Preserving The Best Of Both In The Church World

Sermon: Preserving the Best of Both in the Church World

Scripture: Matt 9:10-17 “As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew (Levi) sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, “Follow Me [as My disciple, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk].” And Matthew got up and followed Him. 10 Then as Jesus was reclining at the table in Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and [a]sinners [including non-observant Jews] came and ate with Him and His disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Master eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but [only] those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this [Scripture] means: ‘I desire compassion [for those in distress], and not [animal] sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call [to repentance] the [self-proclaimed] righteous [who see no need to change], but sinners [those who recognize their sin and actively seek forgiveness].”

“14 Then the disciples of John [the Baptist] came to Jesus, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees often fast [as a religious exercise], but Your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus replied to them, “Can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 But no one puts a piece of unshrunk (new) cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results. 17 Nor is new wine put into old [b]wineskins [that have lost their elasticity]; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the [fermenting] wine spills and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, so both are preserved.”

Introduction: Some time after his call, Matthew sought to bring his old associates to hear Christ. He knew by experience what the grace of Christ could do, and was concerned about them. Those who have received Christ, cannot but desire that others also may be brought to him. Those who suppose their souls to be without disease will not welcome the spiritual Physician. This was the case with the Pharisees; they despised Christ, because they thought themselves whole; but the poor publicans and sinners felt that they needed instruction and forgiveness. It is easy, and too common, to put the worst constructions upon the best words and actions of others. Jesus Christ eating with sinners is an act of mercy. Jesus is seeking to save those who are lost. The gospel call is a call to repentance; a call to us to change our minds, and to change our ways. If the children of men had not been sinners, there had been no need for Christ to come among them. Instead of criticizing Jesus, these observers should have examine themselves to search out any sickness or need in their lives needing the attention of the great Physician.

In this case, Jesus used parables to clarify spiritual truths that many overlooked. Jesus defined his mission by saying “The son of Man is come to seek and to save that which is lost. Some of His greatest teachings were birthed in the middle of controversy. Jesus’ befriending Matthew and dining in a house full of tax collectors and publicans was shocking to say the least. The pharisees and Sadducees were constantly seeking ways to entrap Jesus with his words. In this lesson Jesus is caught between questions from these religious leaders and the disciples of John the Baptist. When the religious leaders had a complaint about Jesus, they would approach his disciples and ask, Why does your master do____? When they have a complaint about the disciples, they would ask Jesus, Why does your disciples do ____? The strategy was to divide and conquer. Once again, Jesus is put on the spot. The key issue sounds like it’s about fasting. Yet several things are on the line. How does your ministry compare with the Pharisee and John the Baptist’s ministry? How does the lifestyle of your disciples compare with us? Our way is well worn, and your way is new, which is right?

Today, we may find ourselves put on the spot. This will always occurs when we make our way, our style or practice the standard of righteousness. When we do, we often criticize all who differ from us. At times, we label them as being totally wrong. Conflict occurs we when compare our ministry, worship style, our rituals with others.

Years ago, conflicts raged about secular tunes being used in gospel music. There was no conflict between Hymns and traditional gospel music, yet many of the gospel melodies were patterned after secular tunes. Rap music and Contemporary music were nonexistent. When anything new comes along, we struggle to know what should be preserved and what should be discarded. This struggle may seem new, but it is an age-old problem. Jesus in this discourse helps us to realize the importance preserving the best of both worlds and the danger of putting new wine in old wineskins. New wineskins are flexible and easy to stretch, while old wineskins are difficult to stretch. How can we preserve the best of both worlds? Notice, Jesus mentions old cloth, old wineskins, and old wine, all of which are good and useful when use in the right way and for the right purpose. He compares these things to rigid traditions and religious practices, seasoned saints, and difficult disciplines. Then he talks about new wine, new wineskins, new cloth, all of which are good and right when used in the right place and the right way. It applies to new Christians, new liberties, and activities and actions. We preserve the best of both worlds by understanding God is doing a new thing.