Matthew 9:1-8 – The Greatest Need – Bible study

Matthew 9:1-8 The Greatest Need In this passage Jesus performed miracle. Jesus performed many, many miracles. In fact, Jesus did so many miracles that John wrote this: John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. But this miracle was more than a miracle. It was also a controversy. The controversy did not arise from WHAT Jesus did nor in HOW He did it. The controversy arose from what Jesus said. Matt 9:2 Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. Jesus knew when He spoke that phrase what would happen. He knew it would cause a controversy. He is God. He knows everything. Jesus knew who was there, the scribes. Jesus knew how they felt, that they knew everything. He knew how they would react, with fever and zeal to defend what they believed to be true. So Jesus knewbefore He said what He saidwhat was going to happen, but He said it anyway. Jesus did not have to say what He said to perform this miracle. He could have said nothing. Jesus is God. He did not need words to heal. Or He could have spoken some of the phrases that He more often used such as: "As you have believed, be it unto you." "Rise up and be healed." or like He indicated in verses 5: "Arise and walk." But He chose to speak words to a crowd that He knew would object: Matt 9:2 "thy sins be forgiven thee." The question is why? Why would Jesus say something that He knew would cause a problem? The short answer is that Jesus wanted to teach us some things WHILE He healed this man. What Jesus Taught I. Jesus taught that sickness is a result of sinfulness. A. Notice that in the phrase, Jesus connected the mans healing with his sin and forgiveness. 1. That is not me doing it. That was Jesus. 2. By connecting the two, Jesus was saying that the mans sickness is a result of sinfulness. B. That does not mean that every sickness is the result of a specific sin you have committed. 1. Some do believe that, but that is not what the Bible teaches. 2. Jesus discussed that very thing with disciples in John 9. John 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. a. What did Jesus mean? b. Perhaps many things but one thing is for certain; namely, that man was not born blind because of a specific sin that was committed. He was born blind because it was part of the plan of God for His life. 3. However, all sin is the result of sin. a. If there were no sin, there would be no sickness. b. And even better, when we get to the place where there is no sin (heaven), there will be no sickness. c. That favorite verse about heaven is true because sin will never be in heaven. Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (1) No sin, no tears. (2) No sin, no death. (3) No sin, no sorrow. (4) No sin, no crying. (5) No sin, no pain. C. Why did Jesus want to teach that truth? 1. Because many people in this lost and ignorant world want to accuse God of making a planet that is filled with suffering and sickness. 2. God did not make this planet with suffering and sickness. 3. God made the world sinless and suffering free. 4. Suffering and sin came into this world when Adam and Eve invited it in. 5. This messed up world is what man created, not God; and everyday man is making it a little more like hell on earth. 6. Some say, "Well, if theres a God, He could fix it." (1) Yes. He could. (2) But to do so, He would have to take away your free will to sin, and God will not do that. (3) God wants a people who want Him and the only way He can gather such a people is to give them freedom to choose. D. On that day, Jesus was teaching the people something with His words. 1. He was teaching that sickness is a result of sinful world. 2. Like it or not, the best thing we can do for our health is to live righteously. 3. The best thing that we could do for our economy is to live righteously. 4. The best thing that we could do for our environment is to live righteously. E. If we want to change this world for the better, choose God and turn from sin. II. Jesus taught that God wanted to help with both sickness and sin. A. When Jesus saw a sick person, He wanted to help. When He saw A lost person, He wanted to help. B. This man was not just sick. He was sinful. 1. By that, I do not mean that this man was any more sinful than any other. 2. There is no reason to believe that. 3. One does not have to be a great sinner to be a sinner. C. Even the most moral of people are a sinners. 1. The Bible makes it clear that all of us are sinners. Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 2. The Bible goes on to say that we are born sinners. Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: a. That verse says that by one man sin and death came into the world and are passed down to every human being. b. The proof that we are sinners is that we all die! (1) That is the reason even babies get sick and die, some even before they are born. (2) It is also the reason everyone gets older and weaker and eventually we all die. (3) 100% of the human race dies because 100% of the human race are sinners. D. While on earth, Jesus performed many miracles of healing. 1. However, Jesus wanted the people to know that our biggest need is not a healthy body. 2. Our biggest needs is a forgiven soul. 3. For some reason Jesus selected this man on that day to teach us that mans greatest need is not physical but spiritual, not a healing but a forgiving, not a miracle body but a miracle of the soul. III. Jesus taught that what man needed the most, he could only get through forgiveness. Matt 9:2 Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. A. People want miracles of healing; (I do too.), but what we need is forgiveness. 1. What is forgiveness? 2. Jesus did not teach that in our text. a. Jesus taught the NEED for forgiveness. b. But He did not in this text teach what it is. B. What is forgiveness? 1. Forgiveness is never a sin just being forgotten by God. a. God doesnt just erase, forget, or do away with a sin. b. It seems that is what God doesat least to a Christian, but that is not what happens. 2. Before God can forgive a sin, someone must pay the price for that sin. a. What is the price? b. The price is always the sin for every sin, death. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 3. There are two ways in which a sin can be paid. If God had not stepped in, there would only be one way to pay for sins; but because God stepped in, there are two. a. Each individual can pay for their own by dying. (1) When a person dies, all we see is a small portion Of death. (2) The small portion we see has caused a lot of false beliefs about death. (3) Death is not what a lot of people think it is. (a) Death is not ceasing to exist. (b) Neither is death done and its over. (4) We only see a small portion of death but even what we see, we know that death is separation. (a) When you lose a loved one, they did not cease to exist. (b) Everyone lives somewhere forever. (c) What death did is it separated them from you. (d) The separation is the misery of death. (5) But God gives us this glimpse to warn us of eternal separation from Him. (a) When a person dies separated from God, they will be separated from Him forever. (b) But they will not be separated just from God but also from everything that is God. i. It is separation from God, from His goodness, from His mercy, from His gentleness, from His kindness, from His forgiveness, and EVERYTHING ELSE. ii. The Bible calls this the second death. Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. iii. Friend, no one in their right mind would want that and no one in a wrong mind will want it two seconds after it begins. b. We can let Jesus pay it for us. (1) That is called substitution. (2) Substitution is where Jesus takes our place and we take His. (3) Jesus took our place on the cross. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (4) Jesus death, if applied, pays for our sin. (5) Now we get to take Jesus place. (a) We become children of Godlike Jesus. John 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: (b) We become heir to all the riches that are Gods. Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (c) We get to live with God forever in heaven like Jesus. Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: C How do I get forgiven? 1. The answer to that is you do two things: a. You believe (1) that Jesus is who He said He was (Son of God), (2) that He did what He said He would do (die for our sins), (3) and that He will do what He said He would do (save you). b. Repent – The best you know, you turn from sin and surrender yourself to Jesus Christ. 2. If you will do these two things, you can be forgiven of sins! Jesus deliberately caused a controversy that day because He wanted to get some truths out to the world. This morning, the same words may be causing a controversy for your soul. If you are without Christ or living a backslidden Christian life, I pray that they will, and I pray you will experience the power of Gods forgiveness today.