WEBVTT

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 One of the ways of understanding this particular section of the Gospel of Mark,

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 and we've mentioned a few times that the makeup of Mark's Gospel is not entirely chronological.

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 He's really painting somewhat of a mosaic of the life and the ministry and the purpose of Christ.

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 And so he groups various elements of the life of Christ together.

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 And one of the ways that we can kind of process chapter 2 and the first part of chapter 3

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 is as a series of conflicts that Jesus enters into with the religious establishment of first century Judaism,

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 the scribes and the Pharisees, and eventually we would find the Sadducees and the Herodians and the chief priests and so on.

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 Jesus here in these verses is time after time entering into conflict.

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 But the purpose of Mark recording these stories for us, or at least inserting them in this way,

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 is it's not exactly to provide us an example on how we're to deal with conflict.

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 It's not so much just to introduce the fact that Jesus had opposition,

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 although we can find from Jesus' example a tremendous way of dealing with doctrinal opposition especially,

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 even in practice.

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 But that's not really the purpose of these conflicts.

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 The purpose of the conflicts is that each one of them reveals something new or emphasizes something

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 that's already been presented about the identity and the purpose of Jesus.

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 So when we look at the first 12 verses of chapter 2, what we finished studying last Sunday,

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 as these four men bring the paralytic man and lower him into the house,

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 and Jesus forgives his sin, and there's the conflict with the Pharisees there.

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 That's not so much just to introduce the fact that Jesus had opposition,

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 but it's to highlight the fact in this conflict that Jesus is God and he has authority to forgive sin.

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 And then we enter into this section that we just read,

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 and the conflict is not just about the Pharisees and the scribes having issue with who Jesus chose to associate with,

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 but it's to highlight the fact that Jesus is indeed the friend of sinners.

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 And as we study through these verses, two things really begin to emerge,

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 two things that we want to track through these five verses.

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 The first thing is Jesus' heart for sinners.

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 The fact that his heart gravitated to those who desperately need him,

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 which in reality is all of us.

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 But the issue with the Pharisees and the scribes is that they didn't see that need,

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 but these other people knew exactly what their need was.

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 And Jesus gravitated.

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 He has this heart for sinners, this heart for the gospel.

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 And in addition to his heart for the gospel,

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 what we see emerging here is a pattern and a model for gospel ministry.

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 The way Jesus exercised this ministry is meant to be an example to us as his followers.

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 It's meant to be an example to how we are to go about ministering the gospel as well.

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 In fact, it's actually his heart for sinners that produces this pattern for ministry as we go through these verses.

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 It was because Jesus' heartbeat for the gospel and to save sinners

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 that led him to minister the gospel in the way that he did.

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 And so as we look through these verses, we're not just concerning ourselves with the conflict.

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 We're not just concerning ourselves with the fact that Jesus had opposition,

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 but we're gazing at Jesus.

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 What was his heart?

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 And how did he carry out the ministry in light of his heart for sinners?

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 And what does that mean for us?

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 If this is the heart that Jesus has, it's the heart that his people should have.

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 If this is the pattern that he followed, it's the pattern that we should follow as well.

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 And so as we go through these verses, I've got four headings that are just meant to kind of hang our thoughts on

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 and help guide us as we go through the narrative here.

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 But you can write them down if you'd like.

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 The first thing is this.

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 We see in verse 13, Jesus is accommodating crowds.

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 Jesus is accommodating crowds.

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 We see his ministry to the masses, so to speak.

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 Look with me again at verse 13.

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 And he went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them.

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 Just as the four friends in the first 12 verses were determined to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus

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 and went so far as to tear the roof apart to get him to Jesus,

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 so is Jesus determined and active and intentional about getting to these people.

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 And what we see happening and unfolding here in this verse is really just a simple thought.

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 It's not the main point.

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 It's really just laying the groundwork for his calling of Matthew and his conflict with the scribes.

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 It's really just laying groundwork here, but there's something significant to it.

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 Jesus is intentionally making his way, accommodating crowds,

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 in order that he might minister the gospel to those crowds.

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 Now, up to this point, we believe he's been in Peter's house.

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 Well, Peter's house, though it was one of the larger homes in Capernaum,

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 at least based on the excavations that you can study today in Israel,

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 we believe it's one of the larger houses, but there's only so many people that could fit there.

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 And it's not reasonable for Jesus to continue to carry out his ministry in town.

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 It's just not possible.

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 Too many people are coming.

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 It's beginning to be destructive, as is evidenced,

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 and Peter's roof being removed in order for people just to get to Jesus.

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 Where some of us might would see that and say,

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 well, this is just, this is how it is.

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 This is the cards we've been dealt.

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 We'll just go with it the way we could.

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 Jesus, of course, didn't do that.

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 What did he do?

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 He's not resorting to the open spaces of the Sea of Galilee to get away from the people.

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 He's resorting to the open spaces around the Sea of Galilee

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 in order to accommodate the people.

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 He wants the crowds.

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 His heart, we see it already beginning to come to the surface.

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 He wants to get to these people.

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 And what is he doing once he gets to these people or once these people get to him?

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 He's teaching them.

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 And again, we see this pattern over and over and over.

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 These people would come to Jesus.

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 He would make way for them.

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 They would gather around him.

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 And what is he doing?

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 He's preaching the gospel.

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 The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

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 Repent and believe the good news over and over and over.

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 That's his pattern.

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 That's his purpose.

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 That's his goal.

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 He was actively engaged in reaching people.

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 And he did whatever he could do.

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 He went wherever he could go to make that happen.

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 And our own pattern for gospel ministry should reflect this example.

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 The gospel message should concern us to the point that we will go wherever we need to go.

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 We will do whatever we need to do in order to preach the gospel to lost.

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 In fact, the gospel is the foundation of everything that we do.

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 It should inform everything that we are as a church.

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 The gospel informs our worship.

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 The gospel informs our evangelism.

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 Why should we care about getting to know people?

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 Why should we care about planting a church in Cornelius?

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 It's not just because we want to do it.

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 It's because we want to reach people with the gospel.

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 It informs our evangelism.

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 It should inform everything we do as a church.

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 Every way that we serve with and for one another is actually informed by the gospel.

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 There will come a day where the acting out studio is not sufficient for Lakeside Bible Church.

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 It's sufficient right now.

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 We were talking about it this morning.

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 The Lord has blessed us with this place.

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 It really has.

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 The Lord willing, there's going to come a day where it's just, it's Peter's house.

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 It's just not reasonable anymore.

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 What are we going to do?

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 Well, we're going to have to find an open space by the sea somewhere.

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 We're going to have to continue on.

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 Why?

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 We could just stay here.

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 But why would we do that?

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 Our heartbeat is to reach the masses.

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 We want to teach the people.

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 We want to share the gospel.

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 And so we're going to find another place.

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 We're going to find a place that can accommodate a larger crowd.

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 We're going to start another church.

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 We're going to do whatever we can do to multiply the effect and the impact of the gospel in our area.

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 And it's just intentionality.

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 It's activity.

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 What's Jesus doing in verse 13?

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 It's just being intentional.

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 It's activity.

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 We need to follow that pattern.

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 The second thing we see is he's calling disciples.

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 He's accommodating crowds.

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 So we see there his heart.

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 We also see a pattern.

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 Now we see that he's calling disciples in verse 14.

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 Look at it with me.

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 As he passed by, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth.

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 And he said to him, follow me.

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 Jesus did have a ministry to the masses.

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 That's true.

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 His call was extended, though, to individuals.

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 And this is an interesting call.

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 There's a man named Levi.

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 We know him as Matthew.

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 In fact, as you study the gospel of Matthew, you find out that's exactly who this is.

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 The man whom the Lord used to write that gospel is this man known here as Levi.

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 Well, Matthew was a tax collector.

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 And he was responsible for collecting fees from those that were traveling and trading on a specific route near Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee.

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 Well, let's talk about these tax collectors for just a minute.

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 Because this is what makes this call so much more significant and helpful to us.

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 The Romans collected taxes through a series of franchise opportunities is really kind of the best way to understand.

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 Roman tax system was set up that way.

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 They were occupying Palestine at this particular time.

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 And they would sell these tax franchises to the highest bidder.

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 And so the franchisee would then be responsible for collecting various taxes.

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 There were three stated taxes that every person in Israel had to pay.

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 It didn't matter who they were.

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 They had to pay these.

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 And they had specified amounts to what they had to pay.

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 The first one was a poll tax.

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 That was just a tax for being alive.

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 You exist.

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 You breathe the air that is occupied by Rome.

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 Therefore, you have to pay a fee for breathing the air that is in Palestine.

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 Just a poll tax.

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 We all pay that tax, right?

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 Then there was a ground tax.

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 This was equal to 10% of all the grain, 20% of all the wine and oil that was produced.

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 So if you were a farmer or you were involved in those kind of businesses, anything that you would produce in those three areas, you had to give a cut of it to Rome.

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 And then there was an income tax.

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 1% of your annual income had to go to Rome.

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 So these franchisees, they were responsible for collecting those.

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 And they would have a segment of their business that that's what they did.

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 Then there was a second tier of taxes that wasn't as concrete as the first.

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 There were taxes on sales.

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 There were taxes on trading.

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 There were taxes on traveling.

