← Back to sermon library

e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e good morning everyone welcome to the house of the Lord for worship this morning special welcome to the visitors that are amongst us and those who have come to witness the baptisms of Wenda Wendy Harrison and Glenda Dion we are rejoicing this day to see the Lord continuing to add to his church a few announcements before we get started uh the usual we will be having our evening service at 500m and Pastor cam is going to be preaching this evening uh Wednesday night bible study at 7:30 in the fellowship hall uh then next Saturday this Saturday coming up on the 22nd we have Pastor Ed Romine from Prova Utah here giving a a presentation in the morning on CH Spurgeon if you're able to come that's at 10:30 on Saturday he will also be preaching next Sunday here at the church and next Sunday we will also be bringing into the membership Lord willing another five members uh into the membership they've already been baptized so that's Grant and Abby southernland Bob Ray arjin and Rachel kandas Sami so we look forward to that as well and uh remember the confessing the faith conference coming up in April well over 100 people already registered and we expect that number to climb greatly so if you're able to help out with any of the logistics uh we definitely need need for volunteers and for housing so we're going to move on now to worship by turning to Psalm 148 Psalm 148 in our Bibles praise the Lord praise the Lord from the heavens Praise Him in the Heights praise him all his angels praise him all his hosts Praise Him son and Moon Moon praise him all you stars of light Praise Him you Heaven of heavens and you Waters above the heavens let them praise the name of the Lord for he commanded and they were created he also established them forever and ever he made a decree which shall not pass away praise the Lord from the earth you great sea creatures and all the depths fire and hail snow and clouds stormy wind fulfilling his word mountains and all Hills fruitful trees and all Cedars beasts and all cattle creeping things and flying fowl Kings of the earth and All Peoples princes and all judges of the earth both young men and maidens maidens old men and children let them praise the name of the Lord for his name alone is exalted his glory is above the Earth and Heaven and he has exalted the Horn of his people the praise of all his Saints of the children of Israel a people near to him praise the Lord amen we're going to stand together and sing from our Salter Psalm 104b as in bravo 104b please stand with me we're just going to sing the last three stanzas so 15 16 and 17 [Music] glor ever the The Works of his he looks on the earth and inar he touches the mountain the smoke and the I live I will praise to God I will sing through all of my Tears myit be to my heart in the Lord and his the Earth sers exist no longer has born my soul the Lord his adore sing hallelu give praise [Music] you may be seated let's go to our God In Prayer gracious Heavenly Father we thank you that we can gather once again together in the Name of Christ in your church your people here together to worship you we thank you that you by your Sovereign Grace and by your Sovereign power have drawn us here you've drawn us out of dark and into Marvelous Light we thank you for the light of the Gospel we thank you that Christ continues to build his church as he has promised and we pray oh God that even today as we witness these baptisms that we would Rejoice knowing that Christ continues to build his church we thank you that you are raising up man and we pray even as Christ commanded us to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send out men into the Harvest because the Harvest is great but the laborers are few Lord we pray that you would continue to train men and send them out even from our church here we thank you for the several men in our congregation that are aspiring to the ministry and we pray oh God that your blessing would rest upon them we know that if a man desires the office of a bishop he desires a good thing and we pray oh God that you would raise up many men even now and in the future and send them forth from this place we thank you as well for the man that is aspiring to training in surri Reformed Baptist Church and others we pray oh God across this this country that you would send out men and plant churches and we pray oh God that we would see a great in gathering a harvest of souls not only for our current generation but Lord for our children our grandchildren as we were reminded last night we want to see the gospel and the church this church continue in many generations to come our great great grandchildren still hearing and adhering to to the word of God to the gospel Lord we pray for those abroad that are training Ministers of the Gospel we think of the great continent of Africa much darkness and yet much light in that land and we pray oh God that you would continue to build your church there we thank you for our Brethren that are working hard in Elder at Kenya at Grace Baptist Church we pray Lord that you would bless pastor naph Pastor Moses Pastor Remy as they seek not only to lead and guide their congregation but desire and are actively involved in training men for the ministry and sending them out not only in Kenya but to other nations surrounding we pray Lord that you would Prosper their work and cause them to see much fruit to their labors Lord we thank you that you are gathering in souls in that great continent of Africa and all over the world Lord we think of those that we uh know of that have been working in the nation of China we thank you oh God that there are many many Christians in that land where Christianity is not only frowned upon but politically unacceptable we pray oh God that you would continue to build your church and that the gates of hell even there where they attempt would not Prevail against your church we thank you oh God for the good that you are doing there and in very difficult Nations like North Korea and the Middle East in Muslim countries you are also building your church and we pray that you would continue to protect your people where they are being persecuted and where there are those today that are in prison for the sake of the Gospel we pray that this would be a day of encouragement that your Holy Spirit would be there to comfort your people Lord continue with us this day I pray you'd bless Pastor Butler as he comes here uh to preach in a few minutes I pray that you would sustain him sustain his voice give him unction to preach we thank you oh God again that we can witness these baptisms we pray that this would be a glorious day for Wendy and for Glenda and pray Lord that you would uh plant them in this church and that they would be a blessing to us and we would be a blessing to them for many years to come Lord we pray that you'd continue with us now as we worship cleanse Us by your Holy Spirit we as your people need to be cleansed constantly knowing that we stray and that we still sin and we pray oh God that you would cause us to recognize that sin by the power of the holy spirit that we would repent and confess our sins because we know we have an Advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous we ask these things in Jesus name amen we're going to stand again and sing hymn number 440 44 in our Himel my faith has found a resting place [Music] Jesus he is he is a he is he [Music] is glor true and true every gra BR you with our with our with our to Jesus Christ the if you till your you will never all not the rightous not the right not Theus to consious you ler forness dream all the heire is to your you he you you the [Music] CHR you can turn you can turn with me in your Bible to Matthew chapter 