It's good to be with you this morning.
It's good to be here with you guys,
to bring God's word to you.
Yeah, I just want to say Brittany and I
! and our family, we have delighted in being here.
It's almost been a year now.
We've been loving getting to know each one of you
in this church and the countless ways
you guys have served us and our family
in this season that we've had.
So I can't thank you guys enough for that.
So I hope this morning then
this word will bring you great courage
and it will build us up this morning.
So let's now stand together as I read the word for us.
We're in Matthew chapter 9,
verses 1 through 17 this morning.
If you don't have a Bible,
we have some extra Bibles in the back table there.
If you need a Bible, want a Bible,
someone can get it to you.
So would you raise your hand?
Can you hand actually for us real quick?
No?
Okay.
Okay, great.
Great.
So again, Matthew chapter 9,
verses 1 through 17.
And getting into a boat,
he crossed over and came to his own city.
And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic,
lying on a bed.
And when Jesus saw their faith,
he said to the paralytic,
take heart, my son,
your sins are forgiven.
And behold,
some of the scribes said to themselves,
this man is blaspheming.
But Jesus,
knowing their thoughts,
said,
why do you think evil in your hearts?
For which is easier to say,
your sins are forgiven,
or to say,
rise and walk.
But that you may know
that the Son of Man
has authority on earth
to forgive sins.
He then said to the paralytic,
rise,
pick up your bed,
and go home.
And he rose
and went home.
And when the crowd saw it,
they were afraid,
and they glorified God,
who had given such authority to men.
And as Jesus passed on from there,
he saw a man called Matthew
sitting at the tax booth.
And he said to him,
follow me.
And he rose and followed him.
And as Jesus reclined
at the table in the house,
behold,
many tax collectors and sinners
came and were reclining
with Jesus and his disciples.
And when the Pharisees saw this,
they said to the disciples,
why does your teacher
eat with tax collectors and sinners?
But when he heard it,
he said,
those who are well
have no need of a physician,
but those who are sick,
go and learn what this means.
I desire mercy
and not sacrifice.
For I came not to call
the righteous,
but sinners.
Then the disciples of John
came to him saying,
why do we and the Pharisees fast?
But your disciples do not fast.
And Jesus said to them,
can the wedding guests mourn
as long as the bridegroom
is with them?
The days will come
when the bridegroom
is taken away from them
and then they will fast.
No one puts a piece
of unshrunk cloth
on an old garment
for the patch tears away
from the garment
and a worse tear is made.
Neither is new wine
put into old wineskins.
If it is,
the skins burst
and the wine is spilled
and the skins are destroyed.
But new wine
is put into fresh wineskins
and so both are preserved.
May the Lord add
a blessing to his word.
You guys can sit down.
And I'm going to pray
real quick for us
as we launch into this sermon.
Lord, thank you.
Thank you for your word.
Thank you for giving us
all things for life
and godliness.
Thank you for your son, Jesus.
Father,
help us this morning
to see your word.
Open the eyes
of our hearts, Lord,
to conform us
to your image,
to make us
more like you,
to throw off our flesh
and put on the new,
to walk in step
with your spirit.
We pray.
Amen.
So this morning
we have these three stories,
three different scenes
you have most likely
heard,
taught on individually
at different times,
drawing out the small details
of each account.
But today we are going to be
looking at these three accounts
together
and I believe
we will find
that they are all
more interconnected
than we first realized.
I want you to see
that these are narrated
not so much
for the small details
that we are accustomed to
of each event
but for the radical pronouncements
made by Jesus
to which they give rise.
And radical they are.
They are radical
especially for the Jewish audience
that he is speaking to
here today.
For the first time
the kingdom of God
we see
Jesus that is
the kingdom of God
that Jesus is ushering in
begins to encounter
overt criticism
from traditional Jewish piety.
So this morning
as we walk
through each of these
different scenes
my hope is that
you will see
Jesus Christ
didn't come
to receive our sacrifices.
He came
to show mercy.
He came
to be
our sacrifice.
