WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.839 The scripture reading comes from Matthew chapter 15. Please follow along on the screen, the bulletin, or your own Bible. 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:11.300 Starting in verse 21, we read, 00:00:12.439 --> 00:00:18.000 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 00:00:18.660 --> 00:00:24.199 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:30.939 Have mercy on me, O Lord, son of David. My daughter is severely oppressed by a demon. 00:00:32.019 --> 00:00:34.799 But he did not answer her a word. 00:00:35.719 --> 00:00:41.859 And his disciple came and begged him, saying, Send her away, for she is crying out after us. 00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:48.679 He answered, I was sent only to the lost ship of the house of Israel. 00:00:48.679 --> 00:00:54.799 But she came and knelt before him, saying, Lord, help me. 00:00:55.759 --> 00:01:02.740 And he answered, It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:10.420 And she said, Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table. 00:01:10.420 --> 00:01:16.000 Then Jesus answered her, O woman, great is your faith. 00:01:16.599 --> 00:01:19.120 Be it be done for you as you desire. 00:01:19.780 --> 00:01:21.820 And her daughter was healed instantly. 00:01:23.019 --> 00:01:27.340 Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. 00:01:27.700 --> 00:01:31.079 And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. 00:01:31.079 --> 00:01:58.299 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 00:01:58.299 --> 00:02:05.700 I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. 00:02:06.379 --> 00:02:11.259 I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way. 00:02:11.939 --> 00:02:13.840 And the disciples said to him, 00:02:14.460 --> 00:02:19.579 Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd? 00:02:20.379 --> 00:02:22.159 And Jesus said to them, 00:02:22.479 --> 00:02:24.259 How many loaves do you have? 00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:27.759 They said, Seven and a few small fish. 00:02:28.300 --> 00:02:30.880 And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 00:02:31.320 --> 00:02:33.540 he took the seven loaves and the fish. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:37.400 And having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples. 00:02:38.140 --> 00:02:40.280 And the disciples gave them to the crowds. 00:02:40.840 --> 00:02:43.080 And they all ate and were satisfied. 00:02:43.820 --> 00:02:48.020 And they took up seven baskets full of broken pieces left over. 00:02:48.260 --> 00:02:55.120 Those who ate were four thousand men besides women and children. 00:02:55.120 --> 00:02:58.020 And after sending away the crowds, 00:02:58.599 --> 00:03:01.780 he got into the boat and went to the region of Megadon. 00:03:02.439 --> 00:03:03.860 This is the word of God. 00:03:03.860 --> 00:03:12.060 All right. 00:03:12.320 --> 00:03:14.420 Well, a very good morning. 00:03:15.220 --> 00:03:15.780 Good morning. 00:03:15.780 --> 00:03:16.300 I think... 00:03:16.300 --> 00:03:18.320 It's so great to... 00:03:18.320 --> 00:03:19.580 People who say good morning back. 00:03:19.660 --> 00:03:20.120 That's wonderful. 00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:27.219 I'm a wonderful church family as well. 00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:28.240 But it's great to be here. 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:28.939 What a privilege. 00:03:29.379 --> 00:03:31.180 What a privilege to be bringing God's word. 00:03:31.460 --> 00:03:33.020 To be bringing you Jesus. 00:03:33.580 --> 00:03:34.500 I hope you can hear me. 00:03:34.860 --> 00:03:35.800 Yeah, I'm Dutch. 00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:37.439 Hence the funny accent. 00:03:37.580 --> 00:03:39.300 But I trust you'll get used to me. 00:03:40.140 --> 00:03:40.620 But... 00:03:40.620 --> 00:03:41.840 All right. 00:03:41.860 --> 00:03:43.099 For the coming 35 minutes. 00:03:43.099 --> 00:03:44.099 But... 00:03:44.099 --> 00:03:47.180 Why don't we pray for God to help us understand. 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:53.539 Our Father, thank you for your word. 00:03:53.699 --> 00:03:55.519 Thank you that we can gather here. 00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:57.319 We can hear you speak. 00:03:57.400 --> 00:03:59.959 We can hear you speak about Jesus and how wonderful he is. 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:00.939 His love. 00:04:01.019 --> 00:04:01.500 His grace. 00:04:02.379 --> 00:04:04.400 We pray that you would speak to each of our hearts. 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:06.439 Now in this moment. 00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:07.519 In Jesus' name. 00:04:08.219 --> 00:04:08.560 Amen. 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:08.639 Amen. 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:14.039 Well, it's great to see so many things happening here. 00:04:14.139 --> 00:04:17.939 I was kind of surprised that I didn't even hear any Christmas announcement yet. 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:20.120 I don't know if you've been around Hong Kong. 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:22.819 The Christmas trees are up, right? 00:04:22.919 --> 00:04:24.879 As soon as Halloween is over, then... 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:27.079 You know, here is the Christmas trees. 00:04:27.500 --> 00:04:30.099 I was in Disneyland earlier this week. 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:30.479 And yeah. 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:31.620 Christmas tree. 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:32.779 Because Christmas is coming. 00:04:32.779 --> 00:04:35.120 And that's a great time for Advent. 00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:36.339 For our own hearts. 00:04:36.339 --> 00:04:39.779 It's also a great time for inviting people. 00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:42.319 So I don't know if you're going to have carol services here. 00:04:42.579 --> 00:04:44.599 And you know, making it special. 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:47.259 We've got a candlelight service at our church. 00:04:47.699 --> 00:04:50.039 Just a great time to invite people. 00:04:50.139 --> 00:04:51.500 To come and hear about Jesus. 00:04:53.379 --> 00:04:54.759 Now I was just going to ask you. 00:04:54.899 --> 00:04:56.479 Who are you planning to invite? 00:04:59.579 --> 00:05:02.399 Maybe, you know, someone you've been having conversations with. 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:03.799 Someone you've been praying about. 00:05:03.979 --> 00:05:06.019 Someone you've been building some friendship with. 00:05:06.339 --> 00:05:09.179 And that person. 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:10.879 How much are they like you? 00:05:11.899 --> 00:05:12.919 And how much are they different? 00:05:14.579 --> 00:05:18.359 Because my guess is, usually we invite people who are really like us. 00:05:19.019 --> 00:05:19.139 Right? 00:05:19.239 --> 00:05:20.679 And some of that is just obvious. 00:05:20.679 --> 00:05:22.399 Because that's the relationships we have. 00:05:22.479 --> 00:05:22.579 Right? 00:05:22.620 --> 00:05:23.399 If you're a lawyer. 00:05:23.699 --> 00:05:25.019 You work in a lawyer's office. 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:26.259 And you meet lots of lawyers. 00:05:26.799 --> 00:05:28.339 And so my guess is your colleagues are lawyers. 00:05:28.579 --> 00:05:30.779 You're going to ask lawyers to come to the service here. 00:05:30.779 --> 00:05:32.859 Maybe you're a student. 00:05:33.059 --> 00:05:34.319 And you invite fellow students. 00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:35.399 And you're a stay-at-home mom. 00:05:35.459 --> 00:05:36.759 And you invite stay-at-home moms. 00:05:37.559 --> 00:05:37.719 Right? 00:05:38.139 --> 00:05:39.500 That's usually how it works. 00:05:41.379 --> 00:05:45.359 And yet, we can have to be so focused on that. 