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 There were taxes on all kinds of things.

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 And these franchisees would have people that would be set up at tax booths in order to charge these fees as people would travel into town.

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 Or as fishermen would come in from a long night of fishing, they would have to pay a particular tax for docking their boat in the harbor.

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 Or they would pay a tax on the fish that they caught.

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 Or if some have suggested that a cart that maybe would come through, Matthew would have had the opportunity to stop that person and not only tax their cart of goods,

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 but he could actually tax the cart by how many wheels it had.

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 There was a percentage that was applied to each wheel, and that multiplied the amount of taxes that they had.

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 Here's what Rome cared about.

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 They cared about meeting certain quotas.

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 Anything that came in above that quota just went into the pocket of the collector.

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 Matthew worked as one of the people collecting this second tier of taxes.

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 He was one of the men that was so crooked, that was making up whatever numbers he wanted to make up in order to charge people as they came through and passed his booth.

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 Now, these men were hated for two main reasons.

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 The first reason, obviously, is that they were crooked.

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 They charged excessive amounts of tax.

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 They charged more than they had to charge.

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 There were no posted amounts, so they could literally charge you whatever it was that they wanted to charge you in that moment.

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 And they were doing that in order that they could pocket the excess.

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 But there was a second reason and a cause for a deeper hatred.

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 It wasn't just that they were crooked.

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 It was that they were traitors.

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 These were Jewish men.

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 They weren't Romans.

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 These franchises weren't owned by the Romans.

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 They were owned by Jews.

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 These people were the ultimate traitors.

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 Not only were they crooked, but they were robbing their own people in order to benefit the Roman occupiers.

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 They were absolutely despised.

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 Jesus not only showed kindness to Matthew, but he did something extreme.

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 He called Matthew to be one of his own disciples.

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 And he called them in the same way that he called the good Jewish boys, Peter and Andrew and James and John.

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 He said, follow me.

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 Follow me is the call issued to every person that would receive salvation and become a disciple of Christ.

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 That's the call.

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 It's an authoritative command.

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 It demands a response to leave everything behind in order to follow Jesus in faith.

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 This wasn't just a, hey, Matthew, follow me for a little while.

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 I want to talk to you.

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 That's not what this is.

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 This is, no, Matthew, leave everything behind and follow me.

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 Believe me.

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 Be my disciple now.

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 This is the call of salvation.

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 And it demands a response from each and every one of us.

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 Jesus, through his word, says, follow me.

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 And what he intends for that to mean is leave everything behind in order to follow me in faith and in discipleship.

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 Matthew, impacted by the love of Jesus and the gospel message that he no doubt had heard Jesus preach at this point,

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 left his lucrative career behind, and immediately obeyed the call.

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 It's amazing, actually.

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 This story doesn't fill in all those other gaps for us.

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 We don't know when he first heard the gospel message.

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 We don't know what, I mean, everybody knew who Jesus was in Capernaum at this point.

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 He probably has taxed Jesus at some point.

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 He knows who he is.

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 He's impacted by his love.

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 He's heard the gospel message.

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 And now Jesus has issued the call.

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 And Luke tells us in his account, Luke 5, 28, he adds in the phrase,

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 and leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

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 Only Jesus has the power to affect such a radical change.

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 Matthew, the one that everybody hated, would eventually be used by God to write the most comprehensive of all the gospel books.

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 Think about that.

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 At this point in his life, nobody likes Matthew.

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 And the friends that he has, everybody hates them too.

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 Nobody wants Matthew.

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 But Jesus shows kindness and love and he calls him and extends grace and extends mercy.

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 And what does he do with his life?

00:15:54.479 --> 00:15:57.799
 He trains him and he teaches him and then he empowers him by his spirit.

00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:03.519
 So now he's used him to write the most comprehensive gospel about the life and the ministry of Jesus.

00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:05.120
 That's who Levi is.

00:16:05.199 --> 00:16:06.279
 That's how God used him.

00:16:06.319 --> 00:16:07.359
 The one that nobody wanted.

00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:14.879
 Church tradition tells us that Matthew's apostolic commission was to the country of Ethiopia.

00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:21.560
 And in AD 60, as he was faithful to the gospel, faithfully preaching Jesus,

00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:24.759
 some of the people in Ethiopia that didn't appreciate it,

00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:28.759
 they pinned him to the ground with four spears and beheaded him.

00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:30.940
 This man that nobody wanted.

00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:34.500
 Jesus affected such a radical change in his life

00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:38.320
 that he literally gave his life up to the last breath,

00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:40.179
 preaching Jesus.

00:16:40.580 --> 00:16:44.899
 So impacted was he by the love of Christ in this moment.

00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:49.679
 So impacted by the gospel message that he literally gave his life to preach it.

00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:52.379
 Only Jesus can affect that kind of change.

00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:54.659
 And he can affect that kind of change in your life.

00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.299
 It doesn't matter who you are.

00:16:57.299 --> 00:17:01.340
 It doesn't matter what characterizes you at this point in your life.

00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:04.319
 Everybody would have had a label for Matthew,

00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:06.079
 and everybody's probably got a label for you.

00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:08.019
 Jesus doesn't care about the label.

00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:12.559
 He can do a change in you that no one else would even want to see exist in you.

00:17:12.860 --> 00:17:14.360
 That's his love for sinners.

00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:17.299
 And he extended that call to Matthew.

00:17:17.600 --> 00:17:18.819
 He extends it to you today.

00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:23.340
 The stunning nature of this call

00:17:23.340 --> 00:17:26.559
 is that obviously it was issued to a man

00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:29.019
 that everyone despised.

00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:33.940
 The Jews, honestly, and probably Peter and Andrew and James and John

00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:35.079
 would have fit this at this point.

00:17:35.900 --> 00:17:38.639
 They would have been fine for Matthew to die in his sins.

00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:41.259
 That wouldn't have bothered them.

00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:44.980
 Not Jesus.

00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:50.480
 He's willing to save and use the worst of us.

00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:52.400
 Can I ask you, when you see people,

00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:56.580
 you notice that their life is so wicked,

00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:59.960
 that it is so against everything that you are

00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:01.040
 and everything that you believe

00:18:01.040 --> 00:18:02.540
 and everything that you stand for.

00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:06.720
 Would you be satisfied for them to die in their sins?

00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:10.740
 Or would you have a heart

00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:13.660
 that would hope that God would once again

00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:17.180
 show his grace to save and use

00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:20.640
 even who you would characterize as the worst of us?

00:18:21.900 --> 00:18:23.539
 So we see Jesus' heart here.

00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:26.600
 But there's something else we see here in this verse.

00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:27.779
 And I'm going to move on from here.

00:18:27.820 --> 00:18:29.039
 But there's something else we see here.

00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:29.880
 It's amazing.

00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:33.799
 We see Jesus' heart for Matthew.

00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:36.119
 But then we begin to see

00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:40.319
 the formation of this new covenant community

00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:42.579
 that Jesus was establishing.

00:18:43.399 --> 00:18:44.659
 We call it the church.

00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:47.819
 What was the church meant to be?

00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:50.099
 Jesus is showing us here

00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:53.559
 people from all different backgrounds,

00:18:54.379 --> 00:18:57.379
 people with all kinds of different sins,

00:18:58.440 --> 00:19:01.599
 coming together in love and unity

00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:04.839
 in a common faith in Jesus Christ.

00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:07.439
 That's what the church is.

00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:12.179
 We have gotten used to

00:19:12.179 --> 00:19:15.459
 an homogenous form of religion

00:19:15.459 --> 00:19:17.819
 that says I can only worship

00:19:17.819 --> 00:19:19.279
 with those who are like me.

00:19:20.659 --> 00:19:24.159
 We ignore the commonality that we have

00:19:24.159 --> 00:19:25.639
 in the grace of Jesus

00:19:25.639 --> 00:19:27.399
 and in the faith in Jesus Christ.

00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:30.179
 And we look for those who are just like me.

00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:33.080
 But what is Jesus doing here?

00:19:33.340 --> 00:19:34.480
 Think about this for a second.

00:19:35.560 --> 00:19:37.340
 Where was Matthew's tax booth?

00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:39.900
 It was on the Sea of Galilee in Capernaum

00:19:39.900 --> 00:19:41.500
 by the big promenade.

00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:45.080
 Jesus only has four disciples at this point.

00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:48.120
 Peter, Andrew, James, and John.

00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:51.019
 All four of them professional fishermen

00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:52.560
 in Capernaum.

00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:55.019
 They knew Matthew.

00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:58.619
 They'd probably been robbed by Matthew.

00:19:59.339 --> 00:20:01.000
 Knowing Peter's personality,

00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:02.799
 there's probably been some conflict

00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.879
 between he and Matthew.

00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:07.759
 All they had up to this point

00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:09.960
 in this relationship was hate.

00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:11.619
 They were enemies.

00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:14.180
 And what is Jesus doing

00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:16.319
 with these four fishermen in tow?

00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:18.059
 He stops by the tax booth

00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:19.619
 and he looks at the man that they hate

00:20:19.619 --> 00:20:21.400
 maybe more than anybody else in Capernaum.

00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:23.680
 And he says, hey, follow me.

00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:25.280
 Follow me.

00:20:25.820 --> 00:20:26.620
 Follow me.

