It is interesting that our bible study group is studying Matthew 8-12 this week. This chapter in the study book talks about insiders and outsiders. The contrast as to who are the righteous and worthy of our work and attention and who are not. Jesus begins to push the boundaries of who is in and who is not. The first included all those who suffer illnesses that make them unclean such as the leper and in this chapter the woman who suffered from bleeding for 12 years. He also makes arrangements with Romans and again in this chapter a tax collector. Today so much effort is made by many churches as to who is included in the fellowship and who is not, that we need to reflect on who Jesus has come to save.
The first part of the chapter begins with a man who is paralyzed. He begins by saying that he should be encouraged for his sins are forgiven. This creates a conflict with the teachers of the law as they think that only God can forgive sins. Jesus replies to them which is easier to do say your sins or forgiven or tell the man to get up and walk. His healing of the man demonstrates his authority to do both.
The calling of Matthew is also a controversial act. Tax collectors were often collaborators with Rome and also thieves. They made their money by collecting more money than was owed. Most people held them in the highest contempt. For Jesus to go to eat with such a notorious sinner was unheard. “Eating meals together was a religious matter among the Pharisees and other observant Jews. Righteous Jews enacted many regulations to prevent themselves form being ceremonially defiled at meals.. It was not done so much to exclude others as to show commitment to the law. Most Jews lived by the food laws most of the time. Jesus did too. But he regularly, purposively, and offensively ate with those who are ritually unclean or whose commitment to the law was inferior. Sharing a meal with another indicated both covenantal and social equality….Jesus sharing meals with sinful people enacted God’s grace—he extended God’s love and forgiveness, welcoming open participation in a new society. (New Living Translation Study Bible, 1595.)
Matthew 9:11-13 “But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with such scum.’ When Jesus hear this, he said, ‘Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. Now go and learn the meaning of this scripture I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices (Hos 6.6). For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.’ NLT. Today who are the ones we should ask to our banquets and have a meal with?
The last reflection deals with the woman. She for 12 years could not be with her family, children or around any friends for fear of making them unclean. In the other gospels it talks about her having seen physicians. I can almost imagine how they must have treated her. Go away and stop bothering me. Obviously you have sinned and this is your punishment. Having been rejected so many times, her actions of trying to demean herself by crawling to just touch Jesus’ robe is understandable. Afraid of yet another rejection, she was willing to do what she could not to be noticed and yet be healed. Jesus’ attention to her that likely she never received from anywhere else speaks of the compassion Jesus has for all people.
The chapter ends with the statement the harvest is great but the workers are few. Today the work remains great are we willing to be the worker?
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