son that suspends the waters]

7.) Thomas***** [a twin]

8.) Matthew***** [gift of Jehovah, a reward]

9.) James*****(the son of Alphaeus) [supplanter that changes]

10.) Lebbaeus Thaddaeus***** [man of heart, large hearted, courageous]

11.) Simon***** (the Canaanite, Simon Zelotes) [the zealous rock]

12.) Judas Iscariot***** (the betrayer)[man of murder, a hireling]

Judas Iscariot was replaced with Matthias, by the Word of God.

Matthias means [a gift of God]

These twelve apostles have a definite relation with Israel:

Mat 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, [ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel].

The New Jerusalem:

Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, [and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel]:

Rev 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

We can be sure that it is Matthias and not Paul that will judge the nation of Israel, and his name will be on one of those gates.

The Holy Spirit, guided this selection of Matthias by the Word of God.

The Scriptures had said:

Psa 109:8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office.

Act 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

Act 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

Act 1:23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

Act 1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

We can see that the Apostle Paul recognized Mathias as an apostle:

1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, [then of the twelve]:

Paul goes on to say:

1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, [as of one born out of due time].

Paul separates himself from them as being different from these twelve:

Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

Paul said he was specially chosen by the Lord for a specific purpose.

It is through Paul who had no earthly connections but chosen by the God of Glory after His resurrection, that the Gospel of Grace and the mystery that was formally hidden might be made known. To the Church, Jesus Christ is not King as such, but He is the Lord of Glory. It is from His Glory as the Head of the Body of Christ that He gives His gifts to the Church.

Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

IT IS EASY TO SEE THAT THERE CAN BE NO APOSTLES TODAY!

1Pe 1:8 [Whom having not seen], ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

We have yet to see Him but we will see Him one day and one day soon:

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, [when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is].

*****In verse 6 we can see the first commission of these Apostles. They were to go only to the lost sheep of Israel. Not to the Gentiles, nor to any mixed race of the Jews.

It would be after the resurrection of Christ that these things would change:

The second commission of the Apostles:

Luk 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

Luk 24:47 And that repentance and [remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem].

In this commandment of the Lord, these Apostles were to preach that the promised Kingdom for Israel, and through Israel to all the nations, was about to come. This is not the message of the Church but this will be the message preached again after the Rapture of the Church.

If not for the God of the second chance how many of us could be saved! I would burn in Hell if not for the God of mercy and grace and the God of the second and even third chance.

There are at least two principles that we can observe that do not change in the Church age:

1.) The Gospel is to be free!

The Church is not a business to make money.

2.) The Lord will provide for those He chooses!

We must have faith in God's providing power before we take it on our own to step out. Mankind will let the missionary down, and the preacher down, and the Church down. It is our faith in the providing power of God that will keep us going.

Jesus ask later:

Luk 22:35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

These Apostles depended on the hospitality of others as they ministered the Word given to them by Jesus. They could only stay with believers!

The Apostles were not to compromise the message given to them of Christ Jesus. There is no compromising the Gospel. God says what He means and God means what He says.

*****Our Text:

Mat 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Mat 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

In this time of Jesus, the refusal to show hospitality was equal to a refusal to hear one's message. If you shook the dust off your feet that would tell those around you that you considered their place to be unclean. This was a sign that they had rejected the kingdom of heaven while Jesus was still on this earth in the flesh!

The Bible says:

Act 13:49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

Act 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

Act 13:51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

When we study our Bible we know that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was a complete destruction and their location never found, yet Jesus says:

"It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city".

Of course the judgment mentioned here is the "Great White Throne Judgment" of the Book of Revelation:

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Rev 20:15 And [whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire].

Are there different degrees of judgment? This verse could indicate that this is true but there is no doubt that they all will be cast into that burning lake of fire.

*****Verse 16 gives another principle that we know to be true in all ages:

The instructions of Jesus at this point are instructions to all that are sent forth in the name of Jesus but these instruction will meet there fulfillment at the time of the great tribulation:

1.) Notice most of the opposition will come from organized religion:

Vs 17) "for they will deliver you up to the councils"

2.) And from governments:

Vs 18.) "ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake"

3.) And "All" must be saved to deliver this message:

Vs. 20) "For it is not ye that speak, [but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you]"

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

4.) There will be "Worldwide" persecution:

Vs 22.) "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake"

5.) Then, The Second coming of the Lord;

Vs 23.) "Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come"

We know that some of these things took place in the Book of Acts and the Pauline Epistles. We know that some of these things take place in the day we live but we can see that the fulfillment of all these things will be in the time of the Great Tribulation. (Matthew 24-25)

The tribulation period will be a time of great opposition. Remember the Church will already be in Heaven.