00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:28.460
 Same call I gave to these four guys.

00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:30.040
 Same call I'm giving to you.

00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:31.660
 And he starts to bring together

00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:33.620
 these people that hated each other.

00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:35.120
 And now we start to see

00:20:35.120 --> 00:20:36.920
 this formation of the church come.

00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:38.880
 These people from different viewpoints.

00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:40.759
 These people from different backgrounds.

00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:43.100
 All united together in love

00:20:43.100 --> 00:20:45.860
 and in a common face with Jesus Christ.

00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:47.960
 That is the gospel

00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:49.580
 and that is the church.

00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:52.039
 That's what we're to be.

00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:55.480
 Later on in chapter three,

00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:58.059
 Mark's going to give us a whole list

00:20:58.059 --> 00:20:59.980
 of Jesus's 12 disciples.

00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:02.480
 And there's another person in there.

00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.299
 His name's Simon.

00:21:03.379 --> 00:21:04.960
 And the designation that's given to him

00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:06.119
 is the zealot.

00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:09.439
 Which means he was a part of an extremist group.

00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:11.339
 He was the alt-right group in Israel.

00:21:11.919 --> 00:21:13.759
 He was a part of an extremist group

00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:15.439
 that hated Rome and hated anybody

00:21:15.439 --> 00:21:17.399
 that affiliated with Rome in any way.

00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:21.740
 Only Jesus can take a man like Matthew

00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:24.160
 and a man like Simon the zealot

00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:26.300
 and bring them together in friendship

00:21:26.300 --> 00:21:27.720
 and love and unity.

00:21:27.900 --> 00:21:30.040
 And it wasn't about them finding common ground

00:21:30.040 --> 00:21:34.220
 in anything except for faith in Jesus Christ.

00:21:34.360 --> 00:21:36.440
 Because those who follow Christ,

00:21:36.860 --> 00:21:39.420
 those who heed the call to follow me,

00:21:39.800 --> 00:21:42.140
 God does this work of transformation

00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:45.320
 and he puts his own spirit in them

00:21:45.320 --> 00:21:47.020
 so that they don't look at other believers

00:21:47.020 --> 00:21:48.280
 for what they used to be.

00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:49.660
 They don't look at other believers

00:21:49.660 --> 00:21:51.220
 for the differences that they have.

00:21:51.340 --> 00:21:52.660
 They look at other believers

00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:54.480
 for the fact that they are believers

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:57.020
 and we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

00:21:58.060 --> 00:21:59.580
 Only Jesus can do that.

00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:03.140
 And even in this call of Matthew,

00:22:03.140 --> 00:22:06.440
 we see Jesus's desire for that.

00:22:07.040 --> 00:22:08.980
 What he desires for the church to be.

00:22:09.320 --> 00:22:11.000
 What he desires for our church to be.

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:13.440
 And so he's calling disciples.

00:22:13.640 --> 00:22:15.180
 He's accommodating crowds.

00:22:15.380 --> 00:22:18.859
 And then we see he's befriending sinners.

00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:21.539
 He's befriending sinners.

00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:23.480
 Look at verse 15.

00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:26.920
 It came to pass,

00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:30.599
 as Jesus sat at meat in his house,

00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.579
 Matthew's house,

00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:34.059
 many publicans and sinners

00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:36.599
 sat also together with Jesus

00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:38.099
 and his disciples.

00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:41.839
 Sometime after this call,

00:22:41.959 --> 00:22:43.939
 after Matthew began following Jesus,

00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:46.799
 he invited Jesus and the other disciples

00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:48.740
 at the time to his house for dinner.

00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:52.919
 Luke 529 describes it as a great feast

00:22:52.919 --> 00:22:55.759
 held in Jesus's honor.

00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:58.799
 And as they were holding this feast,

00:22:59.339 --> 00:23:02.939
 Matthew invited many of his own friends to come.

00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:05.179
 There's something significant here.

00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:09.140
 We've talked over and over about Jesus's healing works.

00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:10.640
 When Jesus healed the leper,

00:23:10.860 --> 00:23:12.460
 he was immediately healed of his disease.

00:23:13.100 --> 00:23:14.279
 When he healed the paralytic,

00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:16.360
 he immediately got up and walked.

00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:18.299
 When he healed Peter's mother-in-law,

00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:20.140
 immediately the fever left her

00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:21.960
 and she was good as new.

00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:25.420
 The same way that Jesus's healing works

00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:27.180
 provide an immediate healing,

00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:31.880
 so does his transformational work in salvation

00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:34.940
 cause an immediate transformation.

00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:36.900
 How do we see that in Matthew's life?

00:23:37.520 --> 00:23:39.280
 Already, immediately,

00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:43.980
 he is beginning to pattern his own missional intent

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:46.880
 after what he had experienced and witnessed in Jesus.

00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:49.600
 He wanted others to meet Jesus.

00:23:50.600 --> 00:23:53.820
 And Jesus was especially desirous in this passage

00:23:53.820 --> 00:23:55.620
 to meet Matthew's friends.

00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:58.519
 And we're told that this dinner

00:23:58.519 --> 00:24:01.619
 was with an entire group of social outcasts.

00:24:03.219 --> 00:24:05.119
 Publican, that is what Matthew was.

00:24:05.219 --> 00:24:07.719
 And so some of the people that had gathered with him that day

00:24:07.719 --> 00:24:11.519
 were just other people that were just as hated as he was.

00:24:11.899 --> 00:24:12.859
 Just other publicans.

00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:16.879
 But this term sinner is not just a generic form

00:24:16.879 --> 00:24:18.079
 for people that sin.

00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:21.939
 It's a specific technical term that was used

00:24:21.939 --> 00:24:24.079
 to describe those mainly

00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:28.079
 who ignored the scribal traditions of the day.

00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:31.460
 This is why the Pharisees considered Jesus to be a sinner.

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:33.819
 Not because he violated the law of God,

00:24:33.899 --> 00:24:35.679
 but because he violated the law of man.

00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:37.399
 He violated their law.

00:24:38.399 --> 00:24:39.919
 And so they had put this designation.

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:41.919
 Now that doesn't mean that these people weren't really sinners.

00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:45.460
 In fact, it probably included social pariahs

00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:49.600
 like prostitutes, drunks, thieves, other known criminals.

00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:51.500
 This is the collection of people

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:53.380
 that Matthew has brought together

00:24:53.380 --> 00:24:57.420
 and that Jesus willingly and openly befriended.

00:24:59.059 --> 00:25:00.500
 They were the type of sinners

00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:02.460
 that didn't mind to flaunt their sin.

00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:06.279
 They made no attempts at hiding their wickedness.

00:25:06.860 --> 00:25:07.880
 We know those people.

00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:09.059
 They're everywhere.

00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:10.740
 They're everywhere around us.

00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:13.220
 They are empowered by our culture these days.

00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:17.259
 These were the people Matthew wanted to meet Jesus.

00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:20.980
 These are the people Jesus wanted to spend his time with.

00:25:22.100 --> 00:25:27.180
 In fact, according to Matthew 11, 19 and Luke 7, 34,

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:30.200
 it was this part of Jesus's ministry

00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:34.019
 that earned him the designation of friend of sinners,

00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:36.559
 friend of publicans and sinners.

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:38.960
 It was meant as an insult by the religious elite.

00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:40.960
 That wasn't a good thing in their minds.

00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:43.660
 They gave him that name, friend of sinners.

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:48.539
 He befriended them for the purpose of saving them.

00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:52.180
 He loved those deemed unlovable.

00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:56.900
 He saved those deemed unsavable.

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:57.759
 Why?

00:25:58.360 --> 00:25:59.980
 Because that's the heart of Christ.

00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:02.340
 That's his heart.

00:26:03.840 --> 00:26:05.299
 Dane Ortlund in that book I gave you

00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:07.819
 on our anniversary Sunday,

00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:09.319
 he said this in that book,

00:26:09.319 --> 00:26:10.700
 time and time again,

00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:15.240
 it is the morally disgusting and socially reviled,

00:26:15.439 --> 00:26:17.659
 the inexcusable and undeserving

00:26:17.659 --> 00:26:20.139
 who do not simply receive Christ's mercy,

00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:24.759
 but to whom Christ most naturally gravitates.

00:26:25.139 --> 00:26:27.139
 He is by his enemy's testimony,

00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:28.759
 the friend of sinners.

00:26:28.859 --> 00:26:29.779
 Think about that statement.

00:26:30.099 --> 00:26:31.639
 It's such an awesome statement.

00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:33.919
 They not only received his mercy,

00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:36.819
 these were the people Jesus gravitated to.

00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:39.559
 This is who he spent his time with.

00:26:41.379 --> 00:26:42.339
 It's amazing.

00:26:42.919 --> 00:26:45.419
 We get this idea of Jesus because we know he's holy.

00:26:45.679 --> 00:26:47.059
 We know his holiness of God.

00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:48.480
 We know his judgment and his justice.

00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:51.419
 We get this idea sometimes that when Jesus saves somebody,

00:26:51.779 --> 00:26:53.379
 he tries not to get too close.

00:26:53.659 --> 00:26:55.379
 He kind of pinches his nose so he doesn't have to smell

00:26:55.379 --> 00:26:56.879
 and maybe closes his eyes

00:26:56.879 --> 00:26:58.099
 and he just keeps his distance

00:26:58.099 --> 00:27:00.839
 and he touches them and then he moves away.

