Rub Some Dirt on It
3 Year Lectionary Series A • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Law you are sick
Gospel he came to heal the sick
Intro
Intro
Why do some guys avoid going to the Doctor?
Rubbing dirt in wound “You’re okay.”
Bring out your dead “I’m getting better!”
Sola boot-strap-sia
Context of calling Matthew, the tax collector, & the celebration meal with sinners at his house.
Jesus, the Great Physician, came to heal the sick
Calling and eating with sinners.
Love & mercy
Intent to heal and bless
But he called them out of their sinful path
He didn’t “celebrate” their sickness or affirm them the way they were
Derek Webb in his new song, “Boys Will Be Girls” - saying Jesus “celebrated”the sinners as they were.
“I heard Jesus loved and spent his life with those who
Were abandoned by proud and fearful men
So if a church won’t celebrate and love you
They’re believing lies that can’t save you or them
‘Cause you’re so beautiful by any name”
If they didn’t believe they were sick or if they didn’t want his healing they would remain sick
He offered them health in place of their sickness
Jesus, the Great Physician, didn’t come for the healthy
Why do many guys not want to see a Doctor?
The Pharisees didn’t think they were sick
They also looked down on others unmercifully
like Pharisee and tax collector “God I thank you that I’m not like that guy. vs. “God please forgive me!”
But there is no one who is healthy and all need are in need of the Physician
Need physician’s diagnosis - but you are still sick without it
If you need a life-saving treatment but won’t go to the Doctor or receive the treatment you will die.
Arrogant denial of your sinfulness is unbelief and it will cost you the free gift of eternal health
Matthew - had probably heard and seen Jesus’ ministry and now must have been shocked that Jesus would call a sinner like himself. He didn’t hesitate but followed immediately, moved by the Gospel command of Jesus! He then threw a party to celebrate this Amazing Grace!
Jesus desires mercy, not (or more than) sacrifice (hyperbole)
Remember, we who are saved were shown mercy. We are sinners like everyone else and what we have was a gift. Paul’s testimony.
A heart that remembers it has been shown mercy will give mercy, which is greater than sacrifices, especially sacrifice that are given out of proud and unrepentant hearts.
In the OT God condemned those who would come in un-repentance and unbelief to worship him and bring sacrifices. He told them their hearts were far from Him and they had blood on their hands (from sinning against their neighbors not from the sacrifice).
The only one who can truly show mercy is one who has received God’s mercy and a new heart from God that is grateful and merciful.
Conclusion: Everyone of us is spiritually sick, and we need the healing of the Great Physician.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
We can’t just rub some dirt on it and go on, but…. Jesus rubbing dirt and spit together
Quote hymn: When Sinner’s See Their Lost Condition Amb 405
1 When sinners see their lost condition
And feel the pressing load of sin,
And Jesus cometh on His mission
To heal the sin-sick heart within,
All grief must flee before His grace,
And joy divine will take its place.
5 Then stilled are cries and lamentation,
Then loosed is Satan's ev'ry band,
In death is hope and consolation,
The soul is safe in Jesus' hand:
When we shall walk through death's dark vale,
His rod and staff shall never fail.