God’s Love vs. Our Inadequacies
Matthew 9:18-31
Intro:
1. ILL: The Woman Taken in Adultery - Jn 8:1-12.
2. Matt 7:1 says we are not to be the judges. That’s God’s place!.
3. The Lord accepted many we might be tempted to reject!
I. v18-19, 23-26—The Lord Accepts You Even with an
Inadequate Motive
A. Mk & Lk tell us Jairus was the ruler of the synagogue (Mk 5:22 & Lk 8:41).
1. What were his duties?
A. He taught the Law to children in synagogue school.
B. He assigned people to read & expound the Law during Sabbath services.
C. He took care of the building & administrative things.
2. Since he was probably very orthodox, he likely considered Jesus a heretic.
3. He may have tried everything else & came to the Lord out of desperation!
B. The Lord accepted him just as he was, inadequate motive & all!
1. Mk mentions the Lord telling him, “Just trust Me”. (Mk 5:36)
2. The Lord met his needs in spite of his motive.
C. Do you pass judgment on other people’s motives?
1. How about the woman who joins the church to bring her children up in church?
2. How about the business man who goes to church because it’s good for business?
3. How about the woman who goes to church to find a Christian husband?
4. How about the man who joins the church to find fellowship & acceptance?
II. v20-22—The Lord Accepts You Even with an Inadequate Faith
A. This woman was an outcast of society.
1. The Law required she remain unclean - Lev 15:25, When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period or has a dis- charge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her period.
2. Everyone who touched her would have to be ceremonially cleansed.
3. Mk 5:26 says she tried everything.
B. The Lord accepted her just as she was; inadequate faith & all!
1. Her superstitious faith believed there was healing power in one of the Lord’s possessions, His clothes. We do have biblical examples of superstitious faith being honored.
A. Act 5:15-16 - Peter’s shadow healed.
B. Act 19:11-12 - Paul’s hanky healed.
2. v22 - The Lord said, Daughter, cheer up. Your faith has cured you!
a. If her inadequate superstitious faith could do that, think what your faith could do!
b. But it needs to be at least as large as a mustard seed!
C. Do you pass judgment on other people’s faith?
1. How about the man who doesn’t understand the “right” reasons for Christian bap- tism?
2. How about the woman who has an experience she calls the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
3. How about the guy who accepts Jesus but isn’t too keen about the institutional church?
III. v27-31 - The Lord Accepts You Even with an
Inadequate Theology
A. These two men didn’t have it all together doctrinally.
1. v27 - They called the Lord “Son of David”. This was not the title our Lord preferred.
2. The people who used it knew the Lord only through reputation:
A. Matt 20 - Two other blind men.
B. Matt 21:9 - The multitudes.
C. Matt 21:15 - Children.
3. The term implied the Lord would use His power to become a world conqueror.
A. But the Lord’s kingdom would not be of this world - Jn 18:36.
B. Even His disciples misunderstood this - Act 1:6.
B. The Lord accepted them just as they were, inadequate conception of who He was & what His purposes were.
1. v28 - So - when they cried to Him in the street He ignored them. They had to con- front Him privately.
2. But - the Lord accepted them & met their need even when their theology was all messed up!
C. The Lord will accept you just as you are & meet your needs!
1. How much do you really have to know biblically to surrender your life to the Lord- ship of Christ?
2. Each of these people realized they had a need they couldn’t handle themselves. So must you!
3. Each of these people, realizing their need, came to the Lord Jesus for help. So must you!
The Lord’s nail torn hands are reaching out to you.
Come to Him just as you are!
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