Sunday, January 25, 2009

Matthew 9:1-17

Jesus told the paralytic his sins were forgiven, apparently just so that everyone would know he could do it. The guy didn't actually get up and walk until Jesus told him to! Forgiving his sins didn't make him walk.

The tax collector's booth is mentioned simply to get us to Matthew's house. The take away Jesus leaves with the Scribes and Pharisees is simple, "The strong don't need a doctor, the weak do." How does that inform our outreach? It certainly shaped what Jesus did.

Jesus was questioned about why his disciples weren't as religious as the Pharisees or John's disciples. His answer is that new wine goes in new wineskins. I have heard the "new wineskins" cliche used for everything under the sun. I suspect Jesus means something like Christianity (new wine) needs a new wineskin (preoccupation with Jesus) not the old wineskin of external religion.

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