9 it's not going to work can you come up hang on let me try a drink I don't ever remember this happening to me on a Sunday I guess maybe drinking water might help you can turn to Matthew chapter 9 our Focus will be verses 9 to13 in the mission and Ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ Matthew chapter 9 in the particular context in chapters 5 to7 we see the power of Christ or the authority of Christ manifest in his words in fact if you look back for just a moment in Matthew chapter 7 That's How The Sermon on the Mount concludes in verse 28 it says and so it was when Jesus had ended these sayings that the people were astonished at his teaching for he taught them as one having Authority and not as the scribes so in the sermon of on the mount a demonstration of the power or authority of his words and then in chapters 8 to 10 we see the emphasis in the power of his actions and here specifically with reference to the forgiveness and the healing of a paralytic in verses 1 to8 and then in the conversion of Matthew in verses 9-13 so I'll read that section as Jesus passed on from there he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office and he said to himf follow me so he arose and followed him now it happened as Jesus sat at the table in the house that behold many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples and when the Pharisees saw it they said to his disciples why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners then Jesus heard it he said or when Jesus heard it he said to them those who are well have no need of a physici but those who are sick but go and learn what this means I desire mercy and not sacrif for I did not come to call the righteous but Sinners to repentance amen well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for your word we thank you for this glorious day we thank you for the privilege to witness Christian baptism and what it signifies and con concerning the grace of God applied to needy Sinners we ask that you would indeed call out other Sinners by your grace and For Your Glory that they may come out of that Darkness confessing faith in Jesus Christ and know the joy of being found in him edify strengthen sanctify your Saints build us up and help us to glorify you in our daily lives we ask you'd bless our sister Stacy as she goes to Australia watch over her protect her give her a blessed time there just give her great grace God and we Rejoice that she's going to a good church we pray that that body would be encouraged by her Fellowship in the Saints again forgive us Now guide us by the Holy Spirit we pray through Jesus Christ the Lord amen well as we look at this particular passage I want to notice three things first the call to discipleship in verse 9 secondly the supper at Matthew's house in verse 10 and then finally the confrontation with the religious leaders in verses 11 to13 but notice first of all with reference to the setting verse 9 tells us that Jesus passed on from there or as Jesus passed on from there he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax of office he's also called Levi in the parallel accounts in Mark 2 and in Luke 5 so two names were common then as they are now uh Simon Peter John Mark so it wasn't uncommon to have two names so this Matthew is the Levi that we see in the synoptics notice as well where he is sitting he's sitting at the tax office because he's a tax collector in Matthew 10:3 he likely knew the four disciples who were fishermen Andrew and Peter I'm sorry Peter Andrew James and John by virtue of his work he probably collected taxes from these particular fellows now in terms of being a tax collector in the first century it wasn't any more popular than being a tax collector in the 21st century probably the least favorite person on your list are Tax Collectors they hated taxes then similar to the way that we despise them now don't think there's anything new Under the Sun with reference to taxes and paying them that it's biblical principally we see in Romans 13 though at times we may disagree with the way that that money is used or misused or abused and the reasons why the tax collectors specifically were looked down upon in this Society there are four of them Knox chamblin says they collaborated with Gentiles they handled currency with pagan inscriptions and iconography they took money from fellow Jews to give to the magistrate who oppressed them and they were often greedy and corrupt that's one of the things that Mark these particular individuals they are linked with sinners in Matthew 9:10 they're linked with Heathen Gentiles in Matthew 18:17 they're linked with harlots in Matthew 21:31 and with extortioners unjust and adulterous men in Luke 18:11 as our France says for Jesus to call such a man to follow him was a daring breach of etiquette etiquette a calculated snub to Conventional ideas of respectability which Ordinary People no less than the Pharisees might be expected to B at fishermen may not have been high in the social scale but at least they were not automatically morally and religiously suspect Matthew was so moving from the setting we move to the S uh savior so it says as Jesus passed on from there and I think it's very important for us to get the connection in the context I've already said that what we find here is a demonstration of of Christ's Authority in the works of his hands but if you back up just a moment to that instance of the paralytic we see there that there is a problem worse than paralysis if you look at verse one Jesus got into a boat he crossed over he came to his own City then behold they brought to him a paralytic l lying on a bed when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic son be of good cheer your sins are forgiven you and at once some of the scribes said within themselves this man blasphemes but Jesus knowing their thoughts said why do you think evil in your hearts for which is easier to say your sins are forgiven you or to say arise and walk but that you may know that the son of man has power on Earth to forgive sins then he said to the paralytic arise take up your bed and go to your house and he rose and departed to his house so that whole instance with reference to a problem worse than paralysis underscores the reality that the son of man has power he has authority to forgive sin and this case with Matthew shows or demonstrates he doesn't just forgive small sin he doesn't just forgive little Sinners but he forgives great sin and great Sinners because Matthew was despised in common Society now Matthew was rejected in common Society people linked them with harlots with unjust with extortioners they were know better than those particular classes of people so the connection I think is absolutely crucial we see something similar in Jesus condemnation or not condemnation but limitation in terms of rich men making it making it to Heaven not long after he speaks concerning that he says or he ends that section by saying with men it is impossible possible but With God all things are possible then we have zachus zachus is that Camel going through the eye of a needle to demonstrate the power and the glory of God most high in Sovereign Grace so what Matthew does evidence to us in this particular instance is his own personal conversion but he also instances that Jesus authority to forgive sin is real it's true it's legit and I think by way of observation it doesn't matter what you have done it does I don't want to say it quite like that but this Con this idea that I'm too sinful to come to Jesus I'm too sinful to be saved by Jesus I'm too sinful and rebellious and I've transgressed too many times and I've lacked Conformity so many times that there's no hope for me Matthew evidence is Hope Matthew declares hope and it's not in Matthew