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:46.619 That we sometimes miss. 00:05:46.699 --> 00:05:49.459 Actually, there's a lot of other people here in Hong Kong. 00:05:49.459 --> 00:05:54.219 And actually, God may be doing something there that we don't notice. 00:05:54.359 --> 00:05:57.899 Because so often we just look for the people like us. 00:05:57.939 --> 00:05:58.779 The people around us. 00:05:58.839 --> 00:06:02.539 I mean, it's a great thing to reach to those who are in your office. 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:03.000 Right? 00:06:03.060 --> 00:06:04.240 That's often what we do. 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:05.139 God has put us there. 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:06.199 He wants to use us there. 00:06:07.259 --> 00:06:12.120 And yet, today, I think this passage is there to open our eyes to everyone else. 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:13.879 To all the people. 00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:16.000 And all the people's need for Jesus. 00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:17.240 And Jesus' love for them. 00:06:17.819 --> 00:06:19.399 That's where I want to go today. 00:06:19.540 --> 00:06:20.879 Now, it's a wonderful passage. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:22.480 Of course, great miracles. 00:06:22.860 --> 00:06:24.180 I won't focus on those. 00:06:24.759 --> 00:06:25.959 We've seen Jesus' power. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:28.319 It's also a passage with a lot of depth. 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:32.280 And so, I'm going to try and unwrap it slowly, bit by bit. 00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:34.399 So that we can see what God is saying. 00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:36.259 And why this is such a powerful message. 00:06:36.899 --> 00:06:39.240 But of course, on the surface, it's very clear what's happening. 00:06:39.379 --> 00:06:39.459 Right? 00:06:39.459 --> 00:06:42.299 We see that Jesus really loves Gentiles. 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:43.779 Jesus loves Gentiles. 00:06:43.859 --> 00:06:48.739 Now, when I say Gentiles, most of you will know, back then, you had the Jews. 00:06:48.899 --> 00:06:49.739 They were God's people. 00:06:49.899 --> 00:06:51.579 And then the Gentiles was everyone else. 00:06:51.959 --> 00:06:52.939 The rest of the world. 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:54.959 Had Jews and Gentiles. 00:06:55.199 --> 00:06:57.859 And of course, Jesus, he is a Jew. 00:06:58.139 --> 00:06:59.120 The Jew is Messiah. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:01.379 How about the rest of the world? 00:07:01.500 --> 00:07:03.560 Well, here is Jesus. 00:07:04.139 --> 00:07:05.819 And so, where is Jesus going today? 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:07.240 He, well, verse 21. 00:07:07.240 --> 00:07:13.019 Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:15.699 Again, that's outside Israel. 00:07:15.840 --> 00:07:17.480 So, you're going to a Gentile area. 00:07:17.620 --> 00:07:20.079 Maybe just to have a break from the Pharisees. 00:07:20.180 --> 00:07:20.319 Right? 00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:23.480 If you were here last week, they keep nagging him about everything. 00:07:23.660 --> 00:07:26.540 And he just goes out there. 00:07:26.759 --> 00:07:29.040 But if he wanted a break, he doesn't get it. 00:07:29.620 --> 00:07:30.379 Verse 22. 00:07:30.379 --> 00:07:36.139 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying. 00:07:36.860 --> 00:07:39.379 Have mercy on me, O Lord, son of David. 00:07:39.800 --> 00:07:43.279 My daughter is severely oppressed by a demon. 00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:45.399 Hey, you can imagine. 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:46.680 Here's this loving mother. 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:50.259 And if you're a mother, you care about your children. 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:52.480 And her daughter was severely oppressed. 00:07:52.480 --> 00:07:53.860 And she'd heard about Jesus. 00:07:54.020 --> 00:07:57.000 So, she knew she had to just go to him. 00:07:57.140 --> 00:07:58.860 And she went there and she cried out. 00:07:59.060 --> 00:08:02.920 And, you know, Lord, son of David. 00:08:03.240 --> 00:08:05.240 You know, you are the one. 00:08:05.640 --> 00:08:06.560 Have mercy on me. 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:09.500 But the thing is, she's a Gentile. 00:08:09.700 --> 00:08:09.780 Right? 00:08:10.060 --> 00:08:12.120 This is, it says he's a Canaanite woman. 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:15.759 Canaanites, they didn't really exist anymore. 00:08:15.860 --> 00:08:16.780 It was just her ancestry. 00:08:17.560 --> 00:08:18.819 Maybe you wonder about that. 00:08:18.819 --> 00:08:20.519 I mentioned the Canaanite woman. 00:08:20.659 --> 00:08:22.599 And then someone said, isn't she Syrophoenician? 00:08:22.779 --> 00:08:24.019 Because that's what it says in Mark. 00:08:24.579 --> 00:08:25.699 It's just one is ancestry. 00:08:25.920 --> 00:08:26.860 One is where she was born. 00:08:27.060 --> 00:08:29.439 Like, someone is from Singapore and they're Chinese. 00:08:29.540 --> 00:08:30.180 They're both true. 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:33.299 But, you know, this Canaanite woman. 00:08:33.620 --> 00:08:35.559 And, you know, she is a Gentile. 00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:37.559 And Jews don't mix with Gentiles. 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:37.720 Right? 00:08:38.759 --> 00:08:40.500 So, what is Jesus going to do? 00:08:41.299 --> 00:08:42.720 She has real faith, though. 00:08:42.779 --> 00:08:42.939 Right? 00:08:43.259 --> 00:08:45.779 She really trusts Jesus. 00:08:45.779 --> 00:08:47.319 And she asks for mercy. 00:08:47.320 --> 00:08:50.060 Well, what would you do if you were Jesus? 00:08:51.140 --> 00:08:54.800 The surprising thing is, Jesus seems so resistant. 00:08:54.980 --> 00:08:55.080 Right? 00:08:55.400 --> 00:08:56.980 He didn't answer her a word. 00:08:57.320 --> 00:08:58.300 He just ignored her. 00:08:58.540 --> 00:08:58.620 Right? 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:03.379 And, you know, they go around and they walk around. 00:09:03.520 --> 00:09:05.280 And then she keeps crying out after them. 00:09:05.560 --> 00:09:06.980 And the disciples are just embarrassed. 00:09:07.180 --> 00:09:08.780 You know, please send her away. 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:10.020 You know, heal her daughter. 00:09:10.280 --> 00:09:10.540 And, you know. 00:09:10.539 --> 00:09:12.719 Well, no, no. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:13.899 Jesus says, look. 00:09:14.659 --> 00:09:15.860 I was sent only. 00:09:16.059 --> 00:09:16.839 Verse 24. 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:18.919 To the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:19.839 Right? 00:09:19.939 --> 00:09:20.959 You know, I'm the Messiah. 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:22.240 I'm the king of the Jews. 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:22.779 Right? 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:24.480 I'm sent for Israel. 00:09:24.579 --> 00:09:25.000 Am I not? 00:09:27.179 --> 00:09:28.819 But this woman, she doesn't give up. 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:30.759 Verse 25. 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:32.459 She came and knelt before him. 00:09:32.519 --> 00:09:33.559 Saying, Lord, help me. 00:09:34.120 --> 00:09:34.980 I mean, the word knelt. 00:09:35.079 --> 00:09:36.179 It's the word for worship. 00:09:36.339 --> 00:09:36.459 Right? 00:09:36.460 --> 00:09:37.840 So she came and worshipped him. 00:09:38.060 --> 00:09:39.639 And, Lord, help me. 00:09:41.060 --> 00:09:44.300 You may wonder, why is Jesus so rude here? 00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:44.480 Right? 00:09:44.540 --> 00:09:46.080 This is not the Jesus you know. 00:09:46.820 --> 00:09:48.040 Why is he doing this? 00:09:48.700 --> 00:09:50.800 Now, Jesus definitely knows what he's doing. 00:09:51.700 --> 00:09:55.120 I mean, if he didn't like Gentiles, why would he go to a Gentile area? 