Again
that's
Jesus Christ
didn't come
to receive our sacrifices
but he came
to show mercy
and he came
to be
our sacrifice.
sacrifice.
So let
let us then
dive into
the scene one
here
our first point
the authority
to forgive sin.
In verses
one through eight
here we see
Matthew telling
his readers
of his account
of the healing
of the paralytic man.
Jesus leaving
the guardians
to get into a boat
to cross back
over to the sea
of Galilee
to his hometown
Capernaum
where he did
most of his ministry
he resided
at this time.
The town
that actually
welcomed him
compared to
the guardians
didn't want him
they wanted him
to leave
but Capernaum
we see people
coming to him
wanting to hear
more from him
to interact
with him
to meet him
they wanted
to hear
his teaching
so people
are coming
to Jesus
they want
to hear
from Jesus
so the story
of the paralytic man
often involves
the description
of immense crowds
coming around
the house
and this paralytic man
coming
carried by his
three friends
and lowering him
into the house
ripping open the ceiling
and all the dirt
falling in
and Jesus seeing this
we usually have
all of that
in description
but most of the time
it's referenced
from the gospel of Luke
who gives much more detail
than Matthew
so this prompts
the question then
for us
as we look at this text
why?
why does Matthew
leave out most
of these details?
and I believe
that Matthew
this morning
today
wants us
to see
there's an important
interaction
that's happening here
he gets down
to the specifics
and the specifics
here
he wants us to see
I believe
is that Jesus
has the authority
to forgive sins
and this is the first time
in the gospel of Matthew
that we actually
get to see that
we see Jesus
doing such a thing
the first time
he does
forgive someone
an individual
of their sin
we have though
seen that he holds
a unique
authoritative teaching
he holds
the authority
over all of the cosmos
healing ailments
calming storms
and casting out demons
but one could even
be a prophet
sent by God
and do these things
Moses parted
the Red Sea
as we see
in Exodus 14
Elijah healed
the widow's son
in 1 Kings
but Jesus
Jesus is no
ordinary man
no ordinary prophet
Jesus is the only
one of the prophets
priests
kings
to ever speak
and act
with such authority
as we're seeing
here today
he doesn't need
a staff
that God gave
and instructed him
to use
he doesn't need
to ask God
for the power
to heal
or cast out demons
and now
right now
we're seeing
that he doesn't
need the temple
system
the Judaism
temple system
of sacrifice
to forgive
someone of their sin
as he says here
take heart
my son
and know
that your sons
your sins
are forgiven
this was not
just a future
forgiveness
this was instantaneous
your sins
are forgiven
the paralytic
was reaping
the benefits
of that forgiveness
immediately
he did nothing
though
to receive it
he did nothing
but there's
no only one way
that this is possible
there's only one way
that it's possible
for Jesus
to forgive
this paralytic
sins
which is why
it doesn't sit
well with the scribes
who are watching
this happen
right before them
they say
this man is
blaspheming
because Jesus
is doing
only what God
can do
what only God
alone can do
and that is
forgive sins
as Psalm
130
verses 3
through 4
says
if you
oh Lord
should mark
iniquities
oh Lord
who could stand
but
with you
there is
forgiveness
that you
may be feared
so it was
clearly known
that this was
the prerogative
of God alone
no ordinary
created being
could do this
so this
so any
ordinary
created being
that makes
this claim
puts himself
into the creator's
place here
yet
as we have seen
have been seeing
in this gospel
Jesus is
no ordinary
man
Jesus calls
them out
calls these
Pharisees out
these scribes