00:27:01.919 --> 00:27:04.079
 And we get this idea that Jesus doesn't really want us,

00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:05.859
 but maybe there's some kind of obligation there

00:27:05.859 --> 00:27:08.299
 that because we responded in some way to a service

00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:09.759
 or we said a particular prayer

00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:11.819
 that he reluctantly comes to us

00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:13.460
 and he kind of does his work for us

00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:14.559
 and then he backs away

00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:15.659
 because he doesn't want to get too close.

00:27:15.899 --> 00:27:17.279
 We get this idea of Jesus that way.

00:27:17.419 --> 00:27:18.960
 That is not who Jesus was.

00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:21.220
 That's not at all who Jesus was.

00:27:21.439 --> 00:27:24.299
 Not only did he want to give his mercy to these people,

00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:26.379
 he gravitated to these people.

00:27:26.619 --> 00:27:30.279
 These are the people that ultimately gained him the designation.

00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:32.720
 Yeah, Jesus, he's a friend of sinners.

00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:36.160
 That's who he associates with.

00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:38.539
 He never condoned their sin.

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:41.000
 He never participated in their sin,

00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:43.119
 but he loved and befriended the people

00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:44.079
 that nobody else wanted.

00:27:44.680 --> 00:27:46.379
 He loved and befriended the people

00:27:46.379 --> 00:27:49.700
 that everyone else criticized him for loving.

00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:51.839
 And what was the result?

00:27:52.180 --> 00:27:53.079
 Look at the end of the verse.

00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:56.579
 There were many of them and they followed him.

00:27:56.579 --> 00:28:00.899
 There were many of them and they followed him.

00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:05.759
 Many of the people at Matthew's house became believers.

00:28:06.399 --> 00:28:07.659
 How wonderful.

00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:09.720
 How wonderful.

00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:11.679
 Think about that for a moment.

00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:18.259
 We assume that because Jesus healed so many people,

00:28:19.379 --> 00:28:22.439
 that in Galilee, in this space of three years,

00:28:23.139 --> 00:28:25.579
 Galilee especially, maybe even parts of Judea,

00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:31.859
 that disease and illness was practically eradicated by Jesus

00:28:31.859 --> 00:28:35.539
 because he heals everyone he comes by.

00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:38.419
 We see this ministry over and over.

00:28:38.639 --> 00:28:41.000
 Now think about how this relates in a spiritual sense.

00:28:42.059 --> 00:28:45.519
 At this point in Galilee, perhaps organized crime

00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:48.399
 is beginning to be eradicated from Galilee.

00:28:48.939 --> 00:28:49.319
 Why?

00:28:49.919 --> 00:28:52.359
 Because Jesus loved and associated with sinners

00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:54.539
 in order that he could preach his gospel to them

00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.920
 and he saved them.

00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:57.339
 He saved them.

00:28:58.079 --> 00:28:59.879
 He did the work that no one else could do.

00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:04.700
 Social reforms will never really truly be effective.

00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:09.240
 They can't be because they don't get at the heart of the problem.

00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:12.039
 But imagine the transformation

00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:15.519
 that God could introduce into the world

00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:19.440
 if the church actually loved the unlovable,

00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:21.799
 reached the unreachable,

00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:24.980
 and intentionally befriended those

00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:26.980
 who are otherwise despised.

00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:29.480
 Not by the world's standards,

00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:31.079
 but by the church's standards.

00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:35.079
 This was the heart of Christ,

00:29:35.299 --> 00:29:37.579
 which means it should be the heart of his people.

00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:44.619
 Now it's us that tries not to get too close.

00:29:46.399 --> 00:29:49.019
 It's us that tries to hold our nose

00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:50.059
 and hold our breath

00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:52.019
 when we hand them that invitation

00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:53.319
 or whatever it is that we're doing.

00:29:54.059 --> 00:29:55.439
 It's not what Jesus did.

00:29:57.119 --> 00:29:58.980
 And so we see he befriend sinners.

00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:02.579
 Finally, we see that he confronted self-righteousness.

00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:05.099
 He confronted self-righteousness.

00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:07.980
 Look at verse 16.

00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:11.019
 When the scribes and the Pharisees

00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:13.159
 saw him eat with publicans and sinners,

00:30:13.619 --> 00:30:15.559
 they said unto his disciples,

00:30:15.959 --> 00:30:18.939
 why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?

00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:19.980
 This blew their mind.

00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:22.079
 This did not make sense.

00:30:24.159 --> 00:30:26.299
 And so we see in these conflicts now

00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:29.699
 a contrast constantly

00:30:29.699 --> 00:30:32.759
 between the heart of Christ,

00:30:33.359 --> 00:30:34.919
 the ministry of Christ,

00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:37.240
 and then the heart and the ministry

00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:39.859
 of the religious elite of the day.

00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:42.759
 And what Mark is doing here

00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:44.919
 and what Matthew and Luke do as well

00:30:44.919 --> 00:30:46.459
 as they're telling this story,

00:30:46.959 --> 00:30:48.399
 they are designating,

00:30:48.519 --> 00:30:50.079
 they're drawing a clear line,

00:30:50.159 --> 00:30:51.159
 the differences between

00:30:51.159 --> 00:30:52.619
 who Jesus is and what he's doing

00:30:52.619 --> 00:30:54.039
 and who the Pharisees and scribes are

00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:54.819
 and what they're doing.

00:30:55.939 --> 00:30:57.419
 And so Jesus confronts it,

00:30:57.480 --> 00:30:59.000
 but not at first.

00:30:59.399 --> 00:31:00.839
 They confronted Jesus

00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:02.240
 or at least Jesus' disciples.

00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:04.500
 They couldn't believe that he was so

00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:06.799
 willingly and openly associating

00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:07.480
 with these people.

00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:10.299
 And this is partly why they grew to hate him.

00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:13.460
 He loved the people that they despised.

00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:16.359
 He embraced the people that they condemned.

00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:19.240
 And though most of them wouldn't admit it,

00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:23.960
 they knew there was some kind of significance to Jesus.

00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:25.440
 There was no denying that.

00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:27.140
 They witnessed his healing power.

00:31:27.900 --> 00:31:29.779
 They heard the authority in his teaching.

00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:31.700
 There's no way to miss that.

00:31:32.940 --> 00:31:34.259
 They would have never admitted that,

00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:34.839
 most of them.

00:31:35.059 --> 00:31:35.660
 Some of them did.

00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.660
 Some of them became believers.

00:31:36.940 --> 00:31:38.480
 Most of them wouldn't have even admitted that.

00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:40.680
 What they would have loved for Jesus to have done

00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:42.039
 because they knew the significance

00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:42.940
 that truly existed

00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:44.480
 is that he would praise them

00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:45.500
 for their moral efforts,

00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:46.740
 but Jesus never did that.

00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:48.339
 Instead, Jesus spent his time

00:31:48.339 --> 00:31:50.039
 with all the people that they condemned

00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:51.579
 and they grew to hate him.

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:54.240
 This was the point that Jesus was making

00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:55.900
 about the brother

00:31:55.900 --> 00:31:58.380
 in the parable of the prodigal son.

00:31:59.019 --> 00:32:00.120
 Luke chapter 15.

00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:02.000
 It was all about self-righteousness.

00:32:02.420 --> 00:32:04.519
 There's this brother who refused

00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:08.039
 to celebrate with the family and the friends

00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:09.980
 after his brother had come home.

00:32:10.359 --> 00:32:13.279
 He represented the scribes and the Pharisees.

00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:15.200
 Though externally moral,

00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:18.620
 they ultimately rejected the father.

00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:23.279
 These men were isolationist at heart.

00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:24.700
 That's who they were.

00:32:26.340 --> 00:32:29.000
 The term Pharisee actually literally means separatist

00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:32.440
 and separatist in every extent

00:32:32.440 --> 00:32:33.960
 is not a bad thing,

00:32:34.080 --> 00:32:36.120
 but they took this to the extreme.

00:32:37.100 --> 00:32:38.840
 It's one thing to live in holiness.

00:32:39.080 --> 00:32:41.600
 It's another thing to self-righteously snub

00:32:41.600 --> 00:32:43.039
 everybody that you've determined

00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:44.859
 is not as holy as you are.

00:32:45.899 --> 00:32:47.460
 That's what they were guilty of doing.

00:32:48.119 --> 00:32:49.559
 To have a meal with somebody

00:32:49.559 --> 00:32:51.139
 just like today in that day

00:32:51.139 --> 00:32:52.720
 was a sign of friendship.

00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:54.859
 It was a sign of acceptance and approval.

00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:58.299
 These men would have never been willing

00:32:58.299 --> 00:32:59.500
 to stoop so low

00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:01.819
 as to show that kind of kindness

00:33:01.819 --> 00:33:02.559
 and friendship

00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:04.220
 to this kind of people.

00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:06.880
 And unfortunately,

00:33:07.400 --> 00:33:09.200
 many Christians

00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:11.120
 have adopted that way of thinking.

00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:15.460
 I was convicted by something I read.

00:33:15.600 --> 00:33:16.660
 Kent Hughes wrote this

00:33:16.660 --> 00:33:18.480
 about this passage.