it's in Matthew's Christ it's in the Lord God most high who sent the son of his love who assumed our Humanity who lived for Sinners who died for Sinners who was raised again for Sinners the very mission of the son of man is specified in this particular passage I did not come to call the righteous but Sinners to repentance I would suggest that if you are a sinner here this morning that hasn't trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ you are the one that is ripe to come to the Lord Jesus Christ it is satanic logic that gets into your mind that tries to make you think that there's no way he'd receive you he received us he says and Promises all that the father gives me will come to me and the one who comes to me I will certainly not cast out he says come to me in Matthew 11 all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest this God this blessed savior this Lord didn't come into the world to reject Sinners to resist Sinners to keep Sinners at arms length if anything this passage should be a wonderful encouragement and invitation and exhortation for you to lay down your arms to come to the Savior to believe on him as we just sang Venture on him Venture holy there is Mercy to be had in our blessed God in fact God through the wisest man on this side of Jesus says that whoever covers his transgressions will not Prosper but the one who confesses and forsakes will what we'll find Mercy there's Mercy to be had in this Savior and this passage displays that in all of its beautiful detail so the tax collector or rather back to the the the tax notice as Jesus passed on from there he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office and he said to him follow me so he arose and followed him so we see the setting tax office and sinner we see the Savior the one who has the power or authority on Earth to forgive sins now we look specifically at the Salvation and something interesting and something curious and something that bears our observation is the fact that Matthew responded and he doesn't just respond this way well you know Lord I like the language of follow me but I also like the language of my sin I like these bucks I like my status I like being on the you know moral equivalent of harlots and extortioners and unjust men no he doesn't do that as soon as Jesus says come and follow me what does Matthew do he gets up and he follows him how many times do Sinners hear the gospel and an Earnest preacher call upon them to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and they don't they continue to resist they continue to reject they continue in their sin this is the day the scriptures tell us now is the acceptable time today is the day of salvation so the immediacy of Matthew's response is a wonderful display of not only God's power and Grace but in Matthew's understanding that this savior would have him that this savior wasn't faking it that this savior wasn't lying that all of the the calls of God through the scriptures of both the Old and the the New Testaments they're not just empty banging clanging symbols but it's the truth of God Isaiah the prophet look to me all ye ends of the Earth for I am God and there is no other those are the kinds of Texs that I suspect many here for many years and continue to resist and continue to reject don't do that you're a sinner I'm a sinner we need God's grace we need the power of the life and the death and the resurrection of our blessed savior and one of the things as well with reference to the the call of Matthew here is the financial repercussions the fishermen are called they hang up their nets for a season and then they return to their Nets do you think Matthew is going to get his job back do you think any employer namely government is going to you know smile upon Matthew's decision to leave the tax office in the middle of the day to follow this Man from Nazareth no they're probably not he's probably done for in terms of any livelihood in connection with his particular trade and ability one dictionary says a theological dictionary says Jesus summons to a tax collector to join him must have outraged and bewildered public opinion for Matthew himself the call of Jesus entailed great sacrifice he left everything fishermen could return to their boats but a tax collector who gave up his occupation had no Prospect of another job even with the skills that he undoubtedly possessed I get or I would suspect that if we were there outside the tax office when Matthew starts to follow Jesus and we would bring that up to him you know what he would say I don't care this is not a sacrifice I'm following the altogether lovely and the chief among 10,000 I am following the behavior of Sinners I am a sinner and I need salvation and it's to be found in this blessed one so I'm going to follow him in other words don't think about what you may lose when you come to Jesus you don't lose anything you don't lose you're never a loser by following Jesus Christ I don't mean losing in you know in Life or taxes or or or money or Acquisitions in terms of your soul what shall it profit a man Jesus asks in another setting if he gains the whole world but he but he loses his soul you need to think about the ramifications and the implications involved in resisting and rejecting the Savior what shall it profit of Matthew if he resists the call of Jesus and continues there with all of his tax money if he continues in the status of an unjust of a harlot of a sinner nothing he's only going to reap the consequences in terms of Eternal punishment as well in this text notice the end of verse n it says so he arose and followed him in the parallel account in Luke's gospel in Luke chapter 9 it says that he left all rose up and followed him why when Matthew is rehearsing this he doesn't give us that piece of data because Matthew is a Godly humble man and if ever in a context where he gives his testimony he doesn't want to make sure everybody knows that he left all now Luke can report that and Luke does report that and Luke tells us that when it comes down to Jesus Jesus is worth leaving all but Matthew doesn't want to be fonded over for having made the sacrifice and giving up everything no again Matthew understands you're giving up nothing and getting everything when you come to the Lord Jesus Christ I say with personal testimony and on the behalf of those in here saved by God's grace there ain't no better than having your sins forgiven and receiving a righteousness by which you can enter into the presence of God there really isn't there isn't any money there isn't any houses there isn't any cars there isn't any security or stability that has anything on what it is to be justified freely by God's grace to know that Roman Romans 51 situation therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God there is nothing greater than a conscience washed in the blood of Jesus a sinner washed in the blood of Jesus a righteousness bestowed upon us not based on our works or our Merit or our obedience or our keeping but solely and alone because of what Jesus Christ has done so Matthew leaves all he arises immediately and he follows the savior notice then the supper at Matthew's house this is Matthew's house doesn't indicate that but Luke tells us as much then Levi gave him a great feast in his own house so verse 10 now it happened as Jesus sat at the table in the house that behold many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples now why would Matthew do this oops why would Jim spill the water why would Matthew do what Matthew does I'm going to try to answer that in three ways first it's a time to honor the Lord Jesus Christ it's a time to honor the Lord Jesus Christ he he's just been saved now I realize that Matthew doesn't give us this full orbed you know testimony of