for their
unbelieving hearts
and his
accusation of
breaking the
third commandment
why do you
think evil
in your hearts
and he responds
with this
rhetorical question
for which is
easier to say
your sins
are forgiven
or rise
and walk
I mean
of course
between these
two
it is easier
for one to say
your sins
are forgiven
since divine
forgiveness
of sin
cannot be
verified
or falsified
on this
side of heaven
right
but physical
healing
can be tested
it is
empirical
the proof
is in the
pudding
as some
people
will say
so today
one is
healed
but
if he's
healed
then we can
measure it
we can see it
but if he's
not healed
he's not
healed
we can see
that
so it
makes that
man a liar
if he is
not healed
and it
makes him
be crazy
so to show
them that
this
that he
actually has
the power
and his
declaration
of divine
forgiveness
is not just
wishful thinking
not just some
Disney fairy tale
that he's
conjuring up here
no he declares
then
the paralytic
healed
and not only
does he send
him on his
way
but I find
this humorous
but he picks
up his own
bed on his
way out
he carries
his own
bed
and goes
home
that's a
pretty incredible
measure of
healing
like
he's not
only just
healed from
being paralyzed
which if you
guys know
in physical
therapy
I mean most
of you know
we've had
church members
here going
through physical
therapy
it takes
months for
some minor
injuries or
surgeries that
you go through
it takes
months even
years to
find rehabilitation
but you
suffer something
major like
being paralyzed
it could take
a lifetime
if you are
to even
see progress
so this
guy gets
up and
literally
carries his
bed out
so the
crowd here
has a
right response
they respond
correctly
and they
have awe
they have
fear
and they
see that
God is at
work here
they see
that Jesus
has the
authority
and the
power to
forgive sins
and they bring
praise to
God
we could
go on
and I
could say
a lot
more about
this passage
but what
Matthew wants
us to take
away from
this event
is that
Jesus holds
the divine
authority
to forgive
sins
Jesus
begins to
show the
great magnitude
of mercy
he brings
in this new
kingdom he is
ushering in
he may heal
us when we
are ill
but he
came to
fundamentally
forgive us
of our
sins
so now
as we
move on
to this
next scene
this next
story in
verses 9
through 13
we'll see
that it
goes deeper
than that
it goes
deeper
still
Jesus not
only holds
this authority
but he has
the desire
his heart
is to
forgive
sinners
as we'll
see here
in point
number two
his heart
of mercy
so in
this next
scene
Jesus
makes the
next move
and he's
walking along
and he
calls
Matthew
he calls
a tax
collector
and he
says to
this tax
collector
come
follow me
now
you guys
probably know
a little bit
about tax
collectors
in the
Bible
they were
not the
most loved
people in
this time
during this
culture
in this
time period
you could
say
people probably
even found
them a little
bit loathing
repulsive
they had
disdain
for them
so even
today
I would
say
most of
us
probably
don't
enjoy
tax
collectors
or what
they represent
that is
the IRS
taxes
they're not
great
you know
and especially
saying this
here in
Boston
of all
places
Bostonians
can resonate
it wasn't
too long
ago
you know
Bostonians
tarred
tax collectors
right across
the river
here
and threw
a bunch
of tea
into the
harbor
to protest
the oppressive
regime that
they felt
from Britain
especially
from the
tax collectors
so the
tax collectors
in the
Roman Empire
ones like
Matthew
they could
assess
the goods
subjectively
they could
assess their
value subjectively
and they could
take whatever
they want
they could
take the
extra
on top
of what
they assess
and keep
it for
themselves
so this
created an
extra level
of disdain
for these
tax collectors
for the
Jewish people
