Matthew’s Unique Message #2
Of Snakes and Doves
Matthew 9:27-36; Matthew 10: 16, 34-37; 40-41
CHCC: June 10, 2007
INTRODUCTION:
This summer I’m going to be preaching from the Gospel of Matthew. We’re going to look at the things Matthew tells about Jesus that none of the other Gospels mention. Today we’ll look at some teachings and events recorded in Matthew 9 and 10. Matthew 9 is the chapter where Matthew tells about his own calling. Jesus saw Matthew sitting at the Tax Collector’s booth and said two life-changing words: Follow Me. Matthew 9:9 says very simply, “and Matthew got up and followed him.” Right after that, Matthew records two miracles that Mark, Luke, and John don’t mention. These miracles probably stood out in Matthew’s recollection because they were some of the first things that happened after he started traveling with Jesus.
First is the healing of two blind men. The second is the healing of a man who was demon-possessed. Being blind or demon-possessed --- or disabled in ANY way --- meant being an OUTCAST. The Jews, like every other culture of that day, looked down on anyone with a physical disorder. To the Jews being blind or crippled was a curse --- brought upon you because of your sin or the sin of one of your ancestors.
Matthew would identify with these men because he also had been considered an OUTCAST --- not because of any disability but because of his profession as a Tax Collector. The Jews didn’t say “Tax Collector” by itself … the phrase was, “Tax Collectors and other Sinners.”
Jesus stood out because He didn’t look down on the Outcasts. Jesus’ HIGHEST priority was to reach the LOWEST of the low. The very ones who got nothing but CONTEMPT in the Kingdom of this World got nothing but COMPASSION in the Kingdom of Heaven!
1. Compassion for the Outcasts Matthew 9:27-36
Soon after Matthew left his Tax Booth to go with Jesus, he saw Jesus perform two astounding miracles. Jesus actually raised a young girl from the dead. And while he was on his way to do that, he healed a woman who touched the hem of his robe.
Because of these kind of public miracles, Jesus was drawing bigger and bigger crowds. When Jesus entered a Village, it was kind of like what happens when a Rock Star walks on stage … except that Jesus didn’t have bodyguards or a get-away car.
As Jesus was trying to make his way through the pressing crowds, he could hear two blind men shouting “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” Now, it’s interesting that these men … who after all, were blind … could SEE that Jesus was the Messiah … (That’s what the title Son of David meant to the Jews.) As soon as Jesus got inside a building, he focused His attention on these two blind men. Look at the first thing Jesus asked them: "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" In other words, “Do you REALLY believe I’m the Messiah and that I can give sight to the blind?”
I think there’s an important principle we can learn here. We all know people who might be considered OUTCASTS --- people with all kinds of needs or handicaps or addictions or diseases. We need to remember that … no matter what else we do for them … the most important thing we can do is share our faith.
That’s what I admire about the GIDEON’S ministry. They are a very single-minded organization with one goal. They want everyone --- no matter what their circumstance and no matter where they are --- they want everyone to have the chance to answer that all-important question, “Do you believe in Jesus?”
In the case of the two blind men, I picture them shouting out their answer in unison: “YES, Lord, we believe!” Verse 29 says, Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"--- and their sight was restored. Matthew 9:29-30 Notice that Jesus TOUCHED them. Sometimes a hug or handshake or a pat on the back says more about the LOVE of God than any words or any amount of money could convey. Jesus showed Compassion up close and personal. If we’re going to follow Him, we will do the same.
Recently two missionaries that we support, Dr. Suzie Snyder and Dr. Florence Muindi, went to Afghanistan. Their Islamic translators warned them not to talk to or touch the Muslim women. Well, guess what … Suzie and Florence were walking in the Kingdom of God, not the Kingdom of this world. They extended the love of God by talking and touching the women they met. Through their touch as much as their words they offered Compassion to the Outcasts of Afghanistan.
We learn more about the kind of Compassion Jesus gave in Matthew 9:36. It says, when he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. The word harassed means bullied or oppressed. Helpless means “unable to rescue themselves” or to “escape from their tormentors.”
I think Jesus had the kind of Compassion you feel when you see some hulking bullies picking on a poor little kid. You don’t care what anyone else thinks about it, you just want to get in there and DO something about it! And that’s what Jesus did. He saw inequity and suffering and corruption and he took action.
After Jesus touched and healed the two blind men, he did something surprising. Picture the scene that was going on. These two men who have never seen anything … are suddenly looking into the eyes of Jesus … and seeing him! They can see each other for the first time. They can see the walls of the house. They can see the friends that lead them there. I’m sure they were jumping and shouting and blinking at the bright light.
But verse 30 says, Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this." Now, there is a very practical reasons for this. After all, Jesus didn’t need or want any more publicity. He could hardly function with the crowds that were mobbing him. But I think there’s also an important principle for us to see here.
You see, Jesus did not show Compassion to these blind men in order to build his reputation. He showed Compassion simply because they NEEDED it. In the Kingdom of Jesus, we need to keep close watch on our own motives. It’s human nature to think about how we’re going to LOOK when we do our good deeds. We want to be thought of as kind and generous people. We want to be admired. But in the Kingdom of Heaven, Compassion is given freely---without any thought for our own gain.
