Devotional Sharing, Submitted by Makiko Lai, Gracepoint Berkeley
Matthew 9:1-8
What is the significance of Jesus forgiving the man before healing his physical condition?
The significant of Jesus forgiving the man before healing his physical condition shows that healing of his spiritual health was his greatest need and that was Jesus’ first concern for the man. (just as a man is brought into emergency room with heartattack and broken bone, a doctor will treat the heartattack first which is more urgent and greatest need for the person) This man’s greatest need was his sin that he needed to be forgiven by Jesus and to know him personally.
What was required for the paralytic to be brought to Jesus?
His friends had to carry this paralytic to be brought to Jesus. In Mark 2, it is said that because there were so many crowds and they could not get to Jesus, they had to make an opening in the roof above Jesus and they had to dig through it and lowered the mat to get this paralytics to Jesus. It required the spirits of determination to get this man to Jesus no matter what and required creativity (who would have thought of digging a hole in the roof!) and hard work (actually carrying him to the top of the roof, and digging through the roof, and lowering him, which requires hours and strength to do so). For paralytics, he just had to simply learn to depend on his friends, and be humbled about it. Probably people were looking at them, wondering what they were doing, or whispering at each other, or even laughing at them for what they are doing. But he just had to let his friends help him who deeply cared for him.
Whose faith did Jesus see, and what was it that he saw?
It is said “When Jesus saw their faith”. Jesus saw the faith of some men who carried a paralytic on the mat. As I mentioned in the previous question, these friends had to use their creativity and they had to do the hard work of climbing up to the room, digging through it and lowering the mat, and they did not give up for this paralyzed man no matter what the obstacles were. Jesus saw their love for their friend, and Jesus saw their hope and trust that Jesus can heal this man.
Who are the “paralytics” around me that I need to bring to Jesus? What will it cost?
As this passage shows, when I recognize someone’s need, I have to make an action. I had to learn to be creative, and not afraid of hard work, and most important of all to keep trying with the spirit of never giving up on the person, just as so many people never gave up on me, even during the darkest and difficult times. I remember when I was struggling with major sins issues, as I look back, I was just like a paralytic on the mat who was carried by these friends. I was so lost that I did not know what to do. But one thing I did was to let people help me. People had prayer chains for me to pray for me, and fast for me every day. If there is something that I can benefit from in struggling with my sins, they went ahead and equipped themselves with it and helped me with all the resources they could find. I want to learn to be these friends who did whatever it takes to bring this man to Jesus, just as I was loved and helped in the same manner.
Matthew 9:1-8
- How does this passage show Jesus’ divinity?
- What is the significance of Jesus forgiving the man before healing his physical condition?
- What was required for the paralytic to be brought to Jesus?
- Whose faith did Jesus see, and what was it that he saw?
- In having his paralysis and sins dealt with by Jesus, the man needed the help and faith of others. What are some ways I may need the help and faith of others to deal with my sin or “paralysis?”
- Who are the “paralytics” around me that I need to bring to Jesus? What will it cost?
- Reflect on the times that I was filled with awe and praise of God because of some work of God in my life or in the lives of others.
Matthew 9:14-17
- What does Jesus give for the proper time for fasting? What lesson does this have for me for times when I have allowed Jesus to become far away from my heart?
- How do the illustrations about “[sewing] a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment” and “[pouring] new wine into old wineskins” show that one cannot “fit” God into the existing framework of one’s life?
- In what ways have I tried to do this, resulting in “making the tear worse?”
Matthew 9:36-37
“The disciples are to ‘ask the Lord of the harvest … to send out workers into his harvest field.’ The ‘Lord of the harvest’ is God, who will respond to their prayer for harvest workers. But dramatically it is Jesus who steps forward in answer to their prayers to commission the Twelve to go out and minister. The harvest mission includes the immediate assignment of the Twelve to take the gospel message only to Israel (10:1 – 15), but also the long-range mission of the disciples throughout the world until the Son of Man returns (10:16 – 23).”[1]
- Reflect on how Jesus saw the crowds as “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
- Do I identify with this description as aptly capturing my life before Christ?
- What can I do to share Jesus’ perspective toward the “crowds” in my life, and follow his heart of compassion for them?
- As I look at the world, and the state of the church today, do I agree with Jesus that the “harvest is plentiful but the workers are few?” What has been my response to this assessment?
Additional Questions:
Matthew 9:9
- What might have caused Matthew to get up and follow at Jesus’ simple request?
- What has been my response to Jesus’ invitation?
Matthew 9:10-13
- Why does Jesus desire mercy and not sacrifice?
- What prevented the Pharisees from seeing that they were sinners?
Matthew 9:18-21
- What did Jairus, a ruler of Synagogue (cf. Luke 8:41), have to overcome to kneel before Jesus and ask for help?
- What did the woman have to overcome to “[touch] the edge of his cloak?”
- What led both of them to overcome their obstacles to come to Jesus?
Matthew 9:21-22
- Why would the woman have planned to “only touch his cloak” rather than directly asking for healing, like the ruler did?
- What can I learn about the heart of Jesus from the fact that he took notice of this woman, and spoke to her?
- How would the woman have felt hearing Jesus addressing her as “daughter?”
Matthew 9:27
- What do their cries for help show about the blind men’s faith?
- Think back to a time when I may have cried out to God in desperation and what brought me to that point.
- Was God faithful to my cries for help?
Matthew 9:34
- Given that the Pharisees could not have known the truth of what they asserted, how is it that they could make such a bold assertion?
- Have I ever assumed the role of a spiritual authority, or confidently asserted things regarding spiritual matters without sufficient grounds?
- What aspect of human nature is revealed by the Pharisees’ response?
- Have I given in to the temptation to denigrate someone’s good deeds by, for example, attributing it to lesser motives, or trying to explain it in some dismissive way?
[1] Wilkins, Michael J. “Matthew 8:1-9:8″ NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: Matthew. By Michael J. Wilkins, 2004 Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 337-410.