The opposition will come from:

1.) Organized religion.

2.) Organized governments

3.) From ones own family.

All these things happen to some extent in our day but we will see this greatly increase as time goes by. At the time of tribulation these things will be worldwide, even in our own families.

God's people will need to be tough, tough-minded and still tender hearted.

At some point during the tribulation period Religion and Government will join hands: Rev 13.

The Antichrist will force the world to worship him and his false prophets.

Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

There will be no natural affection:

2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

As Christians we must trust the Spirit of God to help us remember what the Lord has taught us. We must study to show ourselves worthy of His leadership:

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Bible we have been given "is" the "Word that Christ Jesus has said to us"!

We should not flee when persecution comes upon us!

*****Our Text:

Mat 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

Mat 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Mat 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

The emphasis on this section of scripture is Vs 26, "Fear Not".

When we have a fear of confessing Christ openly, and many of us do, we are not fulfilling our obligation of confession to the Lord!

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and [with the mouth confession is made unto salvation].

The world has it's CIA, FBI, Massad, Interpol and others BUT:

God does not have a Secret Service!

Christ was persecuted, we will also be persecuted. However:

1Pe 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

1Pe 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

1Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and [be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear]:

1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Why?

1.) God will bring everything to the light (Vs 26-27).

2.) We are to fear only God Himself (Vs 28).

For God will not condemn His children:

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

3.) God cares for His children (Vs 29-31).

A farthing would be about a half a penny in our money. You could get two sparrows for a half cent. To humans a sparrow was worthless but to God, He kept up with every life of this worthless bird. If God does that for this birds then He will do even more for His chosen children.

More and more in our age [the human life becomes more and more worthless to the societies we live in] but God will always be there for us:

Luk 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: [how much more are ye better than the fowls?]

4.) God honor's those that confess Him (Vs 32-33)

a.) Jesus is our High Priest in Heaven.

b.) Jesus is our Advocate in Heaven.

1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

5.) A Christian will always have conflict around them (Vs 34-39)

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

If you put on armor you are preparing for war.

2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND IN THIS WAR!

6.) We can be a blessing to others (Vs 40-42)

When we become the children of God through faith in Christ:

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

We become disciples when we follow in the footsteps of Christ Jesus:

Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

This is a daily walk and not a part time walk.

Let's Pray!

The Power Of The King

THE POWER OF THE KING

Text: Matthew Chapters 8-9

Our Focus Text: Matthew 8:1-17

As we have proceeded into the Book of Matthew we have seen:

1.) The Person of the King (Chapters 1-4)

2.) The Principles of the King (Chapters 5-7)

3.) We will now see the Powers of the King (Chapters 8-12)

If a King has no "Power" to accomplish His Will, what good are His Principles?

There are ten miracles mentioned in Chapters 8-9 but they are not in chronological order.

Matthew was led by the Holy Spirit to present Jesus as the King. Matthew uses these words to present Jesus Christ as the "Divine" King, the Jehovah of the Old Testament who had truly come to His own. To them He offers the kingdom and as we will soon see, they will reject Him and receive Him not. They actually say that these miracles were done through Beelzebub, the prince of the demons.

"THIS IS THE SIN OF BLASPHEMING THE HOLY SPIRIT"!

Christ will then break off His relationship with "His Own". We will talk more of this later.

We should ask our own selves, Why did our Lord perform miracles? If we look at our own Pastors we should see that they minister to the whole person. God is concerned about our temporal well being as well as our eternal happiness.

This not to say that our Pastors do miracles because that ended with the Apostles!

Christ Jesus ministered to the individual, a one on one relationship, that should be learned by all His followers.

Christ Jesus performed miracles to prove His claim of being the Messiah of Israel.

It makes me wonder what these false healers are trying to prove in our day.