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:58.320 Clearly, you know, that's not the thing. 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:00.360 I think he is making us think. 00:10:01.680 --> 00:10:05.019 You know, his readers, Matthew's readers, probably Jewish Christians. 00:10:06.460 --> 00:10:08.120 How resistant are you? 00:10:08.759 --> 00:10:11.460 You know, hey, I'm the king of the Jews. 00:10:11.540 --> 00:10:13.980 But here is a Gentile who really believes in me. 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:14.200 Right? 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:15.080 She really trusts me. 00:10:15.340 --> 00:10:16.180 What should I do? 00:10:16.620 --> 00:10:17.519 It's making us think. 00:10:18.420 --> 00:10:20.040 Because, you know, they're Gentiles. 00:10:20.160 --> 00:10:21.220 And we should have mixed. 00:10:21.340 --> 00:10:21.480 Right? 00:10:21.639 --> 00:10:23.000 They're dogs. 00:10:23.139 --> 00:10:25.000 That's what Jews used to call them. 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:25.519 Dogs. 00:10:26.560 --> 00:10:28.240 Now, I don't know what you think of dogs. 00:10:28.400 --> 00:10:30.360 Here in Hong Kong, people really love dogs. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:30.620 Right? 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:34.100 You see a woman with a pram. 00:10:34.160 --> 00:10:34.840 Oh, nice baby. 00:10:34.840 --> 00:10:36.480 Oh, that's not a pet. 00:10:36.519 --> 00:10:36.660 Okay. 00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:38.360 Right? 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:41.600 But, you know, we think of pets. 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:44.120 They didn't think dogs were nice. 00:10:44.180 --> 00:10:48.660 And I think 2019, the social unrest, most of us know a dog is an insult. 00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:56.100 And so Jesus says, well, look, it's not right to get the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. 00:10:56.840 --> 00:10:57.960 You wouldn't do that. 00:10:58.060 --> 00:10:59.120 I mean, I don't know. 00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:00.860 Now, you remember you're a teenager. 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:03.200 You think of your mom cooking your favorite meal. 00:11:03.820 --> 00:11:05.500 And the kitchen smells so good. 00:11:06.179 --> 00:11:08.480 She brings the plate and she puts it on the ground for the dog. 00:11:09.060 --> 00:11:09.220 Right? 00:11:09.899 --> 00:11:10.560 This is wrong. 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:12.980 The food is for the children and not for the dogs. 00:11:13.580 --> 00:11:14.679 And that's what he says to her. 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:15.519 Look, you don't. 00:11:16.139 --> 00:11:17.000 This is not for you. 00:11:18.060 --> 00:11:19.500 And yet she doesn't give up. 00:11:20.299 --> 00:11:21.779 And she's not offended. 00:11:22.460 --> 00:11:22.759 Yeah. 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:24.659 I'm a dog. 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:25.939 That's what she basically says. 00:11:26.539 --> 00:11:27.059 Yes, Lord. 00:11:27.700 --> 00:11:31.639 Yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall down from their master's table. 00:11:31.779 --> 00:11:33.080 I know I'm a Gentile. 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:34.600 I know I'm not worthy. 00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:35.840 I know I don't deserve it. 00:11:36.340 --> 00:11:37.500 You're the king of the Jews. 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:39.639 I don't need a bread. 00:11:39.700 --> 00:11:40.419 I just need crumbs. 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:42.240 Just heal my daughter, please. 00:11:43.740 --> 00:11:46.299 And then, yeah, Jesus shows his true colors. 00:11:46.860 --> 00:11:47.299 What does he? 00:11:47.419 --> 00:11:48.620 Yeah, he stops messing, right? 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:50.759 Woman, great is your faith. 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:52.500 Let it be done for you. 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:53.899 As you desire. 00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:55.679 And her daughter was healed instantly, right? 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:56.860 Such faith. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:58.019 And yeah, of course. 00:11:58.340 --> 00:11:59.120 He should, right? 00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:01.460 He should heal this woman, this daughter. 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:03.799 Because, you know, he's Jesus. 00:12:04.580 --> 00:12:05.539 And he loves her. 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:08.100 And that's not just a one-off. 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:11.100 You might think, okay, this is, you know, here's a Gentile woman. 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:12.879 That's the exception that proves the rule. 00:12:13.179 --> 00:12:15.360 But actually, this whole passage is about Gentiles. 00:12:16.220 --> 00:12:17.679 I don't know if you can see that, right? 00:12:17.700 --> 00:12:19.480 Because then he goes to a mountain. 00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:24.379 And then this huge crowd comes to him with the lame and the blind and the crippled and the mute. 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:26.300 And he heals them all. 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:28.840 And what do they do at the end? 00:12:29.100 --> 00:12:30.600 Last bit of verse 31. 00:12:31.300 --> 00:12:33.600 And they glorified the God of Israel. 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:36.420 Why does he say that? 00:12:36.899 --> 00:12:37.779 The God of Israel. 00:12:38.940 --> 00:12:41.720 You know, so often Matthew just says, you know, they glorified God. 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:43.580 Why of Israel? 00:12:44.700 --> 00:12:49.540 Well, because it wasn't obvious that that was the God they were doing. 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:51.259 They were Gentiles. 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:58.799 I mean, Mark tells us that explicitly in the same story that, you know, they were in a Gentile area, the east side of the Sea of Galilee. 00:12:58.919 --> 00:13:02.039 But they praised the God of Israel because it wasn't their normal God. 00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:04.939 These people, you know, were Gentiles. 00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:07.819 And now they are praising the true God of Israel. 00:13:08.259 --> 00:13:09.480 And then he feeds them. 00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:12.620 And you get this repeat of the 5,000 with the 4,000. 00:13:13.419 --> 00:13:13.639 Right? 00:13:13.740 --> 00:13:15.080 These are Gentiles. 00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:19.980 Jesus has this amazing ministry with healing and feeding in a Gentile area. 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:22.840 And they come to him and they praise him. 00:13:22.940 --> 00:13:24.160 They praise the true God. 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:25.060 They get healed. 00:13:25.160 --> 00:13:25.860 They get fed. 00:13:26.420 --> 00:13:27.300 Amazing ministry. 00:13:28.900 --> 00:13:31.860 So, yeah, very clearly Jesus loves Gentiles. 00:13:31.940 --> 00:13:32.080 Right? 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:32.540 He does. 00:13:33.620 --> 00:13:35.800 He's a Jewish Messiah, but he came for everyone. 00:13:36.040 --> 00:13:37.540 And I don't know who you are today. 00:13:37.660 --> 00:13:39.240 I haven't met most of you. 00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:39.980 Right? 00:13:40.379 --> 00:13:42.920 Maybe there's Jews here, but I guess most of us are Gentiles. 00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:45.439 You know, clearly Jesus loves you. 