I want to make a Challenge for you this week. Before you come back to church next Sunday, find a way to show Compassion to someone who might be considered an Outcast. Ask God to show you what you can do. The catch is, don’t let ANYONE know what you did. Then next week, you can tell me about it and I’ll announce it from the Pulpit --- oh, wait a minute … that would defeat the whole purpose, wouldn’t it! The truth is, it’s enough for God to know. It’s enough to know that every time you show compassion, you are walking in the Kingdom of God.
Right after healing the two blind men, Jesus was once again mobbed by the crowds that followed him everywhere he went. This time he healed a man who was demon possessed. Verse 33 says, And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons." Matthew 9:33-34
There’s an important lesson here: Don’t expect the Kingdom of this World to respect the Kingdom of God. Far from it, citizens of God’s Kingdom have always been --- and will always be criticized and misunderstood and (as we see in this case) even DEMONIZED.
I think of a man like Jerry Falwell --- who died recently. He was most widely known for founding an organization called The Moral Majority back in the 1970’s. Through the years, he was ridiculed and misrepresented in the Media. In fact, if all you know about him came from the mainstream Media, you probably don’t even know that his greatest passion was for being the Pastor of his church. He didn’t get publicity for establishing The Godparent Maternity Home for unwed mothers or an organization called Family Life Services for adoptive parents. The Media never featured his treatment center called Elm Home where thousands of men have overcome their chemical addictions.
Jerry Falwell is just one example of millions of believers who are walking in the Kingdom of God here on earth. Churches and individual Christians all over the world are offering Compassion to the Outcasts in all kinds of ways. But don’t expect to see their efforts praised on the evening News.
Jesus had no illusions. He knew the world would never applaud His Kingdom. That’s why Jesus gave his Followers this word of CAUTION:
2. Caution among Unbelievers Matthew 10:16, 34-37
Jesus told his disciples, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16
Jesus knew he was sending his followers into hostile territory. As Christians, we can’t afford to be so idealistic or altruistic that we lose touch with reality. We live in a fallen world. Even while we reach out in Compassion, we need to stay On Guard.
Susan’s mom mentioned a strange story in the Logan County, Ilinois newspaper last week. The article said at about 7:15 AM, a man named Cody Rutz stole an Illinois Department of Transportation truck and fled from police southbound on Illinois 121. Police lost sight of him near Mount Pulaski. A short time later, the truck over-turned between Mr. Pulaski and Lathem. A man who saw the crash pulled over to help --- and when he did so, Rutz stole his 2006 Nissan and took off northbound on Illinois 121 toward Lincoln. Police pursued him, and eventually he collided with an Illinois police car at 8:00 AM. He was arrested, and police learned he had stolen and abandoned or wrecked a total of 4 cars --- two of them from “good Samaritans” who stopped to help him!
Can you see why we have to be shrewd as snakes … not just harmless as doves. Next time, I bet those two will use their cell phones to call the Police rather than pulling over. I remember a conversation I had with a friend recently. He was concerned because his daughter often gave money to people with “homeless signs” beside the road. He had to warn her about how dangerous it was to roll down her window and hand money to a stranger who just might attempt a car jacking.
It is not unchristian to be cautious and realistic. Jesus himself advised us to be shrewd as snakes. That word shrewd means perceptive, sharp-witted, and “on-the-ball.” When I think of a snake, I think of someone who knows when to “keep a low profile.” Jesus gave even more specific cautions in Matthew 10:34 where he said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. He went on to explain that the Kingdom of God would cause division within families. This was especially true for Matthew’s readers. When Jews converted to Christianity, their parents would almost certainly Disown them. Many Christians face the same kind of heart-wrenching choice today … when they have to choose between Family and Christ.
Most of us have not had to make such gut-wrenching sacrifices in order to follow Jesus. But we need to remember that walking the Kingdom of Heaven can be Costly. According to Jesus, it is worth ANY price. Nothing in the world … not even family … is more important. Jesus said, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:37-39
Jesus understood that the Kingdom of God was surrounded by hostile territory. Because of this, Jesus warned us to be on our guard. But there is also a time when we can let down our guard. In Matthew 10:40-41 Jesus explains that we should always be ready to show Hospitality and every kind of Consideration to our fellow-believers.
3. Consideration to Believers Matthew 10:40-41
"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. Matthew 10:40-41
What an amazing promise that is! The Kingdom of God is meant to be a place of open arms and unlimited hospitality. And, according to these verses, whenever we give help or shelter to another Believer, we will receive a wonderful reward. What would it mean to receive a prophet’s reward or a righteous man’s reward?
Well, I’ll tell you what I think it means. When you give help to a preacher, I think you are guaranteeing yourself a preacher’s reward. When you give support to a missionary, I think you will receive a missionaries’ reward (and that’s probably a pretty good reward!) Evidently, you receive the same reward as the person you help … because YOU have made it possible for them to continue their good work.
CONCLUSION:
The watchwords for the Kingdom of Jesus include Compassion for the outcasts, Caution among unbelievers, and generous Consideration for believers. His Kingdom is a Kingdom of contrasts … where we can be pure but never naïve; humble but never weak --- That’s what it means to be shrewd as snakes but harmless as doves.