every jot and tit of every realization that he has had but we know what's happened he's sitting with his sin not that all taxes are necessarily sin but the the taxes represent or symbolize his sinfulness he's sitting there he rises up he follows Jesus what else would he do he'd throw a party he wants to honor the savior he wants to extol the glory of Christ he wants to speak well of him he wants to celebrate with him he wants to honor him also it's a time of thankfulness for the grace of God look at verse 15 verse 14 the Disciples of John came to him saying why do we and the Pharisees fast often but your disciples do not fast and Jesus said to them can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them but the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them and then they will Fast what's his point while Jesus is among them in his Earthly Ministry they're not given to fasting they're given to feasting they're given to gratitude they're given to thankfulness they're given to Joy in his presence now when he's stripped from them and he's crucified on the cross and he's removed from them violently there's the time for fasting so Matthew's been converted he wants to honor the Lord he wants to celebrate with thankfulness the Lord but he also wants to evangelize his friends Matthew evidences something of the the man who finds the pearl of great price the man who's laid His Eyes by faith upon the altogether lovely and chief among 10,000 shared with you on many occasions in Song of Solomon Chapter 5 into chapter 6 you have the bride describing the bridegroom she calls him allog together lovely and chief among 10,000 and the daughters of Jerusalem respond where is your beloved that we may seek him too she gave such a glowing description of this blessed one that those in her hearing wanted to find him as well and notice the list the guest list at Matthew's house that behold many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples Matthews behold is designed to draw attention to his guest list here and what he is doing is evangelizing them CH Spurgeon says the new convert most naturally called in his old friends that they might have the advantage of our Lord's teaching they would come to a supper more readily than a than to a sermon and so he gave them a feast and thus attracted them to the place where Jesus was a time to honor a time to celebrate a time to thank and a time to preach Jesus to these needy ones again the Manifest power of our Lord he doesn't resist this invitation he doesn't say they're filthy gross Sinners that I don't want any part of no that's the Pharisees and the scribes Jesus comes to this Feast Jesus comes willingly to this Feast Jesus participates in this Feast knowing good and well who the uh guest list is France again says the attentive reader of the Gospel might recall the vision of the mess iic banquet in 8: 11 and 12 where basically we're told that those ones that had rejected and refused the savior they would not be brought into to that supper but it would be those from east and west those outside of this geographical place the Covenant Promises of God are yay and amen in our Lord Jesus Christ and it includes from every tribe every tongue every people every nation so France again says here as there the guest list is not at all what most Jews would have expected and that brings us then to the response of at least the religious Jews in this particular instance the confrontation with the leaders in verses 11 to13 note first the nature of the complaint verse 11 it says and when the Pharisees saw it scribes are told us were told by the synoptics um um Mark and Luke that they the scribes were there as well and when the Pharisees saw it they said to his disciples why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners now the thing that you ought to observe here is that they don't have the guts to speak to Jesus they don't have the backbone to register uh register their complaint with Jesus they don't go to Jesus and say what are you doing you're sitting with miserable Sinners filthy Wicked horrible men no they whine to the disciples they're they're gutless they're cowards bullies usually are bullies aren't courageous they're bullies and they they're cowards they cover their cowardice with this kind of bullyism and so they complain to the disciples and they said why do you why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners breth I don't think this was a an investigative question for necessary information why does your teacher sit with such filthy specimens of beings that that's not it their beef is with Jesus make make no mistake about it they got an axe to grind with with Jesus here they don't direct uh directly address him with their question there's a parallel not to this there is in Luke but a parallel concept or theme in Luke 15 in Luke 15 we're told that all the tax collectors and the Sinners Drew near to him to what to hear him so what happens when all these tax collectors and sinners draw near to him to hear him well the religious folk the scribes and the Pharisees they say this man receives Sinners and eats with them again it's not you know a matter of fact report huh that's interesting this man receives Sinners and eats with them that's not it it's disdain it is abhorrence it is loathing this man receives Sinners and eats with them as I've said on probably more occasions and you care to remember I've always thought what did the Sinners and the tax collectors do at that point their ears probably look like radar dishes to see how he was going to answer that is it true does he receive Sinners and and tax collectors does he receive them because if so I want to be even closer to this one so does Jesus respond to that unspoken question yeah he does in a threefold parable he speaks first of a Shepherd who lost one of his hundred sheep and he leaves the 99 so that he can find that one put it on his shoulders and go back home rejoicing he does it like a woman who has 10 coins she loses one of those coins she doesn't just report it to CR as a loss she moves the furniture she gets out the broom She searches she scurries and what happens she finds that coin what's jesus' response in each of these instances so do the angels and Heaven Rejoice over one sinner who repents again Brethren if I'm in that group of tax collectors and sinners which I most certainly would have been I mean I hope I would have been close to him I'm in the group Cate uh generally but specifically I would hope I would have been near him I want to hear that what they complain about this man receives Sinners and eats with them is the summon substance of the Gospel it's the glory of the one who has power on Earth to forgive sins and of course in that third instance there was a man and he had two sons and one of the sons says father give me my share of The Inheritance right now other words you're better off to me dead than alive I just want what is mine for when that time comes that you depart so what does the father do the father gives him his share of The Inheritance what do the son do does he go out and invest it does he go out and live righteously no we know the story of The Prodigal he's a wretch he blows it he's CRA uh craving and coveting what pigs are eating and he comes to himself and he says I know what I'll do and Brethren he's not converted here I know that's a very obvious way or a lot of way a lot of times the way people read that text he came to himself means he knew there was Grace to be had in his father no he knew there was three HS and a cot to be had with his father he knew cuz he first goes and joins himself to a man of a distant country tries to get a get get three Hots in a cot there doesn't work so I know what I'll do I'll go back and I'll cast myself on my