especially
when one
was their
own
when one
was their
own
like
Matthew
supporting
the oppressive
regime
taking money
from his
own people
and giving
it to
Rome
so what
Jesus does
here
is rather
bold
and shocking
for his
audience
he calls
Matthew
a tax
collector
to be
one of
his own
to be
his
disciple
and more
than that
though
he doesn't
just call
Matthew
what do we
see next
that he
does
he's in
Matthew's
home
as we know
from context
from other
gospels
he's in
Matthew's
home
he's in
Matthew's
home
not just
there
present
but with
Matthew
alone
but he's
also
reclining
as Jesus
as Matthew
says
he's
reclining
at table
he's
dining
he's
feasting
but not
only with
Matthew
but with
other
tax collectors
other
other buddies
of Matthew's
that he
works with
with other
undesirable
sinners
as well
as one
commentator
said
these people
were the
undesirable
individuals
of Jewish
society
they were
most likely
Jewish
by upbringing
but did
not observe
the Jewish
rituals
they did
not go to
the temple
like they
should
they didn't
observe
the ordinances
the rituals
the forms
that they
should have
they were
unclean
sinners
so this
gives a
prime
opportunity
for just
more
tension
to build
for more
confrontation
once again
with Jesus
and the
Jewish
leaders
and this
time
it's
the
Pharisees
the
Pharisees
now
are
jumping
in
on this
they were
looking
in
and they
were
seeing
Jesus
reclining
at table
eating
feasting
drinking
with tax
collectors
in this
home
probably
a lavish
feast
as well
knowing
the tax
collectors
with a
bunch
of other
undesirable
unclean
outcast
people
of the
town
so they
were probably
pretty
confused
pretty
appalled
at what
was going
on
this
was
pretty
scandalous
for
Jesus
to
do
it
brought
a lot
of
confusion
so it
led
Jesus
to
ask
why
does
your
teacher
eat
with
tax collectors
and sinners
why is he
doing this
this question
though
isn't really
a wrong
question
to ask
for the
Old Testament
does
celebrate
and encourage
and even
command
God's
people
to not
associate
with
the
sinner
with
the
unclean
as
Psalm
26
verses
4-5
says
I do
not
sit
with
the
men
of
falsehood
nor
do
I
consort
with
hypocrites
I hate
the
assembly
of
evildoers
and I
will
not
sit
with
the
wicked
or
Psalm
1-1
says
blessed
is
the
man
who
walks
not
in
the
counsel
of
the
wicked
nor
stands
in
the
way
of
sinners
nor
sits
in
the
seat
of
scoffers
but
a
gentle
tactful
response
those
who
are
well
have
no
need
of
a
physician
but
those
who
are
sick
go
and
learn
what
this
means
I
desire
mercy
and
not
sacrifice
for
I
came
not
to
call
the
righteous
but
sinners
Jesus
is
trying
to
take
a
moment
here
he's
trying
to
help
I
believe
he's
trying
to
help
the
Pharisees
along
and help
them
remember
what
the
scriptures
actually
teach
to
remember
the
heart
of
God
Pharisees
you
of
all
people
should
know
that
the
Messiah
comes
to
save
sinners
and
in
fact
if
you
would
see
your
own
desperate
need
for
forgiveness
if
you
knew
the
scriptures
as
well
as
you
claim
if
you
let
the
scriptures
seep
down
into
your
heart
you
would
know
this
as
psalm
14
verses
2-3
says
the
lord
looks
down
from
heaven
on
the
children
of
man
to
see
if
there
are
any
who
understand
who
seek
after
God
they
have
all
turned
aside
together
they
have
become
corrupt
there
is
none
who
does
good
not
even
one
but
we
also
see
the
heart
of
God
then
in
psalm
86
15
but
you
oh
lord
are
a
god
merciful
and
gracious
slow
to
anger
and
abounding
and
steadfast
love
and
faithfulness
they
were
missing
this
and
Jesus
was
calling
them
out
on
their
own
self
righteousness
is
not
necessarily
wrong
here
it
should
be
the
aim
of
becoming
a
good
disciple
to
grow
in
holiness
and
Christ
likeness
and
God
likeness
but
the
sort
of
righteousness
here
that
Jesus
has
in
view
and
he
mentions