00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:20.079
 This is what he said.

00:33:21.079 --> 00:33:22.299
 We come to Christ

00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:24.259
 and in our desire to be godly,

00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:26.240
 we seek out people like us.

00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:27.920
 Ultimately,

00:33:28.140 --> 00:33:29.240
 we arrange our lives

00:33:29.240 --> 00:33:30.700
 so that we are with non-believers

00:33:30.700 --> 00:33:31.920
 as little as possible.

00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:34.660
 We attend Bible studies

00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:36.000
 that are 100% Christian.

00:33:36.500 --> 00:33:37.440
 A Sunday school

00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:39.200
 that is 100% Christian.

00:33:39.640 --> 00:33:40.440
 Prayer meetings

00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:42.099
 that are 100% Christian.

00:33:42.380 --> 00:33:43.500
 None of those bad things

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.220
 in and of themselves.

00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:46.500
 But we play tennis with Christians.

00:33:46.859 --> 00:33:48.059
 We eat dinner with Christians.

00:33:48.420 --> 00:33:49.599
 We have Christian doctors,

00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:50.920
 Christian dentists,

00:33:51.319 --> 00:33:52.140
 Christian plumbers,

00:33:52.620 --> 00:33:53.059
 Christian veterinarians.

00:33:53.059 --> 00:33:54.980
 The result is

00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:56.359
 we pass by hundreds

00:33:56.359 --> 00:33:58.179
 without ever noticing them

00:33:58.179 --> 00:34:00.179
 or positively influencing them

00:34:00.179 --> 00:34:00.940
 for Christ.

00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:02.480
 And then he says,

00:34:03.240 --> 00:34:04.259
 none of us

00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:06.599
 are Pharisees philosophically,

00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:09.860
 but we may be practically.

00:34:12.599 --> 00:34:14.639
 I was convicted by that actually.

00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:19.799
 None of us would say

00:34:19.799 --> 00:34:22.259
 that we have the philosophy

00:34:22.260 --> 00:34:23.260
 that the Pharisees have.

00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:24.620
 None of us would actually admit that.

00:34:24.700 --> 00:34:25.580
 None of us would ever say

00:34:25.580 --> 00:34:26.500
 or even want that

00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:27.520
 to be true of us.

00:34:28.060 --> 00:34:28.800
 But in the way

00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:30.300
 that we actually live our lives,

00:34:30.900 --> 00:34:32.440
 we're practical Pharisees.

00:34:34.180 --> 00:34:35.700
 We don't really want anything

00:34:35.700 --> 00:34:37.420
 to do with the outside world.

00:34:37.900 --> 00:34:39.140
 We're so fearful

00:34:39.140 --> 00:34:40.680
 of the outside world.

00:34:40.760 --> 00:34:41.420
 We're afraid

00:34:41.420 --> 00:34:42.600
 that if we go to dinner

00:34:42.600 --> 00:34:43.400
 with a co-worker

00:34:43.400 --> 00:34:44.280
 who's not a believer

00:34:44.280 --> 00:34:44.960
 that all of a sudden

00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:45.820
 we're going to be tainted

00:34:45.820 --> 00:34:47.040
 and now we're going to fall

00:34:47.040 --> 00:34:48.200
 into the slippery slope

00:34:48.200 --> 00:34:49.460
 of idolatry ourselves.

00:34:50.740 --> 00:34:52.040
 And we're so scared.

00:34:52.260 --> 00:34:54.800
 And we end up running

00:34:54.800 --> 00:34:55.780
 from the very purpose

00:34:55.780 --> 00:34:56.760
 that God has left us

00:34:56.760 --> 00:34:57.360
 on this earth.

00:34:59.220 --> 00:35:01.000
 The necessity of fellowship

00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:02.300
 within Christianity

00:35:02.300 --> 00:35:03.520
 and within the church

00:35:03.520 --> 00:35:05.620
 cannot be overstated.

00:35:06.200 --> 00:35:07.520
 We talk about that all the time.

00:35:08.700 --> 00:35:09.980
 Your involvement

00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:11.240
 with your church family

00:35:11.240 --> 00:35:13.400
 and the family of believers

00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:15.540
 that you have covenanted with

00:35:15.540 --> 00:35:17.300
 is invaluable.

00:35:17.980 --> 00:35:18.600
 You need it.

00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:20.699
 You should desire it.

00:35:22.920 --> 00:35:25.039
 But we must intentionally

00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:26.739
 engage in mission

00:35:26.739 --> 00:35:28.639
 with those outside of the church.

00:35:29.079 --> 00:35:30.059
 We have to.

00:35:33.279 --> 00:35:34.539
 We need to have dinner

00:35:34.539 --> 00:35:35.259
 with co-workers.

00:35:36.339 --> 00:35:38.299
 We need to invite our neighbors over

00:35:38.299 --> 00:35:39.339
 for coffee.

00:35:40.179 --> 00:35:41.500
 We need to volunteer

00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:42.360
 in the community.

00:35:42.360 --> 00:35:44.519
 We need to do anything

00:35:44.519 --> 00:35:45.200
 we can

00:35:45.200 --> 00:35:47.180
 to have a positive impact

00:35:47.180 --> 00:35:48.140
 for the gospel

00:35:48.140 --> 00:35:49.920
 on the people around us.

00:35:50.039 --> 00:35:51.360
 And we can't do that

00:35:51.360 --> 00:35:52.940
 when we hole up in our houses,

00:35:53.360 --> 00:35:55.780
 when we only associate

00:35:55.780 --> 00:35:57.539
 with those who are just like us.

00:35:57.900 --> 00:35:58.720
 Can't do that.

00:36:00.099 --> 00:36:00.579
 Instead,

00:36:01.140 --> 00:36:03.579
 we end up condemning the sick

00:36:03.579 --> 00:36:04.579
 for being sick.

00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:07.559
 But why don't we just help them?

00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:12.319
 The unfortunate thing

00:36:12.319 --> 00:36:13.639
 is that this type

00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:14.960
 of self-righteousness

00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:16.599
 has a way of even creeping

00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:17.980
 its way into the church.

00:36:19.539 --> 00:36:21.539
 The same isolationism

00:36:21.539 --> 00:36:22.539
 that causes us

00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:23.559
 to have no contact

00:36:23.559 --> 00:36:25.139
 at all with the outside world

00:36:25.139 --> 00:36:27.039
 eventually finds its way

00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:27.779
 into our involvement

00:36:27.779 --> 00:36:29.199
 even within the church body.

00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:34.099
 When Jesus called Matthew,

00:36:34.699 --> 00:36:35.099
 remember,

00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:37.219
 he was promoting a love

00:36:37.219 --> 00:36:37.879
 and a unity

00:36:37.879 --> 00:36:38.559
 among those

00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:40.179
 who were formerly enemies.

00:36:40.679 --> 00:36:42.059
 That's what he was doing.

00:36:43.639 --> 00:36:45.059
 But when we embrace

00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:45.939
 the pattern set

00:36:45.939 --> 00:36:47.279
 by scribes and Pharisees,

00:36:47.319 --> 00:36:48.500
 even if it's just practically,

00:36:49.219 --> 00:36:50.500
 what we foster

00:36:50.500 --> 00:36:52.039
 is an environment

00:36:52.039 --> 00:36:53.339
 of judgmentalism

00:36:53.339 --> 00:36:54.699
 and criticism

00:36:54.699 --> 00:36:56.199
 and suspicion

00:36:56.199 --> 00:36:59.179
 rather than

00:36:59.179 --> 00:37:01.919
 committing to

00:37:01.919 --> 00:37:02.799
 and loving

00:37:02.799 --> 00:37:04.799
 and unifying with

00:37:04.799 --> 00:37:06.259
 a church body

00:37:06.259 --> 00:37:08.419
 that is faithful

00:37:08.419 --> 00:37:09.219
 to the gospel,

00:37:09.719 --> 00:37:11.940
 we end up floating around

00:37:11.940 --> 00:37:13.199
 from body to body,

00:37:13.899 --> 00:37:14.519
 church to church,

00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:16.419
 always finding something wrong,

00:37:17.279 --> 00:37:18.839
 always finding something

00:37:18.839 --> 00:37:20.000
 to be suspicious about,

00:37:20.440 --> 00:37:22.059
 always finding a reason

00:37:22.059 --> 00:37:22.719
 to separate

00:37:22.719 --> 00:37:23.619
 and isolate

00:37:23.619 --> 00:37:24.699
 once again.

00:37:25.980 --> 00:37:27.259
 We would never say

00:37:27.259 --> 00:37:27.899
 that's our goal.

00:37:29.179 --> 00:37:29.799
 But it's inevitably

00:37:29.799 --> 00:37:30.799
 what we do.

00:37:32.980 --> 00:37:34.239
 But Jesus confronted them.

00:37:35.019 --> 00:37:36.000
 Look at verse 17.

00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:38.319
 When Jesus heard it,

00:37:38.339 --> 00:37:39.199
 he said unto them,

00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:41.319
 they that are whole

00:37:41.319 --> 00:37:42.059
 have no need

00:37:42.059 --> 00:37:42.799
 for a physician,

00:37:43.799 --> 00:37:44.980
 but they that are sick.