The Bible says:

1Co 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1Co 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Christ Jesus said he would fulfill everything written about Him:

Isa 29:18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.

Isa 29:19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Isa 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Isa 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Isa 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

We can see that we are also foolish to not believe in the miracles of Jesus Christ our Lord:

Heb 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

Heb 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Christ Jesus also presented a saving truth to the people with His miracles. These miracles were "Sermons in Action".

What Christ did not do.

Jesus did not do a miracle to draw a crowd. Faith cannot be based on miracles.

OUR FAITH MUST BE BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD!

Jesus Christ exercised great power. His power is not limited.

Jesus had the power to change this world and he showed that power when He walked on this earth. The Healing power of Jesus is greater than any disease, but in each case if "faith" was not shown there would have been no healing.

It is a misinterpretation of scripture to teach that spiritual salvation will always result in the reversal of physical disease!

*****Our Text:

Mat 8:1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

Mat 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

Mat 8:3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Mat 8:4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Matthew was a publican, a tax collector. He was hated by all Jews. Can it be by chance that he begins with a miracle of Jesus to the outcast of society. Lepers, Gentiles and women were considered out cast by many Jewish people.

The women of the middle east still suffer unduly in our day.

Many Pharisees would begin their day praying "I give thanks that I am a man not a woman, a Jew not a Gentile, a free man and not a slave."

They used that word "I" much to often. There is only one "I" and that the great "I Am" of the Bible.

The term "leprosy" (including leper, lepers, leprosy, leprous) occurs 68 times in the Bible—55 times in the Old Testament (Hebrew = tsara’ath) and 13 times in the New Testament (Greek = lepros, lepra).

In the Old Testament, the instances of leprosy most likely meant a variety of infectious skin diseases, and even mold and mildew on clothing and walls. The precise meaning of the leprosy in both the Old and New Testaments is still in dispute, but it probably includes the modern Hansen’s disease (especially in the New Testament) and most all infectious skin diseases.

References to leprosy have a different emphasis in the New Testament.

They stress God’s desire to heal. Jesus freely touched people with leprosy. While people with leprosy traditionally suffered banishment from family and neighbors, Jesus broke from the tradition. He treated the leper with compassion, touching and healing them.

We also know that leprosy is in "type" and a description of sin:

Isa 1:5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

Isa 1:6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Those filthy rags would be rags used to wrap up the leper!

By understanding the leper we can understand more how God sees sin:

Lev 13:3 And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.

Sin is deeper than the outward skin!

Lev 13:18 The flesh also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed,

Sin spreads!

Lev 13:45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

Lev 13:46 All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.

Sin defiles!

Lev 13:52 He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.

Sin is fit only for the fire!

When Christ Jesus touched this leper, He took his leprosy away but in "type" it is a picture of how He takes our sin away:

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

We can also notice that the ability of Christ to heal was not questioned but only Was He Willing To Heal?

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

We can tell that Lord Jesus was willing and still is!

Christ Jesus commanded this man not to tell other but to go to the priests. (Levitcus 14). We find that this man did not obey the Lord but he told everyone what the Lord had done.

Mar 1:45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

There is another way to look at this healing in typology:

Leprosy was the most hated disease in the Bible! It had no remedy. The Holy Spirit has made leprosy a "type" of sin as we have shown. Only Jehovah could heal this disease.

Num 12:10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

Num 12:11 And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.

Num 12:12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.

Num 12:13 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.

We know that leprosy represents sin but here it represents Israel.

The Bible says:

Isa 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

Isa 1:5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

Isa 1:6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

So in "type" we see Israel's Messiah, Jehovah-Jesus

Exo 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

As Christ Jesus cleansed this leper He would have also cleansed Israel at this time had they not rejected Him.

The Lord sends this leper to the priests by the law of Moses but this was proper until the death, the burial and resurrection of our Lord, when all believers are delivered from the law.

This day will come again to the nation of Israel when the King will ask His remnant to come unto Him:

Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

*****Our Text:

Mat 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

Mat 8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

Mat 8:7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

Mat 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

Mat 8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

Mat 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Mat 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

We have previously discussed that Capernaum was a military town so it would not be unusual to see a Roman centurion. A centurion was an officer over a group up one hundred men. We do not find any centurion mentioned in the Bible that was not a gentleman or a man of high character.

