Jesus Calls The Sinner

JESUS CALLS THE SINNER (Outline)

June 17, 2007

PENTECOST 3

Matthew 9:9-13

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INTRO: Jesus was always, always busy about his father’s business. That is to say – his heavenly Father. Not matter where Jesus would always seek out and save the lost. Today’s text speaks about the tax collector Matthew. Jesus also found another lost tax collector, Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus had heard about Jesus and was excited to see him. Being short, Zacchaeus climbed a tree. Jesus also ate at the house of this tax collector. The church leaders were disgusted once again with this bad habit of Jesus. Jesus wants everyone to know of his purpose in being busy about his father’s work. "Jesus said to him, ’Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost’"(LUKE 19:9,10).

Today’s text also reveals to us how Jesus came to seek and to save what was lost. Our simple theme is:

JESUS CALLS THE SINNER.

I. Unto eternal life,

II. Into kingdom work.

I. (CALLED) UNTO ETERNAL LIFE

A. The verses of our text follow a miracle of Jesus -- the healing of the paralytic.

1. You may recall how the friends of the paralyzed man had to lower him through the roof.

2. Jesus’ ministry was popular at this time. This did not mean Jesus was without enemies.

3. The Pharisees accused Jesus of blasphemy because he healed the paralyzed man.

B. The Pharisees were always looking to blame Jesus for something – even in the midst of a miracle.

1. Our text continues with the reaction of Jesus’ detractors when Jesus ate with Matthew.

2. The Pharisees could not understand nor believe why Jesus ate with sinners, verse 11.

C. The Pharisees would never lower themselves to associate with such low-lifes.

1. Verse 12. Jesus knew the Pharisees thought they were healthy – not sin-sick at all.

2. Verse 13b echoes that statement. The self-righteous Pharisees did not need/want help.

3. The Pharisees had forgotten the importance of a merciful, loving heart. Verse 13a.

D. Sadly, it is all too easy to become like a Pharisee. We look at others and are glad we are not like them. We like to put ourselves on our own pedestal so that we can look down on others. This is the attitude today of our society: I am number one. Today’s world does not want to hear about sin. People today want to do what they want, whenever they want as long as it pleases them. Sin is not a pleasant. Too many today try to dismiss sin, deny sin or act as if they do not care at all. Sin cannot be swept under the rug. "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives"(1 JOHN 1:8, 10). There it is – today’s people in today’s society make God out to be a liar by denying sin. Without recognizing and admitting sin – no one will need any Savior to save. All too many do not hear Jesus call them.

E. Again, like the Pharisees, we tend to think that our lives can be important enough to save us. We like to think that our lives are not that bad. We have not done any big sins. After all we even try to avoid sin. We may even feel that our good, Christian lives ought to give us a free pass into heaven. Remember God does not look at the number of sins we commit. God does not measure sin as great or small. To God sin is sin is sin. Scripture reminds us. "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it"(JAMES 2:10). One sin condemns us. Rejoice – Christ our Savior saves us!

F. Jesus also does not consider a person’s background when calling. Jesus does not look at the outward appearance before calling anyone unto eternal life. The fact is it makes not difference at all concerning a person’s nationality, background or standing in society. Rather the Lord Jesus calls the sinner, every sinner to repentance and unto eternal life. "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth"(1 TIMOTHY 2:3,4).

The lost is now found. The condemned is now forgiven. JESUS CALLS THE SINNER unto eternal life.

II. (CALLED) INTO KINGDOM WORK

A. The apostle Paul never expected to be called into God’s kingdom work. But he was.