father's Mercy not for forgiveness not for a righteousness but so that I can be counted as one of the day laborers and get those three Hots in a Cod he wasn't converted then so what happens he's a long way off in the father sees him and the father runs to him and the father falls on him and the father kisses him and the father brings him back to his house the father orders that a ring be placed on his finger the father orders that a robe be laid on his back there's his justification there's his cleansing there's his salvation it doesn't come because he came to himself it comes because the father sought him and fell upon him and received him back to his own and actually I think the story is told to focus on the other brother because he's just like those Pharisees this man receives Sinners and eats with them how does the brother respond when his son who was dead is now alive when his son who was lost is now found you you never did this for me he's whining and he's grumbling and he's complaining Jesus shows the blessedness of gospel to to tax collectors and Sinners and he shows the Pharisees something of that attitude that complains and grumbles and murmurs and looks down at the grace of God most high so when Jesus is invited to this home where tax collectors and sinners are in attendance he responds this is the beautiful thing about Jesus for those of us by grace who have tasted and seen that he is good this is one of those things right he doesn't keep us at arms length he doesn't resist or refuse us he doesn't say off with your head because you ever dared to think I would receive you unto myself no we have learned we have found we have seen by the grace of God that this man receives Sinners and eats with them this man came to seek and to save that which was lost so the complaint was directed against Jesus not the tax collectors and the Sinners and the complaint was bathed in their own sanctimony their dripping hypocrisy why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners that's just foul as far as they're concerned now note the response to the complaint in verses 12 to 13 Jesus response in a three-fold way first his role second his appe heal and third his mission note his role verse 12 when Jesus heard that he said to them those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick now Jesus is putting it right there where even a Pharisee hypocritical wretch could understand you you don't call the doctor on a Monday morning to report that you're healthy I if you've ever been to chillak emergency you're sure not going there when you're healthy I'm just like sitting in the waiting room for five hours it's great Nobody Does that nobody wants medical assistance unless they're hurting nobody wants medical help unless they're diseased again he he's keeping it low level so that even these guys can follow the liw in other words who else should I be sitting with who else should I be hanging with what other kinds of persons do you do you have in your mind that I should surround myself you guys this is basic gospel logic 101 those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick this is a faithful saying it's worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world Sinners to save 1 Timothy 1 and verse 15 Jesus again is going to punctuate that in just a moment but why else did Jesus come you have to get this if you're not a believer in Jesus everything in the Bible converges at this central place that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life why does God make the world why does God govern the world to carry out his plan and purpose to save from that world a great multitude that no man can number from every tribe tongue people and Nation if you ever ask the question well why did Jesus come into this world Sinners to save he's using gospel Logic on these wretched men to silence their complaint why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners you'd never do that if you were happen happening to know that you know there was a group of sick people kind of hanging out in one area and a doctor went to see them would you ever say why is that doctor going to visit those sick people doesn't he know they're sick doesn't he know they might be contagious doesn't he know that he might get what they got of of course he knows that but the virtue of his office is to go to those particular sorts and heal them so it's it's basic logic but then notice secondly his appeal to the Prophet this is Hosea chap 6 and verse 6 and I quite like the first part but not the verse itself I I like that too but I like when he says but go and learn what this means go and learn what this means do you think that the Pharisees and the scribes were familiar with the prophet Hosea yeah they were remember they had filteries they'd recite scripture they memorized scripture but they had learn the scripture Jesus reproves that in this simple statement go and learn because they knew it perhaps had recited it perhaps had read it and preached on it in the synagogue they knew it but they hadn't learned it he says go and learn what this means I desire mercy and not sacrifice I think there's two things going on here the first is that Jesus is returning or rather responding to their complaint why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners obviously but secondly he's showing consistency this is what the Old Testament always bid as well I mean to miss the Old Testament an emphases like these would lend itself to missing Jesus as the Messiah and Jesus as the friend of tax collectors and sinners in other words it's been the nature of God even in the Old Testament not completely obliterate the external that's not what I think the text is calling us to but rather to focus on the internal it wasn't different in hosea's day both in terms of its intent be those who are wholly committed to the Lord but as well it wasn't different in hose is day then for these men who are receiving the same condemnation that those men in hosea's day received that same attitude that same mindset that same idea that as long as we've got the externals down then it really doesn't matter what our hearts are like so Christ appeals to the prophet to show something of continuity in terms of God's nature and Grace but to show something of of continuity in terms of man's sin and Rebellion Davies and Allison make it make make it obvious or they say this cultic observance that means doing what God specifies in the religious apparatus that is Israel cult doesn't necessarily mean Jehovah's Witness in Old Testament studies it means that which is peculiar or particular to the to the worship of the Old Testament Church or people you got Temple Tabernacle priests sacrifice that's cult so they say cultic observance without inner faith and heart felt Covenant loyalty is vain that's what these these men are showing the same vanity that the target audience in Hosea is demonstrating France says one of several prophetic sayings which challenge people's instinctive Reliance on corre correct ritual while ignoring the moral demands of their religion you see it in Spades in the prophet Mal Mali Malachi comes along to upgrade the nation of Israel for their unfaithfulness and through a series of rebukes through a series of prophetical declarations where he condemns them they keep saying who us us us like they're shocked you mean I can't go to the back of my flock and pick the one that's lamed and maimed and blind and slept him to the Tabernacle or to the temple for offering no that's not heart religion that's just satisfying the externality you brought an animal he happens to be breathing still but it's no sacrifice it does no work in your farm and it's not something that's going to fet you any money at the market it didn't cost you anything and