This is the very first time we see a centurion in the Bible. They had a great sense of duty to Rome and to those that served under them. This particular centurion had learned to love Israel and the God of Israel. He had built a Synagogue for the people of this area. He evidently had a high regard for Christ Jesus and believed in His divine authority. It was not that Christ could heal his servant but rather would Christ heal this servant. Once he realized that Christ Jesus was willing to heal this man with the palsy (paralysis), then it was not neccessary for Jesus to travel to his home but to only say the word.

This centurion realized that Christ Jesus had the power of God and therefore all He had to do was say it was so and it would happen!

This is what the God of creation can do and no one else!

Look at this centurion:

1.) He was a man of war.

2.) He was a Gentile.

3.) He was a man of limited authority.

4.) But He was a man of great faith.

It was his great faith in Christ Jesus that allowed this miracle to happen.

This is an early indication that the Jews would not believe but that the Gentiles would believe on Christ Jesus.

What was the greatest statement of the centurion?

"I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only"

He understood that Jesus Christ was indeed God in the flesh. The Jews till this day have not come to this conclusion along with most others of this world.

When we read verse 11 it can be said that Jesus was referring to the fact that many Gentiles would join with"Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven" but without faith in the saving power of Christ none of their physical descendants would join them. Those that heard the kingdom offered by Christ and then rejected it would exclude themselves from this new kingdom.

They would forever live in the darkness of hell (the outer darkness, out side the light of the Lord God Jehovah)

Remember in the first miracle, the cleansing of the leper, stands for Jehovah among His people Israel.

Here now we see Christ who is absent and heals not by His touch but by His Word. This was a reminder that the spiritual position of the Gentiles "were far off".

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

In this next miracle we will see that Christ will enter back into the house of Israel.

*****Our Text:

Mat 8:14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

Mat 8:15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

Mat 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

Mat 8:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

In the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, we see a type of what will happen on the Second coming of Christ after the fulness of the Gentiles come in.

This sick mother is a type of Israel.

It would be good to point out that Jesus Christ knew Peter was a married man yet he still was chosen as an Apostle. The sanctity of marriage was approved by Christ even to the ministers of God. Some religions do not allow the minister to marry. We can see that this did not come from Jesus Christ nor the Bible.

Women did not hold a high position in Israel at this time of Jesus. Though this seems a minor miracle we can see that a blessing in the home can lead to a blessing in the entire community.

Mar 1:30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.

Mar 1:31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

Mar 1:32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

Mar 1:33 And all the city was gathered together at the door.

Matthew said that this time in the life of Jesus was a fulfillment of the prophet Isaiah:

Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

We can see that Jesus fulfilled this prophecy in His life and not with His death.

We can also see Jesus did not give His life for our sickness nor our griefs.

He did give His life for our "SIN"!

1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Sin and sickness may go together at times, since sickness is a consequence of Adam's sin:

Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

The Bible says:

Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Psa 103:3 [Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases];

Psa 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Psa 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

God has not obligated Himself to heal all disease BUT He has said He will forgive all sin and to save all that will believe on Him.

*****Again this closes out our lesson but we will try to highlight the remaining of chapters 8 and chapter nine:

(Verses 18-22)

We see the first time the phrase "Son of Man" is used in the Bible.

Because the opposition to the message of Jesus was low at this time, there were many who wanted to be His disciples.

They would not pay the price!

Jesus Christ was saying to this scribe to let the spiritually dead bury the physical dead.

In other words it is much better to preach the Gospel of Jesus in hope of salvation for the spiritually dead than to wait on you earthly father to die and to bury him.

This was not disrespectful and we must have our priorities right in the work of the Lord.

(Verses 23-27)

We will see that Christ Jesus never missed an opportunity to train His disciples.

Jesus was asleep because He was at perfect peace in the will of the Father. This is a lesson for all of us for this is exactly what the disciples should have done. They should have been in perfect peace, they had the Lord Jesus right in the boat with them.

They did not but chose instead to question if God really cares for us. Matthew shows in these verses the little faith of the Jew as compared to the great faith of the Gentile centurion.

(Verse 28-34)

In these verses we see what Satan can do for a man. He robs man of his sanity and his self control, fills him with fears, and robs a man of his family and friends.