here
put
sacrifice
before
mercy
it
is
not
the
righteousness
of
the
kingdom
of
heaven
it
is
a
self
made
righteousness
focused
on
one's
own
performance
these
Pharisees
these
people
they
knew
the
ins
and
the
outs
of
the
temple
sacrificial
system
they
became
more
focused
on
the
system
rather
than
the
purpose
of
the
system
the
heart
behind
the
system
you
Pharisees
he
said
he
Jesus
looking
at
the
Pharisees
you
Pharisees
have
forgotten
God's
heart
of
mercy
they
lost
sight
of
God's
heart
and
his
goodness
given
to
them
in
this
sacrificial
system
in
his
word
and
they
became
more
focused
on
their
own
performance
thinking
highly
of
themselves
not
seeing
that
they
too
were
in
need
of
a
physician
they
too
were
sick
and
ultimately
they
could
not
extend
compassion
and
service
to
others
they
lost
sight
of
that
they
lost
sight
of
mercy
and
thus
they
became
a
hindrance
to
God
displaying
his
mercy
to
his
people
the
temple
of
the
living
God
and
the
sacrificial
system
was
a
place
and
a
way
for
sinners
to
come
and
receive
the
forgiveness
of
their
sins
to
meet
with
God
and
to
know
his
presence
now
this
is not
to
say
that
the
system
was
a
failure
rather
it
was never
the
end
goal
it
was
never
meant
to
be
the
final
say
so
and
I
believe
these
Pharisees
probably
thought
that
Jesus
would
continue
this
on
to
make
this
a
better
system
a
better
Judaism
it
was
a
tool
though
used
to
do
exactly
what
it
was
intended
for
to
reveal
the
holiness
of
our
God
to
reveal
our
complete
and
utter
sinful
depravity
and
yet
to
provide
mercy
to
provide
a
way
to
come
to
commune
to
meet
with
God
the
temple
and
its
sacrifices
pointed
to
this
truth
that
our
heavenly
father
is
completely
and
utterly
committed
to
reconciling
sinners
to
himself
he
is
completely
and
utterly
committed
to
reconciling
sinners
to
himself
so
church
we
have
a
wonderful
and
merciful
father
that
we
do
not
deserve
!
to
live
homeboy
!
Jesus
here
wasn't
just
coming to
indiscriminately
hang out
with sinners
hang out
with a
bunch of
drunks
and
prostitutes
and tax
collectors
being an
easy
live
and let
live
homeboy
no
he was
fulfilling
his
mission
as he
says
to
call
sinners
and
sinners
were
drawn
to
him
he
gladly
spent
time
with
those
who
were
open
to
hearing
his
gospel
he
forgave
sinners
and
he
embraced
repentant
sinners
as
his
own
so
please
don't
hear
me
this
is
not
a
license
to
just
go
hang
out
with
sinners
and
hang
out
in
the
bars
and
just
kick
it
with
them
no
there
is
an
intent
there
is
a
heart
there
is
a
mission
that
Jesus
had
and
that
was
to
come
and
to
give
his
gospel
to
call
them
to
repentance
to
provide
a
way
for
them
to
have
mercy
to
receive
mercy
this
is
why
he
God
sent
his
only
son
Christ
Jesus
into
the
world
as
we
read
to
leave
heaven
to
embrace
humanity
into
this
world
to
be
our
perfect
sacrifice
he
didn't
come
to
condemn
the
world
not
to
shake
his
head
at
us
in
disgust
he
didn't
come
to
meet
us
halfway
rather
he
went
the
full
length
to
call
to
call
us
to
call
sinners
to
repentance
he
came
to
meet
us
right
where
we
are
in
our
sinful
unclean
state
to
extend
the
fullness
of
his
mercy
through
his
son
Jesus
by
providing
this
pathway
to
repentance
through
the
cross
of
Christ
so
I
want
to
ask
you
have
you
received
this
mercy
have
you
experienced
it
have
you
answered
the
call
of
Jesus
to
follow
him
like
Matthew
to
come
and
receive
his
great
mercy
if
you
haven't
I
believe
God
has
you
here
today
has
you
here
for
a
time
just
as
this
to
receive
his
mercy
to
call
upon
his
name
and
to
receive
the
forgiveness
of
your
sins
so
I
plead
with
you
call
upon
his
name
come
and
receive
his
mercy
and
know
the
loving
embrace
of
his
son
Jesus
Christian
how
might
we
know
though
as
well
that
someone
knows
God's
mercy
how
do
we
know
that
we
know
!
