March 9th – God connects to man (Deuteronomy 31 – Matthew 15)

By Dave

Background on Matthew

Author: Matthew, the Tax Collector. Also called Levi. Called as a disciple in Matthew 9:9 and Mark 2:14. Very modest writer, writes in 3rd person.
Title: The Gospel according to His Name. Written to the Jewish people. Quotes Old Testament 53 times
Date: Written before the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70
Purpose: To write on the majesty of Christ, the King. To reveal how Jesus perfected the Old Testament and to reveal His love and care for God’s children.

Background on text.

At the time of Christ’s birth, Israel was under Roman domination for about 60 years. One of the worst signs of this oppression was the tax system.
2 types of taxes
Toll Tax – like the modern income tax
Ground Tax – a property and land tax
Roman officials would buy from the central government at a public auction, the right to collect taxes in a given area at a fixed rate for 5 years. Whatever was collected above…was a profit. These guys were called Publicans. They would hire citizens to do the dirty work of collecting
These collectors “hired publicans” would collect more than what the Publican demanded…which was their profit.
They were hated people, viewed as traitors. Often using their religion for the gain of money and political power. Here…we meet Matthew.

V.9
In this encounter, Jesus forgives Matthew. Jesus rescues Matthew from the sin that was devouring him
Matthew was hated and rejected by his very people.
Like a small town, word quickly spread about Jesus. Matthew may have heard him from a distance…or heart about him.
O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities. – Psalm 130:7-8, ESV
Jesus connects to us not for our temporary escape, but for our eternal rescue.
We must remember that His saving grace is not for us to feel bad about our mistakes. It’s not just about feeling bad. It’s rescue.
Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. – Proverbs 26:11, ESV
Matthew LEFT. Matthew repented. Matthew turned away…never to return to the sins that satisfied his desire for materialism.
Have you turned away?
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. – 2 Corinthians 7:10, ESV

V.10
Luke 5:29 reveals to us that Matthew brings Jesus to his home, and invites his lost friends to meet him.
When we understand the seriousness of our rebellion and the grace of His rescue, we can’t help but rejoice and live for His glory.
Religion teaches us that we must improve our position before God in our attempt to please Him. Rescue teaches us that Jesus perfected our position before God in His success in pleasing the Father.
Jude 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy
Jesus, the God Man, has connected fallen man to the creator of Man.
Do you live in such a way that you enjoy His presence and His pleasure?
John 15 – Do you abide in Him?
Mathew 13:44 –Do you treasure Him?

V.11-13
The question imposed by the Pharisees was one of hostility, not conviction
It’s interesting they asked the disciples, not Jesus. Beware of self-righteous people. They will speak to anyone about an issue…but not you.
Sin’s empty promises are crushed in the presence of Jesus.
Think about who He invested in
Salvation – “soteria” – deliverance from.
Salvation comes when sinners realize their sin and desire the Savior.
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:26, ESV
Jesus answers the self-righteous question with quoting Hosea 6:6.
“go and learn” – understand and live.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart – 1 Samuel 16:7, ESV

Filed in: Podcasts • Wednesday, March 9th, 2011