Posted on by Ezekiel Oghenekaro

Text:           Matthew 9:12-13

By:               Adeoye, Emmanuel (Evang.)

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Mathew was a tax collector in Capernaum (Matt. 9:9, Lk5:27). Tax Collectors in Israel were,

  1. Jews working for Rome.
  2. They collected more than required- cheaters – Luke 19:8.
  3. Forbidden from synagogue, Classed with sinners, harlots – Mt. 21:31.

No good Jew will enter his house. his house is unclean. Jesus called Mathew, the tax collector-Matt. 9:9. Mathew was hated- tax collector were traitors working for Rome collecting extra money.

Mathew became happy, he made feast in his house and invited his friends-others tax collectors and sinners – Matt. 9:10 Mark 2:15.

(The Pharisees) thought they were holy and should not mix with sinners, In their mind, holiness means separation from dirty people.

The Setting: Jesus calls Matthew (also called Levi), a despised tax collector, to follow him. Matthew hosts a dinner at his house attended by many tax collectors and social outcast.

The Conflict: The Pharisees criticize Jesus’s disciples for eating with these people, viewing association with “sinners” as spiritually defiling.

The Irony: Jesus uses sarcasm and logic. He accepts the Pharisees at their own self-righteous estimate—pretending they are “healthy”—while pointing out that a doctor goes where the sickness.

The Meaning: The outcasts know they are broken and spiritually unwell, making them receptive to the cure. The Pharisees are too proud to recognize their own spiritual disease.

THE CHURCH IS A  PLACE OF DELIVERANCE/ HOSPITAL FOR THE SICK SINNERS TO RECEIVE HEALING.

WHY HOSPITAL/ DELIVERANCE?

FOUNDER IS PHYSICIAN: Jesus called himself physician (IATROS) – Luke 4:23, Col 4:14, Luke was a physician.

MEMEBERS ARE PATIENTS: we are sometimes sick with sin and challenges of life – Roman 3:23, Isaiah 1:5.

  1. MEDICINE IS THE GOSPEL: Rom 1:16 – Gospel is God’s power unto Salvation. Jeremiah 8:22 “Is there no balm in Gilead”.
  1. HEALING IS GRADUAL: some come with deep wound-cult, fornication alcohol, anger-church nurses them to maturity – Eph. 4:11-16, 1Thess 5:14 “Comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak”.

WHAT HAPPEN IN THIS DELIVERANCE/HOSPITAL (THE CHURCH)

  1. EMERGENCY WARD: Baptism-washes away sin – Act 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21.
  2. GENERAL WARD: Edification, Teaching – Act 2:42, Act 20:32.
  3. ICU INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: Church discipline and Restoration-Gal 6:1, James 5:19-20, 2 Cor 2:6-8.
  4. DISCHARGE: Not yet- we remain under observation till Christ returns – 1 Cor 15:58. 

DELIVERANCE IN THIS CONTEXT IS SALVATION

We have Three Level of Deliverance-All Through Christ.

INITIAL DELIVERANCE: At baptism: we are delivered from

Power of Darkness into the kingdom Col 1:13

Wrath to Come 1 Thess 1:10

  • Guilt of Sin – Act 2:38
  • Dominion of Satan – Act 26:18 – “To turn them from darkness to light from the power of Satan unto God”    (Solution: is Repentance and Teaching)
  • CONTINUOUS DELIVERANCE – IN Christian walk; even after baptism, we need daily deliverance from

Temptation: Mat 6:33  – “Deliver us from evil”

Affliction: Psalm 34:19 2tim 4:18

Evil men: 2 Thes 3:2-3

The Flesh: Romans 7:24-25, Gal 5:16

  • THE FINAL DELIVERANCE: At his second coming;

From This mortal body – Rom 8:23.

From Death – 1 Cor 15:54-57.

From this Present Evil world – Gal 1:4.

THE CHURCH IS A DELIVERANCE CENTER THAT GOD ORDAINED

ACT 2:47 “The Lord added to the Church; such as should be saved” (delivered)

The Hospital(THE CHURCH) has all the Equipment

  1. DIAGNOSIS: Preaching- Heb 4:12
  2. SURGERY: Discipline- 1 Cor 5:5
  3. DRUGS: Lord’s Supper-Strengthens – John 6:53-56.
  4. THERAPY COUNSELING: With Elders – Act 20:28.
  5. No One is too Sick to Come: Matt 9:12.
  6. No one is so Whole that he doesn’t need Hospital – Rom 3:23.
  7. HEALING TAKES-TIME- Be patient with the Weak Brethren. 1Thess. 5:14 Support the weak, Some wound don’t heal in One Sunday.
  8. Doctors have Compassion not Condemnation – Jude 22-23 “Of some have compassion, Making difference and save with fear, pulling them out of fire”. A hospital that insult the patient will be empty, so we need to bear with the patience(Their struggles but not to condone sin).Verse 12 “They that be whole need not a physician but they that are sick”.