00:37:45.919 --> 00:37:46.859
 I came not to call

00:37:46.859 --> 00:37:47.299
 the righteous,

00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:48.039
 but sinners

00:37:48.039 --> 00:37:49.339
 to repentance.

00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:52.859
 The scribes and Pharisees,

00:37:52.980 --> 00:37:53.960
 either they were unwilling

00:37:53.960 --> 00:37:55.219
 or they were unable

00:37:55.219 --> 00:37:56.440
 to actually confront

00:37:56.440 --> 00:37:57.399
 Jesus themselves.

00:37:57.400 --> 00:37:58.260
 So they confronted

00:37:58.260 --> 00:37:59.619
 his disciples instead.

00:38:00.680 --> 00:38:01.500
 It could be here

00:38:01.500 --> 00:38:03.139
 that the disciples

00:38:03.139 --> 00:38:04.059
 didn't really know

00:38:04.059 --> 00:38:04.780
 how to answer.

00:38:05.619 --> 00:38:07.079
 This is new to them too.

00:38:08.800 --> 00:38:09.639
 They're probably

00:38:09.639 --> 00:38:10.559
 just as confused

00:38:10.559 --> 00:38:11.680
 as the Pharisees are

00:38:11.680 --> 00:38:12.320
 to an extent.

00:38:12.880 --> 00:38:14.340
 And though they trusted Jesus,

00:38:14.539 --> 00:38:15.320
 they may have had

00:38:15.320 --> 00:38:16.240
 difficulty

00:38:16.240 --> 00:38:18.200
 articulating a response

00:38:18.200 --> 00:38:18.880
 to these men

00:38:18.880 --> 00:38:20.360
 as to why they

00:38:20.360 --> 00:38:20.860
 and Jesus

00:38:20.860 --> 00:38:21.780
 were actually having

00:38:21.780 --> 00:38:22.400
 dinner with prostitutes

00:38:22.400 --> 00:38:22.960
 prostitutes

00:38:22.960 --> 00:38:23.680
 and thieves

00:38:23.680 --> 00:38:24.639
 and thugs.

00:38:26.639 --> 00:38:27.800
 Jesus overhears

00:38:27.800 --> 00:38:28.599
 the conversation

00:38:28.599 --> 00:38:30.260
 and he steps in

00:38:30.260 --> 00:38:30.960
 and he responds.

00:38:31.079 --> 00:38:31.599
 And the response

00:38:31.599 --> 00:38:32.220
 that he gives

00:38:32.220 --> 00:38:33.260
 has really two elements

00:38:33.260 --> 00:38:33.900
 to it, I think.

00:38:33.980 --> 00:38:35.660
 There's a common sense element

00:38:35.660 --> 00:38:37.099
 and then there's just

00:38:37.099 --> 00:38:38.240
 a piercing truth

00:38:38.240 --> 00:38:39.220
 that he gives here.

00:38:39.519 --> 00:38:40.300
 Something he's doing

00:38:40.300 --> 00:38:40.980
 to try to pierce

00:38:40.980 --> 00:38:42.039
 the heart of these Pharisees.

00:38:42.619 --> 00:38:43.599
 The first part

00:38:43.599 --> 00:38:44.840
 is a proverbial statement

00:38:44.840 --> 00:38:45.800
 of common sense.

00:38:46.320 --> 00:38:46.980
 Look at it again.

00:38:47.059 --> 00:38:47.639
 Verse 17.

00:38:48.159 --> 00:38:49.099
 They that are whole

00:38:49.099 --> 00:38:50.239
 have no need

00:38:50.239 --> 00:38:50.940
 of a physician

00:38:50.940 --> 00:38:52.519
 but they that are sick.

00:38:53.219 --> 00:38:54.359
 That just makes sense, right?

00:38:55.239 --> 00:38:56.339
 The doctor doesn't come

00:38:56.339 --> 00:38:57.679
 rushing to the well people.

00:38:58.480 --> 00:38:59.819
 The doctor comes rushing

00:38:59.819 --> 00:39:00.679
 to those who are in

00:39:00.679 --> 00:39:01.779
 immediate need

00:39:01.779 --> 00:39:02.659
 of medical attention.

00:39:03.199 --> 00:39:04.379
 It's a simple illustration

00:39:04.379 --> 00:39:05.219
 Jesus is giving.

00:39:05.480 --> 00:39:06.599
 It just made sense.

00:39:07.119 --> 00:39:07.879
 Their question was

00:39:07.879 --> 00:39:08.779
 why would he associate

00:39:08.779 --> 00:39:09.379
 with sinners?

00:39:09.579 --> 00:39:10.659
 And the common sense answer

00:39:10.659 --> 00:39:12.199
 is because they needed him.

00:39:12.579 --> 00:39:13.839
 Because they needed help.

00:39:14.739 --> 00:39:15.920
 Why wouldn't he rush

00:39:15.920 --> 00:39:17.379
 to meet their obvious need?

00:39:18.179 --> 00:39:19.359
 It's what the Pharisees

00:39:19.359 --> 00:39:19.980
 and the scribes

00:39:19.980 --> 00:39:21.039
 should have been doing themselves.

00:39:21.199 --> 00:39:22.259
 It's what the church

00:39:22.259 --> 00:39:23.619
 should be doing.

00:39:23.839 --> 00:39:25.279
 It only makes sense.

00:39:26.619 --> 00:39:28.039
 But then the second part

00:39:28.039 --> 00:39:29.339
 involved this piercing truth.

00:39:29.420 --> 00:39:30.139
 He's trying to pierce

00:39:30.139 --> 00:39:31.119
 the heart of these Pharisees.

00:39:31.339 --> 00:39:32.059
 And he says

00:39:32.059 --> 00:39:33.119
 this isn't an illustration.

00:39:33.299 --> 00:39:34.179
 He just plainly says

00:39:34.179 --> 00:39:35.639
 I didn't come to call

00:39:35.639 --> 00:39:36.139
 the righteous.

00:39:36.599 --> 00:39:38.639
 I came to call sinners.

00:39:39.819 --> 00:39:41.500
 Now when Jesus said this

00:39:41.500 --> 00:39:43.480
 he wasn't insinuating

00:39:43.480 --> 00:39:44.339
 that the scribes

00:39:44.339 --> 00:39:44.879
 and Pharisees

00:39:44.879 --> 00:39:45.819
 were without sin.

00:39:46.059 --> 00:39:47.219
 That's not what he was saying.

00:39:47.639 --> 00:39:48.879
 We all have sin.

00:39:50.480 --> 00:39:51.319
 The Pharisees

00:39:51.319 --> 00:39:51.940
 and the scribes

00:39:51.940 --> 00:39:53.159
 just refused to acknowledge

00:39:53.159 --> 00:39:54.000
 that they had sin

00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:54.980
 that needed to be forgiven.

00:39:56.379 --> 00:39:57.779
 They had no need for Jesus.

00:39:59.119 --> 00:40:00.819
 There was no denying that

00:40:00.819 --> 00:40:01.779
 on the part of the sinners.

00:40:01.900 --> 00:40:02.219
 In fact

00:40:02.219 --> 00:40:02.900
 there was probably

00:40:02.900 --> 00:40:03.699
 even some of them

00:40:03.699 --> 00:40:04.179
 in the hardness

00:40:04.179 --> 00:40:04.839
 of their heart

00:40:04.839 --> 00:40:06.400
 that flaunted the fact

00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:07.480
 that they were full of sin.

00:40:09.480 --> 00:40:10.619
 Pharisees are very different.

00:40:11.619 --> 00:40:12.920
 In a spiritual sense

00:40:12.920 --> 00:40:15.159
 the sinners

00:40:15.159 --> 00:40:16.159
 and the publicans

00:40:16.159 --> 00:40:17.920
 were bleeding

00:40:17.920 --> 00:40:19.420
 and lacerated

00:40:19.420 --> 00:40:20.260
 and broken.

00:40:21.000 --> 00:40:22.079
 They could have rejected

00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:22.559
 the help

00:40:22.559 --> 00:40:23.519
 and some of them did.

00:40:24.559 --> 00:40:25.820
 But there was no denying

00:40:25.820 --> 00:40:26.340
 the need.

00:40:27.599 --> 00:40:28.740
 There was no denying

00:40:28.740 --> 00:40:29.619
 on the sinners part

00:40:29.619 --> 00:40:30.599
 that they needed Christ

00:40:30.599 --> 00:40:31.539
 that they needed forgiveness.

00:40:32.159 --> 00:40:33.320
 But the Pharisees

00:40:33.320 --> 00:40:33.680
 were

00:40:33.680 --> 00:40:35.500
 looked well

00:40:35.500 --> 00:40:36.139
 on the outside.

00:40:36.280 --> 00:40:37.079
 All their externals

00:40:37.079 --> 00:40:38.220
 is what they needed to be.

00:40:39.039 --> 00:40:40.619
 But there was a sinful cancer

00:40:40.619 --> 00:40:41.359
 eating them up

00:40:41.359 --> 00:40:42.059
 on the inside.

00:40:43.139 --> 00:40:44.039
 And they refused

00:40:44.039 --> 00:40:44.839
 to acknowledge it.

