The Hem Of His Garment (Matthew [14]34-36)
The Hem of His Garment
Text: Matthew 14:34-36
Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)
Date Preached - (09/15/02)
Introduction:
EXPLAIN – Significance of the hem of Christ’s Garment.
According to the OT Scriptures – Numbers 15:37-39
There were four of these woven tassles or fringes on the corners of the outer garment worn by the Jews.
There was a great deal of symbolism and even superstition that came to be associated with these fringes.
By Christ’s time the scribal traditions had elevated this practice to importance beyond the teaching of Scripture.
Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
EXPLAIN Phylacteries and borders of the garment.
There is a lesson here in the humility of Christ.
We do not see people coming to touch the enlarged borders of the Pharisaical leaders. But they came to Christ.
EXAMPLES: Here and in …..
Matthew 9:20-22 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
It is an incredible thought, but Christ condescended to these individuals in their weakness of body and mind and healed them!!
THOUGHT – Two-fold significance of the desire of the people to touch the hem of His garment.
1. Expressed the strength of their faith in Him
Willing to trust God all the way….
ILLUS: Getting out to the edge of the limb – then letting go.
EXAMPLE – Hebrew boys in furnace.
Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
EXAMPLE – Esther “If I perish, I perish”
Esther 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
2. Expressed the sense of their own unworthiness in coming to Him.
EXAMPLE – Moses – Meekest man on earth (Num. 12:3)
· At Burning Bush
- On Mount Sinai
Let’s explore these two main thoughts as they relate to our text today and exemplify man’s coming to Christ in Salvation.
There is a progression, and the first thing is….
I. The Thought of Him
“And when the men of that place had knowledge of Him”
They may have just heard of him, may have witnessed His miracles in the past, may have even believed in Him. They had some preconceptions, some knowledge of Christ.
They had some hopes and dreams and aspirations of what Christ could do, perhaps they would even dare to dream of His ability.
Could it be? That Jesus could help them , heal them, change their lives??
A. Christ is more wonderful than you could imagine Him to be.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
John 9:25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
Wonderful, Wonderful Jesus, Who can compare to Him!!!
B. He can meet every need, most importantly the longing and emptiness of your soul.
Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
C. He can do beyond what we ever imagined was possible.
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
EXAMPLE: Woman at the well - “Fill my cup” she cried and He filled it with everlasting life!!
SONG – I asked for Mercy, and I found Grace!!
II. Those Brought to Him
Word spread like wildfire.
A concentrated effort was embarked on to bring the diseased to Christ, all those in need.
A. They could not come on their own.
B. They needed helpers
SONG – “Bring Them In”
Acts 8 – Ethiopian Eunuch
EXAMPLE – One borne of four.
Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
ILLUS: Camillo – “I needed someone to lead me by the hand”.
Someone may have brought you here today. Because they care about you. Thank God for that!!!
III. Those who Besought Him
EXAMPLE – Jacob wrestling with God.
Principles regarding seeking God.
A. There is a seeking process in Salvation.
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Isaiah 55:6 ¶Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
B. The Seeker is filled with humility and a deep sense of his/her own unworthiness.
Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
C. The Seeker is filled with anticipation and expectation.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
IV. Those Sought of Him
The Seeker becomes the Sought. Truly, in our quest for the truth of God we find that He has been searching for us, that we love Him because He first loved us.
That God’s greatest desire for man and the greatest expenditure of His resources have been directed toward revealing Himself to mankind!!!
We really have nothing to offer Him, but everything to receive from Him!!
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
“Made perfectly whole”
Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
SONG – Whiter Than Snow
Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want Thee forever to live in my soul,
Break down every idol, cast out every foe;
Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow!!
Conclusion: (Review)
ILLUS: My Personal Testimony