God's
mercy
how
do
we
know
we
are
drawing
near
to
the
heart
of
God
we
are
growing
in
this
it's
not
it's
not
measured
by
how
much
you
serve
it's
not
how
many
books
you
read
it's
not
about
how
much
you
do
for
God
rather
are
you
displaying
and
extending
God's
loving
kindness
to
those
around
you
to
those
in
misery
and
in
need
to
the
undesirable
!
sinner
are
you
taking
that
same
mercy
that
you
receive
and
sharing
it
with
those
around
you
and
letting
it
change
and
shape
the
way
that
you
see
the
world
around
you
what's
your
posture
your
response
to
a
fellow
Christian
when
they
fall
into
sin
is it
a
response
of
contempt
!
of
disgust
saying
how
could
they
I
can't
believe
that
person
did
that
church
Jesus
draws near
to those
that
are
broken
extending
mercy
upon
mercy
and
he
and
he
is
committed
to
drawing
near
and
reconciling
sinners
like
you
and
me
to
himself
and
he
wants
us
to
extend
that
same
mercy
to
one
another
so
our
attitude
our
posture
towards
others
reveals
our
understanding
of
God
and
how
God
views
us
when
we
misunderstand
God's
mercy
we
tend
to
view
him
as
a
hard
to
please
judge
instead
of
a
merciful
loving
father
who
runs
to
his
children
in
their
need
so
do
you
think
God
views
you
with
disappointment
searching
for
the
weaknesses
and
failures
!
that
you
have
or
do
you
see
him
viewing
you
with
love
with
compassion
drawing
near
to
you
in
your
weakness
and
in
your
sin
through
the
work
of
Jesus
see
this
was
the
seemingly
radical
way
that
Jesus
was
bringing
that
Jesus
was
extending
and
showing
and
it
was
confusing
to
some
it
was
confusing
to
his
audiences
that
didn't
understand
the
scriptures
it
was
causing
tension
with
the
Jewish
leaders
and
even
the
disciples
of
John
the
Baptist
which
we
see
here
in
our
next
scene
in
our
next
point
in
verses
14
through
17
asking
the
question
how
then
shall
we
live
on
the
heels
of
this
feast
John
the
Baptist
disciples
likely
seeing
or
hearing
about
Jesus
having
this
lavish
feast
with
Matthew
sinners
and the
tax
collectors
asking
the
question
about
fasting
why
do
your
disciples
fast
now
it's
rather
fitting
if you
know
about
John
the
Baptist
and his
disciples
it's
rather
fitting
that
his
disciples
are
the
ones
asking
this
question
remember
John
the
Baptist
he
was
wearing
camel
skins
and
while
fasting
eating
nothing
but
locusts
and
honey
in the
wilderness
you had
to walk
all the
way out
into
the
wilderness
and
you had
to
only
hear
John
the
Baptist
saying
repent
and
believe
repent
while
he's
wrapped
in
this
camel's
hair
and
eating
locusts
and
honey
so
John
the
Baptist
was
well
known
by
those
around
him
for
his
outward
religious
appearances
for
his
religious
asceticism
so
you
can
perhaps
see
why
the
followers
of
John
the
Baptist
are
very
confused
when
they're
seeing
or hearing
of
Jesus
their
Messiah
the
ones
that
they're
preparing
the
way
for
and
his
disciples
are
feasting
at
homes
of
sinners
it
doesn't
seem like
they're
taking
their
religious
practices
very
seriously
they
aren't
fasting
like
all
the
other
good
Jewish
leaders
are
so
Jesus
responding
with this
really
well put
illustration
of a
wedding
and at
this time
in this
culture
weddings
were a
big
celebration
lasting
for days
they were
feasts
so
Jesus
asked
do
you
mourn
during
a
wedding
it's
kind
of
strange
right
be
like
Gary
Chin
groomsman
and
Andrew
and
Kathy's
upcoming
wedding
showing
up
wearing
sathcloth
and
ashes
to
their
wedding
not
celebrating
the
marriage
but
fasting
sitting
in
a
corner
restraining
himself
while
everybody
else
is
enjoying
dancing
celebrating
feasting
it would
be a
rather
bizarre
scene
right
Jesus
says
yes
there
will
be
a
time
for
fasting
but
now
is
not
it
look
around
you
you're
missing
it
read
the room
guys
God
in the
flesh
is
walking
with
his
people
it's
the
dawn
the
beginning
of a
new
life
of the
kingdom
of heaven
it should
be a
great
time
of great
joy
and
celebrations
you should
be
feasting
we should
be
feasting
right
now
so
you're
misunderstanding
the times
guys
as
Jesus
is
speaking
to
John's
disciples
and he
goes
on to
say
to
make
the
illustration
sink
in
a
little
bit
further
no
one
puts
a
piece
of
unshrunk
cloth
on
an
old
garment
for
the
patch
tears
away
from
the
garment
and
a
worse
tear
is
made
neither
is
new
wine
put
into
old
wine
skins
if
it
is
the
skins
burst
and
the
wine
is
spilled
!