00:40:45.159 --> 00:40:46.399
 And what Jesus is saying

00:40:46.399 --> 00:40:47.339
 is that

00:40:47.339 --> 00:40:48.099
 for those

00:40:48.099 --> 00:40:49.339
 that will not acknowledge

00:40:49.339 --> 00:40:50.919
 their own sinfulness

00:40:50.919 --> 00:40:51.659
 and their own need

00:40:51.659 --> 00:40:52.179
 for forgiveness

00:40:52.179 --> 00:40:53.259
 I've got nothing to say.

00:40:54.699 --> 00:40:55.739
 But for these people

00:40:55.739 --> 00:40:56.219
 over here

00:40:56.219 --> 00:40:57.379
 that are full of sin

00:40:57.379 --> 00:40:58.219
 there's no denying it

00:40:58.219 --> 00:40:58.739
 they know it.

00:40:59.000 --> 00:40:59.799
 Those are the people

00:40:59.799 --> 00:41:01.099
 that I'm calling.

00:41:02.399 --> 00:41:03.279
 It's just clear.

00:41:03.980 --> 00:41:04.559
 What was Jesus

00:41:04.559 --> 00:41:05.059
 trying to do

00:41:05.059 --> 00:41:05.699
 with that statement?

00:41:06.980 --> 00:41:07.919
 He's trying to remind

00:41:07.919 --> 00:41:08.199
 the family

00:41:08.199 --> 00:41:08.719
 Pharisees

00:41:08.719 --> 00:41:09.960
 that you need this too.

00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:12.179
 But until you admit it

00:41:12.179 --> 00:41:12.759
 I can't do anything

00:41:12.759 --> 00:41:13.299
 for you.

00:41:14.839 --> 00:41:15.599
 What are we supposed

00:41:15.599 --> 00:41:16.719
 to learn from all of this?

00:41:19.559 --> 00:41:20.679
 First thing is this.

00:41:22.419 --> 00:41:23.579
 There is no one

00:41:23.579 --> 00:41:24.319
 beyond the reach

00:41:24.319 --> 00:41:25.779
 of Jesus' love and grace.

00:41:26.619 --> 00:41:27.319
 No one.

00:41:30.119 --> 00:41:31.000
 How encouraging

00:41:31.000 --> 00:41:31.919
 is that to know?

00:41:35.199 --> 00:41:36.119
 His love for you

00:41:36.119 --> 00:41:37.579
 is not based on performance.

00:41:37.579 --> 00:41:40.819
 There's no sin

00:41:40.819 --> 00:41:41.519
 too great

00:41:41.519 --> 00:41:42.340
 for him to forgive.

00:41:42.980 --> 00:41:44.340
 There's no outcast

00:41:44.340 --> 00:41:45.440
 too far

00:41:45.440 --> 00:41:46.460
 gone.

00:41:46.900 --> 00:41:48.119
 There's no sinner

00:41:48.119 --> 00:41:49.319
 that he's unwilling

00:41:49.319 --> 00:41:49.860
 to love.

00:41:50.599 --> 00:41:51.779
 The truth is

00:41:51.779 --> 00:41:53.420
 if you will repent

00:41:53.420 --> 00:41:55.219
 and believe

00:41:55.219 --> 00:41:56.259
 like Matthew

00:41:56.259 --> 00:41:57.139
 and his friends did

00:41:57.139 --> 00:41:59.279
 Jesus will forgive you.

00:41:59.940 --> 00:42:00.880
 He will give you

00:42:00.880 --> 00:42:01.679
 eternal life.

00:42:01.679 --> 00:42:04.699
 He will turn you away.

00:42:05.339 --> 00:42:05.980
 There's yet to be

00:42:05.980 --> 00:42:06.659
 one person

00:42:06.659 --> 00:42:07.940
 that he's ever

00:42:07.940 --> 00:42:08.539
 turned away

00:42:08.539 --> 00:42:09.899
 who came to him

00:42:09.899 --> 00:42:10.779
 in faith and repentance.

00:42:11.199 --> 00:42:12.199
 It's never happened.

00:42:12.460 --> 00:42:13.039
 It never will.

00:42:13.359 --> 00:42:13.839
 It doesn't matter

00:42:13.839 --> 00:42:14.919
 what characterizes you

00:42:14.919 --> 00:42:15.839
 at this point in your life.

00:42:17.299 --> 00:42:17.779
 It doesn't matter

00:42:17.779 --> 00:42:18.379
 who you are.

00:42:18.779 --> 00:42:19.139
 It doesn't matter

00:42:19.139 --> 00:42:19.679
 what you've done.

00:42:20.319 --> 00:42:21.099
 That's the grace

00:42:21.099 --> 00:42:21.460
 of Jesus.

00:42:21.599 --> 00:42:22.059
 That's his heart

00:42:22.059 --> 00:42:22.460
 for you.

00:42:24.139 --> 00:42:24.819
 But there's

00:42:24.819 --> 00:42:26.139
 a lesson here,

00:42:26.199 --> 00:42:27.199
 a missional lesson

00:42:27.199 --> 00:42:28.539
 for believers,

00:42:28.679 --> 00:42:29.519
 for us as a church.

00:42:29.519 --> 00:42:33.280
 God's always

00:42:33.280 --> 00:42:34.400
 working in us

00:42:34.400 --> 00:42:36.079
 to make us

00:42:36.079 --> 00:42:37.019
 more like Christ.

00:42:37.820 --> 00:42:38.400
 It's this

00:42:38.400 --> 00:42:39.639
 sanctifying process.

00:42:40.739 --> 00:42:41.679
 If this was

00:42:41.679 --> 00:42:42.579
 Jesus' heart

00:42:42.579 --> 00:42:43.860
 to save sinners

00:42:43.860 --> 00:42:44.840
 and it is

00:42:44.840 --> 00:42:45.400
 his heart,

00:42:45.940 --> 00:42:48.039
 then it will be

00:42:48.039 --> 00:42:48.400
 the heart

00:42:48.400 --> 00:42:49.219
 of true believers

00:42:49.219 --> 00:42:50.699
 to reach sinners

00:42:50.699 --> 00:42:51.340
 with the gospel.

00:42:54.360 --> 00:42:55.639
 He set a clear

00:42:55.639 --> 00:42:56.739
 pattern for us here.

00:42:57.719 --> 00:42:58.159
 Love,

00:42:58.159 --> 00:43:00.339
 and a pattern

00:43:00.339 --> 00:43:01.879
 to actually reach

00:43:01.879 --> 00:43:02.500
 those who need

00:43:02.500 --> 00:43:03.099
 to be reached.

00:43:05.000 --> 00:43:05.799
 The pattern

00:43:05.799 --> 00:43:06.500
 is that we are

00:43:06.500 --> 00:43:07.379
 neither to be

00:43:07.379 --> 00:43:08.980
 isolated from

00:43:08.980 --> 00:43:11.359
 nor are we

00:43:11.359 --> 00:43:12.779
 to be assimilated

00:43:12.779 --> 00:43:13.219
 with.

00:43:13.299 --> 00:43:13.759
 We're not to be

00:43:13.759 --> 00:43:14.339
 like them,

00:43:14.839 --> 00:43:16.960
 but we are

00:43:16.960 --> 00:43:17.639
 to intentionally

00:43:17.639 --> 00:43:18.819
 engage in mission

00:43:18.819 --> 00:43:20.259
 with the lost

00:43:20.259 --> 00:43:20.960
 around us.

00:43:23.779 --> 00:43:24.899
 In John 17,

00:43:25.139 --> 00:43:25.859
 Jesus had this

00:43:25.859 --> 00:43:26.839
 high priestly prayer

00:43:26.840 --> 00:43:27.660
 for his disciples.

00:43:27.820 --> 00:43:28.160
 Do you remember

00:43:28.160 --> 00:43:28.640
 what he said

00:43:28.640 --> 00:43:29.140
 at the end?

00:43:31.760 --> 00:43:32.360
 He's praying

00:43:32.360 --> 00:43:32.900
 to the Father

00:43:32.900 --> 00:43:33.300
 and he says,

00:43:33.380 --> 00:43:33.860
 I don't pray

00:43:33.860 --> 00:43:34.400
 that you take

00:43:34.400 --> 00:43:35.140
 them out of the world.

00:43:36.100 --> 00:43:36.820
 I don't want you

00:43:36.820 --> 00:43:37.519
 to remove them.

00:43:38.380 --> 00:43:39.059
 I don't want you

00:43:39.059 --> 00:43:40.039
 to isolate them.

00:43:41.720 --> 00:43:42.340
 He says,

00:43:42.420 --> 00:43:43.500
 but what I pray

00:43:43.500 --> 00:43:44.039
 for the Father

00:43:44.039 --> 00:43:44.500
 to do

00:43:44.500 --> 00:43:45.980
 is to guard

00:43:45.980 --> 00:43:46.360
 them from

00:43:46.360 --> 00:43:47.140
 the evil one

00:43:47.140 --> 00:43:49.360
 and to sanctify

00:43:49.360 --> 00:43:50.140
 them in truth.

00:43:50.340 --> 00:43:50.840
 And then he says,

00:43:51.180 --> 00:43:52.039
 thy word is truth.

00:43:52.500 --> 00:43:53.120
 So what is

00:43:53.120 --> 00:43:53.900
 Jesus' heart

00:43:53.900 --> 00:43:54.720
 for his church now?