We can see what society does for this man in Satan's control. Society can restrain him, isolate him, and threaten him but society cannot change this man.

Only Jesus can set us free!

Notice the prayers:

1.) The demons prayed to Jesus to allow them to go into the swine, which they also drove crazy.

2.) The citizens prayed for Christ Jesus to leave them alone.

3.) One of these that was possessed by these devils after being saved by Jesus, prayed to be allowed to be a disciple, but Jesus knew that he had such a great testimony and needed for him to be a witness in his home town.

This is what we are asked to do upon being saved, be a witness first to our family and friends!

We can also see that the demon world has faith in Christ and is well aware of their future:

Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

We can see that the souls of these two men were much more important that the lives of those two thousand pigs!

(verse chapter 9:1-8)

What we see here is not only the faith of friends but we see that in the eyes of God sin is the greater evil to a man. This scripture does not say that all sickness is caused by sin nor does it say that forgiveness of sin will bring about physical healing also!

We already know God will sometimes heal every sickness except the last sickness or injury that takes us home to Heaven.

(Verse 9:9-17)

The call of Matthew:

Because Matthew was a tax collector, he was considered unclean and unfit to fellowship in Jewish society. He was under great financial obligation to Rome but we can see that he considered the authority of Jesus Christ to be greater than that of Rome. We can see he immediatly made a public showing of his relationship with Christ by having public feast.

Jesus came to save sinners and He made Himself available to them all (whosoever)!

If you are righteous in your own eyes, you will never accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior!

We see a picture of the ministry of Jesus:

1.) The Physician: to bring Spiritual healing to the sinner.

2.) The Bridegroom: to bring Spiritual joy to the lost.

3.) Christ Jesus did not come to patch us up but to make something new!

4.) Christ came to give Spiritual fulness.

Judaism cannot be filled with the New Wine of the Gospel.

Law and Grace will not mix!

(Verse 9:18-19, 23-26)

Jarius was a devout Jew, a leader of the synagogue, but he knew none of his faith in those things could help him. Even though Satan tried one more time to kill her, Jesus has the power over all life. We must learn to trust Jesus no matter our circumstances.

(Verse 9:20-22)

This woman had spent all the living she had on the doctors of her time. She was in despair and had no hope. By Jewish law her disease made her unable to be cleansed.

She was hopeless in this world!

We are all hopeless, with out the Lord Jesus Christ!

That hem referred to the tassels on the prayer shawl of Christ. By Jewish tradition a prayer shawl had 613 tassels around it's hem. One tassel for ever law given to them by Moses. This reminded them that they were God's people.

We can see that Jarius may have lacked faith so Jesus gave him the example of this woman who knew she only needed to touch the Hem of this garment.

It is not how strong our faith is that counts, IT IS TO WHOM THAT FAITH IS IN, THAT REALLY COUNTS!

Our faith must be in Jesus Christ Our Lord and in His Word!

(Verse 9:27-34)

Blindness is a "type" of Spiritual ignorance and unbelief:

Isa 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; [lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed].

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Every sinner must be "born again" before he can see the things of God:

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

There is a difference in sickness and the work of Satan and his demon world:

Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mat 10:8 [Heal the sick], cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, [cast out devils]: freely ye have received, freely give.

Every believer must be careful to grow spiritually or he can damage his spiritual vision:

2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Pe 1:9 [But he that lacketh these things is blind], and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

We see that the religious leaders of that time could not explain all the miracles of Jesus the Messiah, so they said His power came from Satan:

This is the Sin of Blaspheming the Holy Spirit!

We know that God had given His Spirit freely to Christ Jesus:

Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

All people had witnessed the miracle healing power of Christ. They had rejected not only the testimony of Christ but also the testimony of the Holy Spirit.

This the unpardonable sin! We will discuss this further in chapter 12.

(Verse 9:35-38)

We have seen that not only was Christ Jesus a healer but He preached the Word of God and taught the Old Testament as truth as He went. He was in the flesh so He could not do all the work alone. He needs others to help Him.

This is why the time was spent training disciples. Christ Jesus expects each and everyone of us to be His disciple and be busy about the Master's Business.

Joh 4:37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

Joh 4:38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

Let's Pray!