what about when he UPS the ante you've stolen sacrifice another thing I've often thought if you on a Sabbath morning living an old Covenant Israel steal an animal from your neighbor to take to the temple to offer it as a sacrifice you're in a bad place you're in a bad place the the whole idea behind s sacrifice is to pinch the flesh right not redemptively or in an atonement I'm going to pinch the flesh so that God rewards me with salvation no that's not what I mean sacrifice Jesus commands the Widow's might why because she took of her abundance she took what little she had and took the majority of that or all of it and dumped it into the plate all these others that that had a bunch and take just a little bit out of that bunch and dump it in the plate who sacrificing there so the prophet Malachi lets them have it for this external ritual ual istic ideal or idea and that's what's going on with the Pharisees in the first century and then notice the taex ends with his mission his role as a physician his appeal to the prophet and his mission in case you guys didn't get this he's saying case you didn't follow the doctor and the patient analogy case you're not the brightest bulbs when it comes to Hosea 6 I'm just going to lay this out for you and make it crystal clear that I came for the specific intention to receive Sinners unto myself and eat with them that's the glory of the Christian Gospel that's the glory of the Declaration in John 1:29 Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world that's the glory of the Gospel as free prefigured and typified and signified in the Old Testament it's the glory of the Gospel celebrated in the Psalms celebrated in the prophets it's the glory of the gospel that the knowledge of the Lord will cover the Earth as the waters cover the sea it's the glory of the Gospel look to me all the ends of the Earth and be ye saved for I am God and there is no other it's the glory of the Gospel that he lays out in very clear detail to these men he says for I did not come to call the righteous but Sinners to repentance this is why he came I think that at times we've got it backwards he came to show us how to live he did but second secondarily he came came to show us what must be in order for us to live to look to him in faith to believe on that gospel to know the joy of the Forgiveness of sins and that's righteousness given by God to needy Sinners to do what you and I are unable to do as well I think at times we we make it so narrow we make it so closed we keep it to just a certain band of people no this gospel is to be testified everywhere every tribe every tongue every people every nation in Abraham all the nations of the earth will be blessed why because of the Seed of Abraham which is our Lord Jesus Christ so Christ summarizes the mission as the final aspect of his response to this complaint why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners now when he says righteous he is not suggesting that you know in in let's say Idaho I mentioned Idaho this morning we'll still use the example and I I don't think this I don't have some Idaho I actually said it last night I I don't have an Idaho fantasy it just popped into my head but let's just say everybody in Idaho is righteous I didn't come for them I came for those other wretched 49 states or I didn't come for BC I came for those other wretched provinces I didn't come for chillak but I came for all those other cities there in in the Lower Mainland he is not say saying that this is not a commendation or an acknowledgment that there's a band of righteous men out there that don't actually need his blood atonement no no no no no those who are righteous in their own eyes kind of like I don't know a Pharisee kind of like somebody that would look down their nose at the thought that Jesus was going to go to this supper and be surrounded by tax collectors and sinners yeah that that's what he means I didn't come to call them the ones righteous in their own eyes turn to Matthew 11 where I think this is abundantly clear Matthew 11 notice in verse 2 at that time Jesus answered and said I thank you Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent here's the righteous ones they're wise in their own eyes they're prudent in their own ways they think that all is well they think that external compliance with external regulations is all that is necessary thus showing they didn't understand Hosea 66 they think that external compliance to the outward cult is all that is necessary and they are in good standing with with God no they're wise in their own eyes they're prudent in their own eyes they're righteous in their own eyes and as a result of that wisdom and that Prudence and that righteousness all pseudo by the way they come to conclusions like this man receives Sinners and eats with them or why does your teacher sit with tax collectors and sinners when he says this he is not acknowledging a band of righteous men that don't need blood atonement and then notice he makes this clear at the end of verse 13 but Sinners to repentance Sinners to repentance how do you think these guys responded to that oh okay now we get it sure that makes sense he's a doctor going to sick people he's like the prophet Hosea commends to us and and he's he's out there to rescue our fellows that have undone themselves this is the kind of stuff that outraged them this was the kind of stuff that culminates at the end of the passion week and then saying away with him away with him crucify him this is the kind of stuff that leads to the confront confrontations that we've seen repeatedly in John's gospel with these religious leaders the whole concept of a crucified Messiah the whole concept of a suffering savior the whole concept of this one that apparently is weak and and and sorrowful and and no form or comeliness that that we should be be Behold Him that was an affront Brethren and I love the way Jesus doesn't back down from pressing and pressing and pressing I'm a doctor to the sick I'm what God has always expressed in terms of Hosea 66 and the very reason I'm here is to have lunch with these guys that's why I didn't come to call the right but Sinners to repentance again a world of good news in a passage like this I'm a sinner well then guess what Christ is a savior I've messed up my life guess what there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared guess what there is salvation to be had in our Lord Jesus Christ this is his point this is his resp response to the charge similar to the three-fold parable that he tells when they whine in Luke 15 this man receives Sinners and eats with them you're right I do like a Shepherd like a woman who lost her coin and Like a Man Who Lost His prodigal son that's the way I do it and here when they whine and they complain it's a three-fold response yep I'm a doctor for sick people I'm what Hosea 66 is all about and and this is the very very purpose and reason for which I came I didn't come to call the righteous but Sinners to repentance that is blessed that is wonderful I guarantee you this morning if you're not a believer in our Lord Jesus Christ and you look around this morning I'm not saying do that necessarily you're going to meet nice people nice people right I I hope everybody's nice but that's part of it that's having come out the other side of being washed in his Precious Blood and and the imputed righteousness of Jesus and taking into consideration we're not always that nice either we typically clean up pretty decently on a Sunday we're not saved because we're nice we're not saved because we performed we're not saved because this is a reward for what we've done in a former life we're saved because of Jesus Christ who says to Matthew come and follow me we're saved because of Jesus Christ who's