and
the
skins
are
destroyed
but
new
wine
is
put
into
fresh
wines
skins
!
I'm
just
going
to
be
focusing
on
the
wine
skins
this
morning
which
it's
a
fascinating
illustration
I think
early on
in my
Christianity
I had
no idea
what is
Jesus
saying
and
it's
really
fascinating
and
amazing
I was
actually
even
talking
to
my
wife
Brittany
and
she's
just
like
man
that's
incredible
I don't
know
if I
fully
understood
that
so
it
just
let me
get
into
this
illustration
wine
skins
think
about
leather
they're
made
of
leather
when
leather
is
new
it's
soft
it's
pliable
it stretches
it gives
but as
it ages
it becomes
dried out
hard
and brittle
so
and if
you've
ever
seen
somebody
make
wine
I grew
up
around
my
grandfather
making
homemade
wine
and
homemade
beer
and these
things
so
if
you've
ever
seen
like
or
gone
to
a
tour
and
seen
like
wine
made
or
bourbon
an
alcoholic
drink
made
you know
that it
goes through
a process
of
fermentation
and
even in
its
early
stages
after
it's
finished
being
made
it
still
is
going
through
this
process
of
fermentation
giving off
gases
and bubbling
so
if
you
were
to
take
and
put
new
wine
as
it's
still
fresh
into
these
old
hard
brittle
wineskins
these
wineskins
won't be
able to
expand
and
contract
they won't
be able
to hold
it
and it'll
just expand
and it'll
burst
so
and I
imagine
that
this
illustration
that Jesus
gives
here
is just
one of
those
classic
rookie
mistakes
that people
make
and you
just laugh
at them
when they
make them
so it's
kind of
like it
reminds me
of when
you start
trying to
make your
own
kombucha
at home
if you
guys have
ever tried
that
you know
when you
start making
the process
you put
the tea
the fruit
in there
and you
put the
scoby
in there
which is
your bacteria
which gives
to the
fermentation
process
of it
and then
after you
put it
in there
you put
it in
a sealed
bottle
and then
you tuck
it away
in this
dark
cabinet
in your
kitchen
to sit
and just
be for
a time
but the
classic
rookie
mistake
is you
forget
about it
and that
fermentation
has nowhere
to go
so you
open up
your cabinet
and you
realize
kaboom
like this
thing just
blew up
in your
cabinet
I have
several
friends
that that
has
happened
to
so it
is a
classic
rookie
mistake
so this
is what
I imagine
this is
kind of
like
so putting
wine into
old wineskins
was probably
not the way
to go
it was
probably
something
that brought
a lot
of people
laughter
when someone
did it
but what
Jesus is
really getting
out
with
these
illustrations
the patch
the wineskins
he's getting
at he's
he's
wanting them
to see
that guys
the kingdom
of God
he is
bringing
in
the new
covenant
that's being
ushered
in
it cannot
be contained
in the
forms
and rituals
of the
old
new
wine
must be
put into
new
wineskins
he wasn't
trying to
Jesus wasn't
coming to
try and
restore
update
or make
a new
more glamorous
Judaism
but we
know
what we
know
from earlier
in Matthew
chapter 5
Jesus
did not
come to
reject or
disconnect
from the
Old Testament
scriptures
but he
came to
fulfill
these forms
and rituals
of the
old
covenant
what Jesus
was refusing
to accept
here
was not
scripture
rather
these
religious
practices
describes
the
Pharisees
and the
disciples
of John
supposedly
have
based on
scriptures
they had
built up
and made
them
their own
rituals
their own
forms
so which
brings me
back then
earlier to
fasting
Jesus said
the days
will come
when the
bridegroom is
taken away
from them
and then
they will
fast
so it
is assumed
that fasting
will continue
just as he
mentioned
even back
in Matthew
chapter 6
he did