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:53.479 And whoever you are, from the executive to the helper, from the Philippines or Chinese or, you know, Jesus loves you. 00:13:53.579 --> 00:13:55.199 And he wants you to come to him. 00:13:55.439 --> 00:13:56.539 Can you imagine, right? 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:59.459 You want Jesus and you come and he says, no, sorry, I'm not for you. 00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:00.979 No, he doesn't. 00:14:01.439 --> 00:14:01.620 Right? 00:14:01.719 --> 00:14:02.979 He loves you. 00:14:05.699 --> 00:14:07.120 But that's only one layer. 00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:09.019 Because the question is why? 00:14:09.139 --> 00:14:11.339 You know, Jesus, okay, Jews and Gentiles. 00:14:11.340 --> 00:14:16.379 But there's a deeper truth underneath that, that this passage is telling us. 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:20.200 Because when you hear Jews and Gentiles, what are you thinking of? 00:14:20.800 --> 00:14:22.320 My guess is you're thinking of geography. 00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:22.759 Right? 00:14:23.040 --> 00:14:25.700 Here is one country and then there's the other countries. 00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:29.240 And then this is the chosen country and these are the non-chosen countries. 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:29.600 Right? 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:31.200 That's how we usually think. 00:14:31.680 --> 00:14:32.780 And it seems a bit arbitrary. 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:37.320 But of course, why were Gentiles a problem? 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:39.760 Oh, because they were defiled. 00:14:40.400 --> 00:14:41.660 They were unclean. 00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:45.580 Defiled in that they were unacceptable to God. 00:14:45.680 --> 00:14:48.060 They were not fit to be in his presence. 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:48.320 Right? 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:52.220 If your clothes are full of mud and you want to go to the country club and they don't let you in. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:52.879 Right? 00:14:53.540 --> 00:14:54.680 They were dirty. 00:14:54.820 --> 00:14:55.040 Why? 00:14:55.160 --> 00:14:57.600 Because they didn't know the true God. 00:14:57.680 --> 00:14:58.580 They worshipped idols. 00:14:59.260 --> 00:15:00.720 They didn't know his law. 00:15:00.900 --> 00:15:03.600 They, you know, they did all kinds of immoral things. 00:15:03.760 --> 00:15:06.120 So, of course, they were not fit for God. 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:07.060 They were unclean. 00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:08.360 And so you had to stay away from them. 00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:09.899 They might contaminate you. 00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:10.740 They were unclean. 00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:12.620 Right? 00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:18.360 But then the question that this passage is asking, well, who is really unclean? 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:20.639 Who is really defiled? 00:15:22.299 --> 00:15:27.419 Because with this woman, actually what Matthew wants to emphasize, he's a Gentile, but she's defiled. 00:15:27.580 --> 00:15:31.779 I mean, Gentiles, yeah, they're already defiled, but he calls her a Canaanite. 00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:36.959 I mean, of course he was born in Syrophoenicia, but why a Canaanite? 00:15:37.839 --> 00:15:39.480 Did you hear the word Canaanite? 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:42.019 And then what's some of the things that come into your mind? 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:43.740 Right? 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:45.139 Anyone? 00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:48.500 No? 00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:52.459 I mean, that's the people who were driven out of the promised land, right? 00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:53.000 Under Joshua. 00:15:53.000 --> 00:16:06.019 You know, you hear Canaanites and you think of Baal worship and you think of fertility cults and you think of temple prostitution and you think of child sacrifice and that kind of things. 00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:06.200 Right? 00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:07.940 That's what you think of when you hear Canaanite. 00:16:08.019 --> 00:16:09.840 You just leave such a bad taste in your mouth. 00:16:10.220 --> 00:16:10.960 A Canaanite. 00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:12.399 From Sidon. 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:16.199 I don't know who's the most famous Sidonian in the Bible. 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:18.019 A woman. 00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:20.139 I wouldn't say famous, infamous. 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:21.639 Jezebel. 00:16:22.459 --> 00:16:23.959 Okay, if you know your Bibles, Jezebel. 00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:25.199 She's from Sidonia, right? 00:16:25.319 --> 00:16:26.480 Canaanite from... 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:33.779 So, this woman, in some ways, Matthew is saying, in some ways she's like the queen of unclean, right? 00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:38.639 She is unclean to the max from her background. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:38.720 Right? 00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:42.019 That's why they were called dogs, right? 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:43.360 Why do you call Gentiles dogs? 00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:44.600 Because dogs were unclean. 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:45.539 They weren't... 00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:47.019 They lived on the streets, right? 00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:48.519 They were dirty. 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:50.100 You wouldn't want them in your house. 00:16:50.199 --> 00:16:51.539 They're unclean. 00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:54.779 And so, Jesus shouldn't help her because she's unclean, right? 00:16:54.819 --> 00:16:55.580 She's defiled. 00:16:58.539 --> 00:17:01.500 But that's why this passage comes after last week's passage. 00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:03.620 Who is really unclean? 00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:06.259 Because I think most of you were here last week. 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:07.119 What did Jesus say? 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:11.439 Well, he had a big dispute with the Pharisees, the religious leaders. 00:17:11.939 --> 00:17:13.759 And the religious leaders, they... 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:15.839 You know, Jesus, you're not washing your hands properly. 00:17:16.339 --> 00:17:19.159 You're not keeping the traditions. 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:22.859 And, you know, so you're getting defiled, right? 00:17:22.979 --> 00:17:24.719 What makes us acceptable to God? 00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:25.679 Well, it's our traditions. 00:17:25.859 --> 00:17:26.759 It's all the things we do. 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:29.439 And Jesus, he blasted that away. 00:17:29.939 --> 00:17:31.739 He said, no, it's about your heart. 00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:34.159 It's about who you are deep inside. 00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:36.539 I had an excellent talk from Ellen. 00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:37.759 It's who you are deep inside. 00:17:37.859 --> 00:17:40.059 That is what makes you defiled, right? 00:17:40.139 --> 00:17:41.240 Verse 17. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:43.440 Here from the screen. 