a physician for needy Souls we're saved because of Jesus Christ who is the embodiment of the nature of God revealed in Hosea 6 and we're saved because Jesus Christ in his Mercy in his love in his kindness came into this world took on our Humanity lived in our place died in our place was raised again the third day such that everyone who looks to him in faith will have everlasting life if that's his job if that's his purpose if that's his function you're not going to mess things up by coming to him that's the emphasis be a Matthew today get up leave all and follow Jesus in faith that's the only way of eternal life now the faith as evidenced by the leaving all and and following him look unto the Lord Jesus Christ in faith and you will have everlasting life well in conclusion the power of Christ is on Vivid display not only in a general statement that the son of man has power on Earth to forgive sins verse 6 but specifically in the case of a notorious sinner in verses 9 to13 isn't that wonderful it's not that there's just forgiveness with Jesus but there's forgiveness with a guy like Matthew who's got friends like Matthew and other Sinners that are kind of lumped into the same category with the rest of the drags of society ethically speaking the son of man has power the son of man has Authority and the son of man has that presently at the right hand of the father it's not that he suspended that it's not that six or n 96 tells us it was only while he was on earth now it's over it's expired no no no no no no no the Apostle John tells us my little children I write these things so that you may not sin but if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous so at the right hand of God the father right now Jesus is in the business of forgiving his people it's a blessed privilege that we unfortunately have to use way too much but he's also in the business of forgiving those who come to him in faith whether you're old whether you're young the requirement is that you're a sinner as some in the church have said the only contribution we make to our Salvation is the sin we need to be saved from and I can assure you on Divine testimony that all of us have that problem I suggests secondly in terms of a a portrait of a disciple of Christ which I think Matthew affords he believes on the Lord Jesus Christ he believes on the Lord Jesus Christ definitionally a Christian is somebody who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ we're not Christians because we're better than anybody else we're not Christians because we're nicer than anybody else we're not Christians because we've done more work no definitionally fundamentally some and substan uh substan is Faith In Our Lord Lord Jesus Christ what does Paul and Silas say of Paul and Barnabas to the Philippian Jailer must have been Silas yeah act 16 Paul and Silas say believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved I would suggest secondly he repents of his sin and I think that's demonstrated not in Vivid detail in a way that Paul might treat it in a in a letter to the Corinthians but this getting up and leaving all I think that's significant he got up and he left off whatever at one time held him fast is no longer long important Paul speaks of this in Philippians chapter 3 what things once were gained to me these have counted loss for the Excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord have you ever had that you've ever heard that Lloyd Jones got that Lloyd Jones was a medical doctor a physician and then he became a preacher and people would say things like why'd you give up being a doctor to be a preacher gee thanks for my my you know recognizing my career choices he never ever looked at it as giving up you ever have that in your early days as a Christian why'd you give up all that have you ever thought and said there's no giving up I got everything in Jesus I got the all together lovely and chief among 10,000 so he believes on Jesus he repents from his sin and while it's not here we're going to shoehorn it in for the for the purposes of our day he's baptized he's baptized by immersion to confess his faith in that Triune God God and I want to encourage Wendy and Glenda with this reality that the power of our blessed savior that called this man out of Darkness into Marvelous Light is the power exercised on their souls that's a beautiful thing in other words what was available in Matthew 9 is available in chilak in 2025 and when it comes to baptism it is a demonstration outwardly of an inward change that water doesn't save them it's not miraculous it's going to be let out into the parking lot actually now we have a thanks to Mike we have a nice big hole and it goes right into there used to go out into the parking lot you'd get your feet wet when we'd walk out after a baptism stepping it up in terms of getting rid of water it's not magic it's not Hocus Pocus that water doesn't convey anything to these sisters it rather demonstrates what God and His Grace has conveyed in the gospel of his Bel beloved Son it is an outward identification with the Triune God in light of Matthew 28 baptized in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit the name singular of God and the Trinity of persons in that one God in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit as well there is an outward commitment of of Life lived in obedience to God our confession says and of giving up unto God through Jesus Christ to live and walk in newness of Life Paul uses baptism in that capacity in Romans chapter 6 to answer the the false charge that we continue in sin that Grace May abound may it never be you died you were buried you've been raised again in the power of our blessed savior and the outward manifestation of New Covenant realities so baptism it's implied assumed and argued for here I would suggest as well just to clean to finish this up he rejoices in the Savior evidence by The Feast that he throws he pursues the kingdom first wait Lord let me just get this money stowed away let me make sure that my Earthly M no he seeks first the kingdom of God and his righteousness he sees Christ as the bride saw the bridegroom altogether lovely and chief among 10,000 and as well Matthew no doubt had a life of difficulty subsequent to this becoming a Christian doesn't mean all your Earthly troubles just fall away they they don't anybody who's telling you that is lying but let's just be Crystal Clear ha come to Jesus and life's going to be great you'll grow another foot your hair will be thicker you don't need glasses anymore you get bigger bite no the health wealth Prosperity Gospel is not gospel unless you're Satan and his minions and hell is your destination there's trouble in the Christian Life that no doubt Matthew had to undergo and he did so by the grace of God and then I would suggest finally not just Earthly external afflictions and turmoils and trials that affect us but it's that inward problem that remaining corruption right Paul speaks of this in Romans 7 and Galatians 5 it's not like we're converted and we never sin again no that's not anyone's experience nor was it Matthew's experience but he understood the power of the Gospel John Newton made this observation and we'll close here I am not what I ought to be I am not what I want to be I am not what I hope to be in another world but still I am not what I once used to be and by the grace of God I am what I am amen May Wendy and Glenda be encouraged and may all of us be encouraged at a fresh view of our blessed savior as he reveals to us unequivocally what his mission is well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for your word we thank you for this beautiful account of Matthew's conversion and even more so A beautiful account of Matthew's savior we know that the son of