Chuck Larsen

Jesus was challenged when he ate with tax collectors and sinners. The religious leaders were offended that he preferred their company. They challenged his teachings and questioned his judgments and criticized his followers. They called him “a friend of tax-collectors and sinners.” They didn’t mean that in a nice way. In Chapter 9, Jesus sent them away from his celebration party at Matthew’s house with his tax collector and sinner friends saying, “go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’” View full article »

In Matthew chapter 9 we meet Matthew himself as one of the “tax collectors” and sinners. The religious leaders didn’t like Jesus hob-knobbing with these men. Whenever the tax collectors were referred to as a group that Jesus associated with they were called “tax collectors” and “sinners.” Those two works seemed to have gone together. View full article »

My dad and my uncle would often argue about who was the greatest boxer that ever lived. My uncle argued that it was Joe Lewis. My dad said it was Henry Armstrong who at featherweight size defeated the champions from three weight classes heavier than his and held three world championship titles at the same time. Then My uncle would bring up Rocky Marciano or someone else and the debate would continue. It makes me think that it’s not unlikely that the Jew’s would often argue about which prophet of the Old Testament was the greatest. Was it Isaiah with his 66 chapters and stand against the wicked Kings of Israel. Was it Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, or Elijah the miracle worker? View full article »

I mentioned yesterday how easy it is to escape the ridicule that accompanies identity with Jesus in our world. We just need to be silent. Matthew’s story continues in Chapter 10 along the lines of being willing to suffer persecution for Jesus’ sake. In verses 28-33, Jesus tells us, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. “ View full article »

I talked about the martyrdom of the Apostles yesterday and their passion to carry out their mission to make disciples. It’s interesting that Jesus made it clear what they would encounter as they spread the message of Jesus. In Matthew 10:17 & 18, He said, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.” View full article »

In chapter 10, Matthew gives us the names of the 12 apostles. Reading this list of names is like reading the names of the women in Jesus’ genealogy of chapter 1. There are some fairly questionable characters in it. There’s a tax collector. They are most often included in the term “sinners” used by the religious leaders and were hated and despised by the Jewish authorities and the people in general. One could very well have been a revolutionary, and the others were basically of the common sort; fisherman, farmers, etc. View full article »

In chapter 9 we get the analogy from Jesus of “new wine in old wineskins.” The religious leaders challenge Jesus celebration with sinners. He points to the wedding celebrations of the day and compares what’s taking place to that. As the Pharisees were fasting Jesus and his followers were feasting. In his explanation he says in verse 17 that you can’t put new wine into old wineskins because it will burst and the wine will be spilled out. Jesus did not come to offer the world another religion. He came to solve the relationship problem between God and man to bring abundant life and living water and joy and fullness. But most people just see Jesus as offering another religious system. View full article »

As we read along in the Gospel of Matthew we see Jesus touch and heal frequently. But the heart of the matter for Matthew wasn’t necessarily the physical healing. His primary concern was sin. We see that clearly in Chapter 9 where Jesus is presented with the paralytic and he says to him in verse 3, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” Jesus makes it clear as he heals this man that the healing is the evidence of Jesus’ power to do what only God can do. View full article »