00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:45.779 This is what he said. 00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:50.359 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 00:17:51.139 --> 00:17:56.279 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and that defiles a person. 00:17:56.279 --> 00:18:04.220 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:06.440 These are what defile a person. 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:09.240 But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone. 00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:12.120 What makes someone unclean? 00:18:12.120 --> 00:18:13.079 It's their heart. 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:16.120 And it's not any of those externals, right? 00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:19.079 You can be the most beautiful, shiny person on the outside. 00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:22.059 What do you like on the inside, Jesus said. 00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:29.160 And then these wonderful Pharisees, very religious, inside, full of wickedness and greed and all those things. 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:30.680 Right? 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:33.019 Your heart defiles you. 00:18:33.019 --> 00:18:40.579 But if it's your heart what defiles you, then you see this woman, why would she be unclean? 00:18:41.639 --> 00:18:41.859 Right? 00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:44.000 Because it's suddenly no longer about the outside. 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:46.339 Washing hands doesn't defile anyone. 00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:47.379 Right? 00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:50.139 Jesus had just said, no, no, it's not about the externals. 00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:50.859 It's about the heart. 00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:53.059 And that's the thing here. 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:55.139 Your ethnicity doesn't matter. 00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:56.819 Your background doesn't matter, right? 00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:57.579 It's your heart. 00:18:58.180 --> 00:18:59.480 And not the externals. 00:19:00.099 --> 00:19:01.980 And so in a way, what Jesus has just done. 00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:03.700 It is an explosive statement. 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:06.500 Because this is the biggest division in humanity. 00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:07.960 And Jesus has just erased it. 00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:10.640 It's no longer about where you're from. 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:12.220 It's no longer about your religion. 00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:14.059 It's just about your heart. 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:16.960 It's just about your deep inside. 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:22.360 And that's when, yeah, this woman and the Pharisee. 00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:24.860 It doesn't matter, right? 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:25.860 They're from different places. 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:27.920 It's just about the heart. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:30.039 Right? 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:31.640 He's erased it. 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:32.880 Jews and Gentiles. 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:34.240 They're equally unclean. 00:19:34.360 --> 00:19:36.060 They're equally dogs. 00:19:37.060 --> 00:19:38.800 And, of course, equally loved. 00:19:39.800 --> 00:19:39.900 Right? 00:19:40.140 --> 00:19:41.080 Jesus, yeah. 00:19:41.520 --> 00:19:43.340 If he can love Jews, he can love Gentiles. 00:19:43.360 --> 00:19:44.620 Because there's no difference anymore. 00:19:45.100 --> 00:19:47.360 They are just equally unclean. 00:19:48.540 --> 00:19:50.880 And, yeah, with some of these miracles, 00:19:51.020 --> 00:19:55.700 they just show how incredibly equal Jews and Gentiles now are. 00:19:55.700 --> 00:20:02.059 I mean, that wonderful healing ministry with the lame and the blind and the crippled and the mute. 00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:07.960 You know, that's language from Isaiah about, you know, when the Messiah would come and restore Israel. 00:20:08.919 --> 00:20:10.139 But these are Gentiles. 00:20:10.619 --> 00:20:12.480 And the Jews, hey, that's my prophecy. 00:20:12.659 --> 00:20:13.759 What are you doing with my prophecy? 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:16.240 Well, Gentiles are equal. 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:19.400 The feeding of the 4,000. 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:22.440 You probably wonder, why is it so similar to the feeding of the 5,000? 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:26.440 Well, it seems to be exactly the same story, just less impressive. 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:26.839 Right? 00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:28.559 If you can... 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:30.519 Can you imagine a superhero movie? 00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:33.519 And part one and part two, the villain is always more powerful. 00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:33.819 Right? 00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:34.900 Otherwise, it's not interesting. 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:37.400 Why do we get the same story, but less people? 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:40.340 They are Gentiles. 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:41.900 Right? 00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:42.960 That's why we get this story. 00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:45.019 Jesus comes for Jews and for Gentiles. 00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:46.759 And they're just as equal. 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:52.019 And this beautiful picture of God feeding his people in the wilderness on the way to the promised land. 00:20:52.800 --> 00:20:55.740 The national history of Israel with Gentiles. 00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:57.780 Completely equal. 00:20:58.100 --> 00:20:59.660 That is what Jesus wants to say. 00:21:00.060 --> 00:21:01.600 You know, there's no difference. 00:21:02.080 --> 00:21:03.160 It's erased. 00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:05.940 Jews and Gentiles are now equal. 00:21:06.060 --> 00:21:07.880 Because we're all equally unclean. 00:21:08.620 --> 00:21:09.940 It's equally about our hearts. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.660 Well, actually, I don't know. 00:21:12.680 --> 00:21:13.500 There is a difference, right? 00:21:13.580 --> 00:21:14.540 Well, what is the difference? 00:21:14.800 --> 00:21:15.840 It's your response. 00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:18.500 It doesn't matter where you're from. 00:21:18.560 --> 00:21:19.820 It doesn't matter how you respond. 00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:22.680 Because this passage is so positive. 00:21:22.820 --> 00:21:22.940 Right? 00:21:22.940 --> 00:21:28.060 Here is a woman who believes in Jesus and loves him and comes for mercy. 00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:33.839 Just after these Pharisees who are hiding behind their religion. 00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:35.419 And they don't want Jesus. 00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:36.839 I mean, come on. 00:21:36.879 --> 00:21:37.980 Who should Jesus go to? 00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.759 Well, to this woman who actually believes in him. 00:21:40.619 --> 00:21:43.200 He has these great crowds of Gentiles. 