man has power to forgive sins and we see it here with a notorious Sinner and so God we pray that you'd Open Hearts cause persons to reflect upon their sin before you and cause them to see Jesus Christ as the one in whom there is forgiveness and a righteousness by by which they may enter into your presence we ask for your blessing to be upon these ladies you would encourage them that this would be a day that they can recall uh means of help to them and Times of of difficulty and may you bless us as a local church and may you help us to exhort one another daily while it is called today lest we be hardened through this the the deceitfulness of sin and we ask these things through Christ Our Lord amen all right our brother is going to come up and Lead hymn number 436 while we change our clothes and get into the water before we sing if there's any parents that have children down in the nursery asked you to go and collect your children now so that the nursery workers can also come up and participate witness the baptisms please stand with me as we sing together 436 my Pei has found a resting [Music] place living one shall [Music] no Jesus di he forus [Music] his a single soul come to him never cast me out [Music] Jesus Di and [Music] for Sal through his [Music] di for me my greats the S the to St for his preious BL sh glus [Music] and Di glor [Music] I did want to read uh our confession of faith on this particular ordinance or Sacrament chapter 29 is of baptism if you're new or visiting our church we subscribe to the second London Confession of faith of 1689 and this is a wonderful compact summary of what we find the Bible teaches on Christian baptism so paragraph one deals with its spiritual significance baptism is an ordinance of the new New Testament ordained by Jesus Christ to be unto the party baptized a sign of his fellowship with him in his death and resurrection of his being engrafted into him of remission of sins and of his giving up unto God through Jesus Christ to live and walk in newness of Life paragraph 2 specifies its proper subject so who can be baptized who should be baptized and the confession gives the biblical response those who do actually profess repentance towards God faith in and obedience to our lord Jesus are the only proper subjects of this ordinance the third paragraph then says or deals with the outward element how or what uh how by which do we baptize so the outward element to be used in this ordinance is water wherein the party is to be baptized in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit and then that's further qualified by highlighting immersion or dip of the person in water is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance so in water and by immersion for those who believe the gospel and by God's grace are saved and that salvation or rather that baptism represents uh being engrafted into Christ remission of sin and giving up unto God through Jesus Christ to live and walk in newness of life so first is going to be Wendy Harrison and we can touch this yeah Daniel if I get shocked I'm coming to you I missed all those classes in high school sure she she hold it hold it yeah hold it you go right ahead she's going to give a testimony yes you want to me first no after after yeah you tell us what the Lord did and then I will D you oh okay thank you blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who ha blessed us with spirit all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ thank you to the congregation for acce accepting me this lonely worm Speck of dust sinner thank you for your kind words Pleasant conversation and encouragement and generous Hospitality forgive me for partaking in the Lord's Supper before baptism how little I know but this I do know Deuteronomy 6 I love the Lord with all my heart with all my soul and with all my might what a precious Delight how a simple verse from the holy scriptures can capture the heart he tell us the number of the Stars he calleth them by name when thou sest seeketh my heart my face my heart said unto thee thy face will I seek our creator priest Prophet judge king Prince of Peace servant son of man Son of God Man of Sorrows acquainted with grief our Lord Jesus Christ Galatians 1:4 whom gave himself for our sin that he might Deliver Us from this present evil world according to the will of God and our father Colossians 17 and he is before all things and by him all things exist one Corinthians 1:30 all we are and have come and have all we are and what have comes from him and therefore leaves no room for human Glory Ephesians 28:7 for thy Grace you are saved and through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God John 15:5 abide in his love for without him you can do nothing the Lord is my strength and my shield and therefore my heart trusted in him I am helped therefore my heart greatly rejoices and with my song will I Praise Him rejoice in the L lord always but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your requests be known to God to Corinthians 13:14 the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all amen okay I baptize you in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit hang on kids we're going to sing praise to God after this Lord bless you Lord bless you you can leave all that there yes you okay and then her twin sister Glenda Dion when I was showing them the baptistry the other day they said have you baptized anyone as old as us I said I baptized an older man he was 85 years old and the water was freezing cold and then and then Wendy I think said well have you baptized twins I said nope that that that's a new one so no you're not going to be over your head you will go when I you did you want the microphone I there you go there's so many things I would like to say about Jesus our ultimate sacrifice who offers up salvation and everlasting life in heaven through our faith in him and our repentance of our sins all praise and glory to you heavenly father I thank you for the gifts of Jesus my Lord my Pray My Lord my preacher My Savior My Teacher I thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who comforts me advises me rebukes me and listens to me and thank you for the Holy Angels who minister to me and walk among us I'm very nervous doing fine Jesus said repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand Matthew 4:17 I know I am a sinner in thought or In Deed recognizing my sins is the beginning of my repentance I ask our heavenly father for forgiveness ye are the light of the world a city that is set on a hill cannot be headd Matthew 5:17 through the gifts of the fruits of the spirit love joy peace love longsuffering gentleness goodness Faith meekness temperaments Galatians 52223 my light does shine my faith in Jesus grows for he is the way the truth and the life no man cometh unto the father but by but by him Matthew 4:16 over the years I've been richly blessed with Miracles many many answered prayers healings children and and enriched with the Holy Spirit I'm truly grateful to Jesus who shows me the way how to walk in spirit and righteousness for many are called but few are chosen Matthew 22:14 I pray you are all in the Lamb's Book of Life and perhaps the Rapture get ready for Jesus is coming soon times of the essence show me the way I serve you today Heavenly Father and thank you all for being here to witness my most special event and a special thanks to Pastor Butler and my daughter Leah I baptize you in the name of the father Son and Holy Spirit God bless you thank all right everybody stand and we'll sing we'll sing praise to God [Music] okay all cre [Music] pra [Music] him PR father and close in prayer please sure thank you let's close in pray father father we thank you for your to us through your son Lord Jesus Christ e e e e e