Summary: Learn how Jesus' ways contradict religious traditions
Verses 1-5
-
These four people were so determined that they removed tiling in the roof to gain access to Jesus.
-
Jesus saw this determination as faith. And their faith moved Jesus to forgive and heal the paralytic.
-
Notice their determination. To believe is to be persistent! Be persistent in your prayers and in seeking God daily!
-
Notice these people uncovered the roof on behalf on their paralyzed friend because they loved him. They had faith for their friend. So, to love someone else is to persist in prayer and labor for them.
-
If you want to help your friends, exercise your love for them by persisting in your actions for their sake!
-
-
-
Verses 6-7
-
It's worth noting that the Pharisees knew that only God can forgive sins. In forgiving this man's sins, Jesus was indirectly claiming that He was God.
-
Keep this in mind if you're ever looking for Scriptures in the Gospels about Jesus' deity.
-
Verse 8
-
When Jesus knew His discernment about the Pharisees inner thoughts, He acted immediately to respond. Jesus did not delay to speak truth when He had the opportunity.
-
When you have something truthful and important to say, knowing that it will help someone, say it, and don't hesitate! Live urgently!
-
Verses 9-12
-
Sickness is rooted in sin (Romans 5:12, 6:23). If Jesus has power to forgive sin, of course He has power to deal with sickness as well. Healing a body is a small matter.
-
Remember that Jesus has power over all the works of the enemy. And this power is brought, in many cases, along with forgiveness of sins.
-
See teaching on Matthew 9 for details.
-
Verses 13-17
-
Jesus ate with unbelievers and sinners, to build relationship with them and bring them to repentance.
-
The religious mind thinks that it's contaminating to one's own godliness to spend any time with sinful people. But a truly godly and loving person wants to go to the lost, to heal them of their sins.
-
Do spend time with unbelievers, but for the purpose of gradually bringing them to repentance and faith in Jesus.
-
Be patient with the process, and share meals with them. This helps bring people's walls down and facilitates relationship-building.
-
-
Verses 18-22
-
Don't bring old traditions or old ways of thinking into the new joy of following Jesus(old wine into new wineskins).
-
You will harm your relationship with God if you try to keep old religious beliefs or hang on to old sins. Change from old ways and old thinking, and learn the Word anew. This will help you!
-
The joy and liberty we have in Christ frees us from religious obligations
-
-
Verses 19-20. There are times to fast, and there are times not to fast.
-
Fasting and praying during times of grief, especially over being away from a loved one, is greatly helpful! Fast when you go through these times yourself!
-
Verses 23-28
-
The Sabbath has always been about giving us rest, not burdening us with restrictive commandments.
-
The example of David and the showbread, supposedly violating the Sabbath, is not an example of God changing His law or His Word.
-
The point is that Christ, as Lord of the Sabbath, has the authority to ascribe His own meaning to His own laws—one that the Pharisees did not perceive.
-
Jesus had every right to let His disciples rest in Him by enjoying a snack while they walked with Him.
-
-
Following Christ, and enjoying rest in Him, fulfills the Sabbath. Focus on following Jesus' ways, not holding to legalistic rules and opinions of man!
-
In essence, Jesus' death and resurrection has given us rest from the labor of trying to achieve our own salvation. For this reason, Jesus is the Lord and the fulfillment of the Sabbath (Colossians 2:16-17).
-
Sabbath rest no longer requires us to observe a weekly day of rest, so long as we live for Christ (Romans 14:5-6).
-