OK, so I decided it would be neat to start posting sermon notes again. The Assistant Pastor at my church has been doing a series on Peter. His journey to discipleship truly was a metamorphosis from fisherman to Fisher of Men!
This Sunday he spoke on Peter's friend Matthew (the tax collector) and how the religious leaders of the day (called Pharisees) probably viewed him and people like him, but also how GOD saw him. In the Pharisees' opinion they were doing what was right, so they didn't need God's forgiveness, but Matthew's kind of people were so despicable that they didn't deserve it.
Matthew 9:11-13
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.
I. Matthew the tax collector
A. His supposed CULTURAL condition: a despised tax collector
As a tax collector Matthew could collect whatever amount he wanted, as long as he gave the Romans what they were due. This put him in a position of being despised even more than the Romans themselves.
B. His supposed RELIGIOUS condition: unclean and unwelcome (according to the Pharisees)
C. His true SPIRITUAL condition: a repentant sinner receiving the Savior
Luke 5:28 So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.
D. Jesus position on Matthew's Condition : a righteous Child of God.
Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
Just as we should, Matthew got his friends and brought them to Jesus.
II. The Pharisees
A. Their supposed CULTURAL condition: Respected, Religious Rulers
B. Their supposed RELIGIOUS condition: Righteous - they were law followers
C. Their true SPIRITUAL condition: self-righteous men, lost in the works. Outwardly circumcised, but inwardly (their hearts) uncircumcised.
Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,
Philippians 3:2-9
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit,[a] rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
Ritual does not make a person righteous.
Application
The Great lessons to Simon Peter and to us:
1. Knowing the true heart of God, one of redemption, not condemnation
2. Knowing the heard of a True disciple, to compassionately seek and share Christ with those which are lost.
3. Seeking to avoid the becoming a self-righteous Pharisee
We do good things as a RESULT of salvation, not in order to gain salvation.
Christ offers mercy to those who are willing to admit they are sinners.
God prefers acts of benevolence rather than merely external righteousness.
Jesus said to the Pharisees Go and learn the heart of God, then you will understand why I sit with sinners.
A true Disciple walks in humility, not haughtiness, knowing that he is a sinner, not a saint, saved by the unmerited grace of compassionate God.