the description
of how you
should look
when you
fast
but it
doesn't look
like what
these Pharisees
and these
scribes
are doing
what their
fasting looks
like
what their
forms
their rituals
look like
it's not
an obligatory
like action
it's not
an obligatory
act
where we
are trying
to earn
favor
with God
rather
we
fast
we do
it
knowingly
we already
have God's
favor
through
Christ
Jesus
we
fast
because
we can
freely
fasting
as many
of the
spiritual
disciplines
that we
have
the means
of grace
the habits
of grace
that we
have
reading
scripture
coming to
church
fasting
praying
these are
all means
of grace
that God
has given
us
that are
meant to
refocus
to sharpen
us
to refocus
our heart
and our
minds
to God
to fill
our
affections
afresh
for God
himself
to keep
us on
the path
so when
we physically
fast
when we
are physically
going through
the spiritual
disciplines
that we
have in
this life
we are
doing so
out of the
reality that
we are in
a time of
spiritual
fasting
we are
in a
time of
spiritual
fasting
enjoying
or sorry
in
spiritual
feasting
enjoying
and celebrating
that
everything
everything we
need to be
made right
before God
and to live
a life of
godliness
has been
abundantly
provided for
us in
Christ Jesus
our bread
of life
we
Christians
on this
side of
the cross
are in
the reign
of God's
grace
we are
enjoying
it to
the full
so when
we sin
and we
fall short
in this
broken world
and in our
sinful flesh
we remember
those words
spoken to
the paralytic
take heart
your sins
are forgiven
and we
reap
the benefits
that have
been given
to us
through
Christ
we reap
the benefits
of repentance
and take
delight
in knowing
God's
mercy
covers
all our
sins
past
present
and future
we get to
live in
the good
of that
as
Soren
Kierkegaard
once said
a person
rests
in the
forgiveness
of sins
when the
thought of
God
no longer
reminds him
of the
sin
but of
the fact
that he
is forgiven
so that
what is
past
is not
remembering
how much
he sinned
but of
how much
he has
been
forgiven
friends
when we
sit
in the
shadow
of the
cross
I
encourage
you
remember
to sit
at the
foot
of the
cross
to sit
in its
shadow
to know
of the
great
mercy
that has
been poured
out for
you and
for me
to soak
it in
when we
do that
we will
be able
to
extend
mercy
compassion
and
forgiveness
it will
change
you
it will
transform
you
to
live
a
life
that
is
pleasing
to
God
and
you
get to
enjoy
the
forgiveness
of your
sins
I
believe
that's
peak
Christian
maturity
is when
you're not
dwelling
on your
sin
oh man
I sinned
again
I screwed
up
again
but no
looking at
the cross
knowing in
that great
mercy
that you
don't
deserve
that God
has shown
you
and delighting
in it
enjoying
it
and seeing
how much
you have
been forgiven
because we
have been
forgiven
of much
as I
wrap up
and I
draw our
attention
as we
looked at
these three
different
stories
we have
seen
this
contrast
in these
three
different
stories
between
the old
wine
as you
may say
and the
new
wine
the contrast
between
this
traditional
Jewish
piety
and the
kingdom
of God
my friends
Jesus has
brought
the new
wine
he has
ushered
in the
kingdom
of God
and he
has
prepared
a feast
for you
and for
me
it's the
wine of
the new
covenant
it's the
blood of
his life
sacrificed
poured
out for
all
who would
come to
him
all
who would
believe
there are
no limits
to who
can receive
his
great
and rich
mercy
let's
pray
father
thank you
for your
word
thank you
for what
you've
given us
lord
would you
help us
lord to
be a
people
full of
mercy
and forgiveness
we pray
amen
thank you