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:44.220 And they're praising God. 00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:46.059 Jesus goes to his hometown. 00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:47.319 And they don't believe in him. 00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:47.659 Right? 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:51.300 Now, Gentiles here, they are responding to Jesus. 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.820 And the Jews are not. 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:56.560 Yeah, it matters. 00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:58.580 It just matters what is your response, right? 00:21:59.000 --> 00:21:59.960 Yes, we're all equal. 00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:02.100 The only thing is, do you respond to Jesus? 00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:07.519 And so, this passage, yeah, it wants us to see the world in a new way. 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:09.840 It wants us to see people in a new way. 00:22:10.380 --> 00:22:11.960 See ourselves in a new way. 00:22:12.540 --> 00:22:13.840 A bit like last week. 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.919 So, what should we see? 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:19.939 Well, first of all, let's start with seeing ourselves. 00:22:20.959 --> 00:22:25.839 Because here we have a woman who knows she's unclean and unworthy and coming to Jesus. 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:30.399 Just after Jesus has told us how unclean we are, how defiled we are. 00:22:31.679 --> 00:22:33.220 It means she's a model for us. 00:22:34.399 --> 00:22:39.099 If you're a defiled person with your defiled heart and you come to Jesus, how should you come to him? 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:41.480 Well, like this woman. 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:45.180 Coming with, you know, I don't deserve anything. 00:22:45.339 --> 00:22:47.279 Jesus, you should have nothing to do with me. 00:22:47.360 --> 00:22:48.140 I'm defiled. 00:22:49.339 --> 00:22:50.660 I just want mercy. 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:54.900 I just want, you know, I just want some crumbs. 00:22:55.900 --> 00:22:56.420 Please. 00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:58.279 I'm not worthy. 00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:01.019 Not like the Pharisees with their religion. 00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:01.440 No. 00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:03.920 Coming in humility. 00:23:04.860 --> 00:23:07.539 Knowing that, you know, we are nothing. 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:12.659 Knowing that we are so defiled deep down and there's nothing we can do about it. 00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:16.019 That's how you come to Jesus with, like this woman does. 00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:19.200 Of course, things change when you become a Christian, right? 00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:20.220 He changes your heart. 00:23:20.859 --> 00:23:22.000 And he cleanses you. 00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:25.779 And he gives you the amazing access to God that we enjoy, right? 00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:27.720 That you can come to the Father anytime. 00:23:28.399 --> 00:23:29.559 But it's still through Jesus. 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:34.980 It's not because now I'm suddenly a good person and I'm suddenly clean, right? 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:36.639 I still need to keep trusting Jesus. 00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:38.740 And so I want to keep doing that. 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:40.440 I want to keep myself humble. 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:43.200 I don't know how you do that. 00:23:43.659 --> 00:23:46.279 I like to sometimes just make a list, right? 00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:50.399 Basically, in my mind, I write on all the good things I've done this week. 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.279 All the best things. 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.799 It's not a very long list. 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:59.839 And then I list, you know, the things I said wrong and my actions and my heart, right? 00:23:59.899 --> 00:24:02.919 My attitudes and my thoughts. 00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:08.059 And then I just try and imagine myself standing before the throne, right? 00:24:08.159 --> 00:24:09.639 I want to get into heaven. 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:10.599 I want to be with God. 00:24:10.759 --> 00:24:12.359 And look what I've done this week. 00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:13.839 Please let me in based on this. 00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:15.460 Right? 00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:18.720 That keeps me close to Jesus. 00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:21.220 That makes me see I can't do this. 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:21.960 Right? 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:23.440 I'm so defiled. 00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:26.039 I keep needing Jesus every time. 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.579 I want Jesus. 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:31.079 And of course, he knows my sins. 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:33.480 But I need to remember them. 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.980 And that's how I come to Jesus. 00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:38.559 Because being defiled really matters. 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:39.720 I need to remember this. 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.980 I shouldn't walk away from Jesus. 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:45.380 I mean, this whole Jew and Gentile thing, it is based on something, right? 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:50.460 God did want to teach the people that idolatry matters and immorality matters. 00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:55.079 And those who live apart from God, live their own way, that they will not inherit the kingdom of God. 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:57.200 It really matters if you're defiled. 00:24:57.519 --> 00:25:00.059 That's why, you know, we need Jesus. 00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:01.799 Right? 00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:07.539 So if you're here and you're not a Christian, you haven't come to Jesus, that is your situation. 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:12.000 I don't know what kind of person you are on the outside. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:16.819 But Jesus says on the inside, all of us, we have a big problem, our hearts. 00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:19.380 We are wicked deep down. 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.940 And you face being excluded. 00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:24.180 You face being judged. 00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:27.759 If it wasn't for Jesus. 00:25:28.860 --> 00:25:29.060 Right? 00:25:29.580 --> 00:25:33.060 I hope this passage makes you see Jesus in a new way. 00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:36.299 If you see ourselves as the defiled person you are. 00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:38.960 Again, do you see Jesus' love here? 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:40.180 How he loves Gentiles. 00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:41.279 How he loves the defiled. 00:25:41.420 --> 00:25:44.799 I mean, he was the one human being who was perfect. 00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:49.519 The one human being who was, who could really, he has a heart that's totally clean. 