00:43:54.719 --> 00:43:55.159
 How are we

00:43:55.159 --> 00:43:55.719
 to balance

00:43:55.719 --> 00:43:56.439
 this tension

00:43:56.439 --> 00:43:57.980
 between identifying

00:43:57.980 --> 00:43:59.559
 with sinfulness

00:43:59.559 --> 00:44:00.059
 in the world

00:44:00.059 --> 00:44:00.799
 but actually

00:44:00.799 --> 00:44:01.799
 trying to

00:44:01.799 --> 00:44:03.259
 intentionally reach

00:44:03.259 --> 00:44:04.079
 the lost

00:44:04.079 --> 00:44:05.119
 and befriend those

00:44:05.119 --> 00:44:05.559
 the way that

00:44:05.559 --> 00:44:06.579
 Jesus befriended them?

00:44:06.839 --> 00:44:07.480
 It's in Jesus'

00:44:07.699 --> 00:44:07.980
 prayer.

00:44:08.839 --> 00:44:09.379
 He doesn't want

00:44:09.379 --> 00:44:10.019
 us to isolate

00:44:10.019 --> 00:44:11.259
 and of course

00:44:11.259 --> 00:44:11.779
 he doesn't want

00:44:11.779 --> 00:44:12.539
 us to assimilate.

00:44:12.659 --> 00:44:12.980
 He doesn't want

00:44:12.980 --> 00:44:13.559
 us to adopt

00:44:13.559 --> 00:44:14.099
 their ideas

00:44:14.099 --> 00:44:14.579
 and adopt

00:44:14.579 --> 00:44:15.079
 their sins

00:44:15.079 --> 00:44:15.439
 and adopt

00:44:15.439 --> 00:44:16.019
 their philosophies.

00:44:16.179 --> 00:44:16.619
 That's not what

00:44:16.619 --> 00:44:17.079
 he wants either.

00:44:17.239 --> 00:44:17.919
 He didn't do that.

00:44:19.099 --> 00:44:19.759
 But he wants

00:44:19.759 --> 00:44:20.579
 us to befriend them

00:44:20.579 --> 00:44:21.420
 and his prayer

00:44:21.420 --> 00:44:22.079
 is that

00:44:22.079 --> 00:44:23.139
 God

00:44:23.139 --> 00:44:24.940
 through the power

00:44:24.940 --> 00:44:25.500
 of the spirit

00:44:25.500 --> 00:44:27.440
 will guard us

00:44:27.440 --> 00:44:28.360
 from the evil one

00:44:28.360 --> 00:44:30.799
 that he will help

00:44:30.799 --> 00:44:32.199
 us not to fall

00:44:32.199 --> 00:44:32.819
 into sin

00:44:32.819 --> 00:44:34.539
 and that he would

00:44:34.539 --> 00:44:35.639
 then sanctify us

00:44:35.639 --> 00:44:36.440
 in his truth

00:44:36.440 --> 00:44:36.940
 which means

00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:38.440
 as we are going

00:44:38.440 --> 00:44:39.299
 to the world

00:44:39.299 --> 00:44:40.039
 as we are

00:44:40.039 --> 00:44:40.920
 befriending the world

00:44:40.920 --> 00:44:42.539
 an absolute necessity

00:44:42.539 --> 00:44:43.440
 to guard

00:44:43.440 --> 00:44:44.659
 is to lean

00:44:44.659 --> 00:44:45.179
 into the power

00:44:45.179 --> 00:44:45.679
 of the spirit

00:44:45.679 --> 00:44:46.500
 and the sanctifying

00:44:46.500 --> 00:44:47.239
 power of God.

00:44:47.500 --> 00:44:48.360
 How do we do that?

00:44:48.539 --> 00:44:49.360
 Through the word.

00:44:49.360 --> 00:44:50.760
 Through the word.

00:44:51.500 --> 00:44:52.579
 Daily in the word.

00:44:53.240 --> 00:44:54.380
 Weekly in worship.

00:44:54.900 --> 00:44:55.820
 Immersing ourselves

00:44:55.820 --> 00:44:56.620
 in God's truth

00:44:56.620 --> 00:44:57.640
 so that the power

00:44:57.640 --> 00:44:58.480
 of the Holy Spirit

00:44:58.480 --> 00:44:59.460
 will continue

00:44:59.460 --> 00:45:00.559
 this sanctifying work

00:45:00.559 --> 00:45:01.860
 and he will guard

00:45:01.860 --> 00:45:02.940
 us in those moments

00:45:02.940 --> 00:45:03.720
 to help prevent us

00:45:03.720 --> 00:45:04.180
 from falling

00:45:04.180 --> 00:45:04.920
 into that sin.

00:45:05.099 --> 00:45:05.860
 That was Jesus'

00:45:06.099 --> 00:45:06.440
 prayer.

00:45:07.320 --> 00:45:08.120
 Not for us

00:45:08.120 --> 00:45:08.640
 to isolate

00:45:08.640 --> 00:45:10.240
 but to engage

00:45:10.240 --> 00:45:11.480
 and to engage

00:45:11.480 --> 00:45:12.220
 in the right way.

00:45:13.599 --> 00:45:14.280
 Remember in

00:45:14.280 --> 00:45:15.079
 Matthew 5

00:45:15.079 --> 00:45:17.120
 Jesus says

00:45:17.120 --> 00:45:17.620
 that we are

00:45:17.620 --> 00:45:18.519
 the light of the world

00:45:18.519 --> 00:45:20.780
 but what good

00:45:20.780 --> 00:45:21.480
 is a lamp

00:45:21.480 --> 00:45:23.860
 that's ignited

00:45:23.860 --> 00:45:24.759
 in a room

00:45:24.759 --> 00:45:25.619
 that's already lit?

00:45:26.079 --> 00:45:27.119
 There's no impact there.

00:45:28.880 --> 00:45:30.119
 But what can happen

00:45:30.119 --> 00:45:30.920
 when that lamp

00:45:30.920 --> 00:45:32.059
 that light of the gospel

00:45:32.059 --> 00:45:33.159
 is taken to darkness?

00:45:33.360 --> 00:45:34.139
 It has massive

00:45:34.139 --> 00:45:35.280
 impact.

00:45:36.739 --> 00:45:37.759
 This Christian life

00:45:37.759 --> 00:45:38.920
 is not just meant

00:45:38.920 --> 00:45:39.960
 for us to be together.

00:45:40.559 --> 00:45:41.500
 It's also meant

00:45:41.500 --> 00:45:42.400
 for us to scatter

00:45:42.400 --> 00:45:43.500
 on mission

00:45:43.500 --> 00:45:44.759
 the way that Jesus

00:45:44.759 --> 00:45:46.179
 was on mission.

00:45:46.179 --> 00:45:47.139
 The way that he sent

00:45:47.139 --> 00:45:48.219
 his disciples

00:45:48.219 --> 00:45:49.219
 on mission.

00:45:49.420 --> 00:45:50.400
 Not just the 12

00:45:50.400 --> 00:45:50.719
 either.

00:45:51.159 --> 00:45:52.159
 He sent the 72.

00:45:55.779 --> 00:45:56.839
 What kind of gospel

00:45:56.839 --> 00:45:58.199
 impact can we have

00:45:58.199 --> 00:46:00.379
 if instead of waiting

00:46:00.379 --> 00:46:01.079
 for the community

00:46:01.079 --> 00:46:01.759
 to come to us

00:46:01.759 --> 00:46:02.559
 we went to them?

00:46:04.359 --> 00:46:05.559
 What if we stopped

00:46:05.559 --> 00:46:06.359
 looking at all

00:46:06.359 --> 00:46:06.900
 the people

00:46:06.900 --> 00:46:08.699
 who are different

00:46:08.699 --> 00:46:09.179
 than us

00:46:09.179 --> 00:46:09.900
 and who are involved

00:46:09.900 --> 00:46:10.920
 in gross sins even?

00:46:12.079 --> 00:46:13.039
 What if we stopped

00:46:13.039 --> 00:46:13.659
 condemning them

00:46:13.659 --> 00:46:14.539
 for being sick

00:46:14.539 --> 00:46:16.139
 and actually went

00:46:16.139 --> 00:46:16.639
 to them

00:46:16.639 --> 00:46:18.320
 and loved them

00:46:18.320 --> 00:46:19.779
 and befriended them

00:46:19.779 --> 00:46:21.239
 in order that we

00:46:21.239 --> 00:46:21.900
 could help them

00:46:21.900 --> 00:46:23.279
 and share the gospel?

00:46:25.559 --> 00:46:26.480
 Jesus was the

00:46:26.480 --> 00:46:27.119
 friend of sinners.

00:46:29.920 --> 00:46:30.940
 The grace that

00:46:30.940 --> 00:46:31.920
 we have experienced

00:46:31.920 --> 00:46:33.699
 is because he's

00:46:33.699 --> 00:46:34.440
 the friend of sinners.

00:46:36.539 --> 00:46:37.539
 What about us?

00:46:39.500 --> 00:46:40.420
 I think we can be

00:46:40.420 --> 00:46:41.300
 friends of sinners too.

00:46:41.300 --> 00:46:57.280
 We better

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00:46:57.280 --> 00:46:57.980
 for better

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