PHYSICIAN ILLUSTRATION: Jesus calls himself physician. sinners are sick patient, not enemies to hate.

WHOLE VS SICK: Pharisees thought they were whole-righteous, healthy. but – Rom. 3:23 says all are sick with sin. (THE DIFFERENCE): Mathew knew he was sick, Pharisees did not know.

  1. One can be Correct in Worship, Singing without Instrument, Lord supper every Sunday and still fail-if you have no mercy (James 2:13).

I AM NOT COME: This States Purpose Of Jesus Coming – 1 Tim. 1:15– Christ Jesus Come Into The World To Save Sinners.

CALL THE RIGHTEOUS: Is There Any Righteous? Rom. 3:10 – There Is None Righteous.

SINNERS TO REPENTANCE: Goal Is Not Eat And Stay With Sinners. Goal Is (Repentance) Change Of Mind And Life (Act 17:30 Act 2:38) Jesus Ate With Them To Bring Them To Repentance, Not To Celebrate Their Sin.

LESSONS WE CAN LEARN AS A CHURCH

  1. NO BODY IS TOO DIRTY FOR JESUS; IF HE KNOWS HE IS DIRTY: Mathew Was A Thief, Collaborator Yet Jesus himself Called Him And Made Him Apostle And Gospel Writer. Your Past Is Not Your Limit (Ecc 3:11). He Make Everything Beautiful. He Make Everything Beautiful.
  2. Self Righteousness Is More Dangerous Than Open Sin: Tax Collector Knew They Were Sinners And Came Close. Pharisee Thought They Were Righteous And Stayed Afar – Luke 18:9-14.
  3. God Measures Your Christianity By Your Mercy, Not Just Your Correctness: You Can Be Correct Doctrinally, But If You Gossip, Refuse To Forgive, no Welfare For The Poor- You Missed. Hosea 6:6, James 1:27.
  1. THE CHURCH MUST GO WHERE THE SINNERS ARE: Jesus Went To Matthew’s house. The Church Of Christ Must Not Only Wait Inside The Building. Mark 16:15-16. Go. If Only We Invite Righteous Inside, We Are Not Like Physician Who Goes To Sickbed.
  1. REPENTANCE IS THE AIM OF ASSOCIATION: We Don’t Eat With Sinners. We Eat With Them To Call Them To Repentance. (1 Cor 15:33). Evil Communication Corrupt Good Manners. We Must Influence Them Not They Influence Us – Matt. 5:13.

IMPLICATION FOR US TODAY IN WARRI

FOR EVANGELISM: Stop Judging who deserves the gospel. They are the sick who need physician.  don’t say God  can not use them. Mathew wrote the gospel of Jesus after being called from the tax table.

FOR OUR ATTITUDE IN CHURCH: When a sinner comes into our assembly with dreadlocks, mini-skirt, smelling Alcohol, let us help them – Rom 15:1.

  1. FOR WELFARE/HOSPITAL MINISTRY: Mercy not sacrifice means we must have Dorcas ministry. Act 9:36. that is more acceptable to God than (sometimes) long fasting while brother is hungry – Isa 58: 6-7.
  1. FOR PERSONAL LIFE: you must first admit you are sick. If you say “I am okay,” it’s my village people you may not be healed. 1 John 1:8-9.

DO’S AND DON’T OF THE CHURCH AS PLACE OF DELIVERANCE 

DO’S

  1. Welcome sinners as Patient: Mark 2:17 “Open door for Worst Sinners”.
  2. Preach Deliverance through the Gospel Only: Rom 1:16.
  3. Show Mercy not just Sacrifice: Mt 9:12 have Compassion like Christ
  4. Bear with the Weak: Rom 15:1, 1Thes 5;14
  5. Practice Restoration and Discipline: Gal 6:1 “Restore in the spirit of Meekness”
  6. Stay In the Hospital (CHURCH): Faithful Attendance – Heb 10:25 (Don’t discharge yourself)
  7. Nurse New Converts: 1 Peter 2:2, Give sincere Milk of the Word

DON’T

  1. Don’t Stigmatize Sick Brethren: John 8:7 “who is without sin”?
  2. Don’t Hide your Sickness-Pretending to be whole (1 John 1:8) “if you say you have no sin; you deceive your self”
  3. Don’t forget you are still a patient too: Romans 3:23 “we all need a Physician” (JESUS)

CONCLUSION

Jesus summarizes his entire ministry: his call requires an admission of sin  (sinners) and leads to turning away from wrong (repentance). Jesus use a metaphor common to rabbis. Rabbinic saying as physician goes to sick bed. The Church is a place of refuge from condemnation (Rom 8:1). The church should be seen a hospital  for eliverance is by the truth – John 8:32. Every member is a Nurse 1 Cor 12:26 2 Tim 2:2. Evangelism is a necessity

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THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH AS A DELIVERANCE FOR THE SICK SINNERS TO RECEIVE HEALING
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