00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:51.059 Totally holy. 00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:52.539 Totally loves his father. 00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:56.099 And yet he loved you. 00:25:56.900 --> 00:25:59.779 And, you know, your defilement, it's a big problem. 00:25:59.879 --> 00:26:01.339 But not one that he can't overcome. 00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:03.859 Because he died for you on the cross. 00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.059 Right? 00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:07.000 He took that on himself. 00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:09.859 He took all the things that you've done, all the things about your heart. 00:26:09.859 --> 00:26:11.299 And he laid it on himself. 00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:14.420 And when he was there on the cross, yeah, he was defiled. 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:16.639 He was that unclean dog. 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:19.980 You know, the father just couldn't look at it. 00:26:20.060 --> 00:26:20.140 Right? 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:20.620 We sang it. 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:22.660 The father turns his face away. 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:27.600 He couldn't look at his son because he was so defiled with all our sin. 00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:28.960 And he poured out his wrath. 00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:30.580 Poured out his judgment. 00:26:31.060 --> 00:26:33.700 And, yeah, Jesus paid for it. 00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:35.880 And that's why you are now welcome. 00:26:36.040 --> 00:26:38.320 That's why he loves you and he welcomes you. 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:41.640 Come to the father through Jesus the son. 00:26:42.820 --> 00:26:44.940 If you haven't done that, please come and talk to me. 00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:50.360 I'd love you to come to Jesus and experience his cleansing, his acceptance. 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:57.779 But then also, I think with this passage, we need to see others differently. 00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:01.519 I mean, do we see others the same as Jesus does? 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:05.279 Do we look at the externals? 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:07.039 Or do we, well, we can't see the heart. 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:09.240 But basically, do we not look at externals? 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:13.299 I think I see this passage and I'm a Gentile. 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:15.099 So I see that Jesus loves Gentiles. 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:18.599 And I think, okay, Jesus loves people like me. 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:21.940 Well, that's not what this passage says, right? 00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:23.919 This is written to Jewish Christians. 00:27:24.139 --> 00:27:26.639 And it says, well, Jesus also loves people unlike me. 00:27:27.079 --> 00:27:28.919 That is what this passage is saying, right? 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:32.299 And so, how do I see Gentiles? 00:27:33.139 --> 00:27:34.859 How do I see those who are different from me? 00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:42.240 Certainly, if I know my heart and it's not about the externals, then I should be humble towards other people, right? 00:27:42.779 --> 00:27:48.000 I'm humble to God, but I'm also, you know, maybe I look very shiny on the outside. 00:27:48.479 --> 00:27:49.679 And you don't look so shiny. 00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:52.159 But, you know, I know what's going on inside, right? 00:27:52.179 --> 00:27:53.839 I shouldn't feel proud. 00:27:53.939 --> 00:27:56.159 I shouldn't feel in any way superior. 00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:59.059 Because, you know, we all have this heart deep inside. 00:27:59.059 --> 00:28:01.379 And that's certainly true. 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:03.240 But it's not just sinfulness, right? 00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:03.819 It's a background. 00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:07.099 It's so easy to be proud of our background, right? 00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:13.940 That for some reason, you know, because of my job or who I am, I'm kind of more acceptable or better. 00:28:15.639 --> 00:28:22.019 You know, maybe because I'm Chinese or I'm American or I'm Korean or I'm Dutch or, right? 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:23.159 It's not like that. 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:25.460 Maybe as a Filipino, maybe you sometimes feel that. 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:26.639 You feel inferior here. 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:29.520 Well, Jesus doesn't look at all the externals. 00:28:29.600 --> 00:28:30.600 He doesn't look where you're from. 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:34.380 He doesn't look at what you've done. 00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:35.340 He just looks inside. 00:28:36.360 --> 00:28:39.440 And then you are really no different from other people, right? 00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:42.720 On the helper's appreciation day, that's really great to hear. 00:28:43.540 --> 00:28:46.140 Jesus appreciates you because he sees you're not inferior. 00:28:46.800 --> 00:28:49.540 We're all equal, right? 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:54.960 But even then, you know, how biased are we? 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:58.600 You know, do we see indeed everyone as Jesus does? 00:28:58.660 --> 00:29:00.180 Do we see that the externals don't matter? 00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:05.059 Again, I can be so focused on just people like me. 00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:10.799 I don't know who you feel like, okay, these are the people God wants me to reach. 00:29:11.340 --> 00:29:13.380 For me, it's kind of school parents. 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:14.160 All right? 00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:15.200 My kids go to a school. 00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:16.160 It's a Christian school. 00:29:16.340 --> 00:29:18.779 But 40% of the parents are not Christians. 00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:22.839 And certainly when we still met with parents before the pandemic, yeah. 00:29:23.639 --> 00:29:25.119 That's my area, right? 00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:27.539 So I would go to, and I would really, okay, praying. 00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:29.279 Who can I reach? 00:29:29.420 --> 00:29:36.180 But it meant like, basically, I just felt, you know, God wants to save middle-class international school parents. 00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:37.399 Basically, right? 00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:39.339 That's how I, you know. 00:29:39.639 --> 00:29:41.460 And one of those families comes to church. 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:41.980 Oh, great. 00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:43.279 You know, they're going to be an asset. 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:45.619 And other people, right? 00:29:47.139 --> 00:29:48.379 You can see it, right? 00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:50.019 That's not this passage. 00:29:50.899 --> 00:29:55.240 One time that came home so strongly for me. 00:29:55.359 --> 00:29:58.700 When I was, so I regularly go to St. Andrew's Church. 00:29:59.039 --> 00:30:01.079 It's the mother church of Chatin. 00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:03.139 So I go to Tim's and Tsui. 00:30:03.639 --> 00:30:04.899 And if you're there, right? 00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:08.559 I think if you're a guy and you walk on the street, people will talk to you, right? 00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:10.500 Because, hey, hello, my friend. 00:30:10.579 --> 00:30:11.299 Do you want a suit? 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:12.639 A tailor-made suit. 00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:15.839 I don't know what you're like. 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:18.200 So I have a meeting, right? 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.240 I just ignore the guy. 00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:21.039 And I just, I go, Hong Kong. 00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:22.220 I'm busy. 00:30:23.619 --> 00:30:26.259 Well, one time I had lunch with someone from another church. 00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:29.099 And we were walking together to St. Andrew's. 00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:31.420 And again, hello, my friend. 00:30:32.379 --> 00:30:35.059 And the guy next to me, hey, Ali, how are you doing? 00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:36.799 I started talking to him. 00:30:36.879 --> 00:30:37.980 And, hey, how's your family? 00:30:38.139 --> 00:30:40.879 You talked about your daughter last time. 00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:43.960 And did you read the tract I gave you last week? 00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:47.820 No, this guy had built a relationship. 00:30:48.440 --> 00:30:50.940 This guy noticed this person who was so different from him. 00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:52.960 And yet he loved him. 00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:53.780 And he reached out to him. 00:30:53.840 --> 00:30:56.340 Because, you know, he's a South Asian Muslim. 00:30:56.339 --> 00:30:59.079 But Jesus loves him. 00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:00.339 There is no difference. 00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:03.159 And I felt just so ashamed, right? 00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:05.240 I looked so embarrassed. 00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:07.619 That I had just walked past this guy. 00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:09.119 This guy who actually wants to talk to me. 00:31:09.159 --> 00:31:10.179 Unlike many other people. 00:31:10.180 --> 00:31:13.799 I hope you feel it. 00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:15.039 That's what Jesus wants. 00:31:15.100 --> 00:31:16.440 He wants us to notice everyone. 00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:21.220 I mean, don't just have a picture of a Christian that is someone like me. 00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:22.019 Someone like this. 00:31:23.420 --> 00:31:25.340 Anyone can respond. 00:31:26.120 --> 00:31:28.880 Anyone can be cleansed by Jesus. 00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:32.080 That is what this passage is saying. 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:35.620 And it's a wonderful thing because all of us needed to be cleansed. 00:31:35.619 --> 00:31:37.719 But there's so many more people out there. 00:31:37.799 --> 00:31:39.159 People very different from you. 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.459 Very different from me. 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:42.439 Jesus loves them. 00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:43.979 So, yeah. 00:31:44.239 --> 00:31:45.779 Again, Christmas. 00:31:45.879 --> 00:31:46.839 Who are you going to invite? 00:31:47.399 --> 00:31:48.579 Please invite your colleagues. 00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:49.819 Please invite your friends. 00:31:50.439 --> 00:31:51.659 But spend some time thinking. 00:31:51.739 --> 00:31:53.039 Is there anyone who I've ignored? 00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:55.279 And then just ask. 00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:57.299 Why have I been ignoring this person? 00:31:58.419 --> 00:31:59.899 Is it because I just assume? 00:32:01.179 --> 00:32:02.599 You know, that of course they're not interested. 00:32:03.239 --> 00:32:05.519 Of course, I didn't even notice them. 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.660 Because of who they are. 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:07.940 Because of their background. 00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:09.839 Now, just think about it. 00:32:09.859 --> 00:32:11.039 Maybe you've just been too busy. 00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:12.139 I know what Hong Kong is like. 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:15.160 We just don't think about these things. 00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:20.500 But when you do, why not invite this person? 00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:21.720 Why ignore them? 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:22.680 Right? 00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:25.400 And then when you fall about that, you just come to Jesus. 00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.940 Lay your heart before him. 00:32:28.639 --> 00:32:30.639 Let him speak to you. 00:32:30.639 --> 00:32:32.279 Let him show you again his love. 00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:33.599 His love in forgiving you. 00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:35.579 For how you've treated others. 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:38.759 And then let that love, yeah, flow out of you. 00:32:39.219 --> 00:32:40.219 To everyone else. 00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:42.939 Why don't we pray together? 00:32:42.939 --> 00:32:43.039 Amen. 00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:53.659 Lord Jesus, we thank you. 00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:55.099 Thank you that you came down. 00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:57.319 Thank you that you died. 00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:59.399 Because you loved us so much. 00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:01.539 You saw us in our defilement. 00:33:01.619 --> 00:33:02.819 You saw us with our hearts. 00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:05.159 You saw us in our sin. 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:08.879 But you loved us and at such great cost made us. 00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:09.980 Made us yours. 00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:13.700 Father, we pray that it would change us. 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:14.620 Help us see Jesus. 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:17.160 Help us to be changed by his love. 00:33:17.900 --> 00:33:19.559 To see people as you see them. 00:33:20.019 --> 00:33:20.920 No difference. 00:33:21.079 --> 00:33:21.839 No distinction. 00:33:22.980 --> 00:33:24.720 It's all sinners who need Jesus. 00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:26.700 And would it change us? 00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:28.380 In Jesus' name. 00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:29.059 Amen. 00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:29.160 Amen. 00:33:29.160 --> 00:33:29.839 Amen. 00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:29.860 Amen. 00:33:29.860 --> 00:33:29.880 Amen. 00:33:29.880 --> 00:33:29.920 Amen. 00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:29.980 Amen. 00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:30.000 Amen. 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:30.019 Amen. 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:30.059 Amen. 00:33:30.059 --> 00:33:30.079 Amen. 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:30.099 Amen. 00:33:30.099 --> 00:33:30.120 Amen. 00:33:30.120 --> 00:33:30.140 Amen.