When Jesus had finished giving instructions to his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns. 2 Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples 3 and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4 Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, 6 and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.” ( Matt 11:1-6) Ministry (1) : Upon completing instructions to his disciples, Jesus went into their towns. Some scholars believe “their towns” refers to Jewish towns and villages. The text distinguishes between Jesus teaching – instruction and preaching – and exhorting the people to accept and act on the truth of his message. He exhorted them to obey his message with confidence and without reservations. Questions (2-3) : John the Baptist, imprisoned by Herrod, questioned whether Jesus was the promised one, that is, the one to come, the Messiah. Some scholars believe that his imprisonment caused him to waver. Perhaps the reports he was receiving were inaccurate or that Jesus ministry was so radically different from what he expected. There are several suggestions as to why John asked the question: (1) He knew who Jesus was but wanted to reassure his disciples that Jesus was the Messiah, (2) John’s faith had not waivered, but he was out of patience that Jesus had not restored his kingdom; or (3) he had prophesied about the coming judgement but it had not come – specifically John’s ministry was over and he was in prison. Report (4-5): Jesus did not answer the question directly but told them to report all the things Jesus was doing that set him apart and were consistent with Isaiah’s prophesies: the blind see; lame walk, lepers healed, and the dead raised. Moreover, the poor heard the message of the Kingdom and the oppressed and downtrodden were encouraged (Isaiah 29:18-19; 35:5-6). The language indicates that these were ongoing actions. Blessings (6): Jesus then said that blessings came to those who do not get tripped up or stumble over his unorthodox message and actions. In essence he told John that he did not come as a political liberator. If this was John’s thinking, he might have questioned why Jesus had not come to free him from prison as Isaiah had prophesied – bringing freedom to captives (Isaiah 61:1). Such thinking was wrong since John knew and told his disciples that Jesus ministry would increase while his would decrease (John 1:30). The word “offended” in verse 6 can be translated to mean scandalized or embarrassed. In contrast, they were to be blessed or happy to see Jesus as the fulfillment of their hope for the Messiah. Confessing doubts helps build one’s faith and helps affirm the truth. Challenge: How would John have understood Jesus reply in v4-5 based on his knowledge of the God of the Old Testament?

26 “Therefore, don’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered and nothing hidden that won’t be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, proclaim on the housetops. 28 Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. 30 But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matt 10:26-31)  The Truth (26-27): Jesus exhorted his disciples not to fear those who opposed the message of Christ (the gospel). Because the truth will prevail and what the opposition does or plots in secret will be revealed in time. What he told them in the dark they must bring into the light. Jesus repeated that thought saying that what they were told quietly or in private they should shout from the housetop or broadcast far and wide. Therefore, the disciples needed to be bold and courageous in sharing the gospel. Nothing was to be concealed. They should not hold back. · Boldness: willingness to take risks, act with confidence · Courage: mental or moral strength to face challenges despite resistance Eternal Soul (28): Opponents can kill the body (physical death) but not the soul that is eternal. The one to fear is the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy both body and soul. One’s soul will either continue to exist in the eternal presence of the Lord life or dwell in a state of eternal anguish, pain, suffering, and torment forever (in a fire that never consumes nor goes out – Mark 9:43-48)). Everyone has been created to live forever, either in heaven or in hell. The insignificant (29-30): Jesus pointed out that the Father is a God of detail. He cares for his creation, even the smallest or what we consider to be worthless animals (sparrows). Everything is under his control. Further, he has counted even every hair on your head. We are to live our lives aware that he continues to care for the most insignificant of things. The language indicates continuing care. We Are of Value (31): Therefore, understanding that he cares for you, do not be controlled or paralyzed by fear. I am in his hands in physical life as well as death. Challenge: Are you facing opposition? Are you bold and courageous in sharing the gospel? Where will you spend eternity? What is your identity? Who are you?

18 As he was telling them these things, suddenly one of the leaders came and knelt down before him, saying, “My daughter just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 So Jesus and his disciples got up and followed him. ( Matt 9:18-19) (18): While Jesus was teaching John’s disciples, an official or ruler in the local synagogue interrupted saying that his daughter had died, was dying, or some translate it as “as good as dead.” He did not inter quietly. Rather he burst in. Mark said his name was Jairus. The Greek indicates that that people were surprised by his appearance, it was something that happened without warning. Mark and Luke do not cover this part of the story. Further, he knelt in respect or, as some translations state, worship. Synagogues were places where Jews gathered for teaching, they were not places where sacrifices were made. Sacrifices were made at the temple. But he was there, not as a teacher or leader, but as a father. He requested that Jesus come, lay hands on his daughter, and restore her. Up to this point, Matthew reported that Jesus went about “healing every disease and affliction,” but there is no mention of him raising anyone from the dead. However, Jairus was likely familiar with three instances in first and second Kings where people were raised from the dead. Here it is unlikely people thought about someone being raised from the dead. However, Jairus was not worried about what people thought. He was focused on his daughter. Widow's Son at Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17–24): The prophet Elijah stretches himself over a widow's dead son three times and prays, causing the child's life to return. Shunammite Woman's Son (2 Kings 4:32–37): Elisha, successor to Elijah, prays and stretches himself over the dead boy, whose body warms and returns to life. Man in Elisha's Grave (2 Kings 13:20–21): A dead man was tossed into the tomb of Elisha; upon touching the bones of the prophet, the corpse came back to life and stood up. (19): In response to Jairus faith and humility, Jesus got up and followed Jairus to his home. The following verses indicate that Jesus did not appear to be in any hurry because he stopped to heal a woman with a blood disorder. Note that Jairus did not seem to be concerned with the delay either. He apparently left the matter in Jesus hands, a demonstrating his faith. Challenge: What does this story say about impatience? What prompted the leader to approach Jesus? Why should we take our concerns to Jesus?

14 Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests be sad while the groom is with them? The time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one patches an old garment with unshrunk cloth, because the patch pulls away from the garment and makes the tear worse. 17 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” (Mattew 9:14-17)  (14): Jesus did not follow the rituals of the religious leaders. Even John’s disciples questioned him. Neither Jesus nor his disciples followed a routine of fasting. Perhaps the meal at Mattherw’s house was on a day set aside for fasting. Some speculate that people fasted as a means of gaining favor with God. Recall Jesus teaching about people drawing attention to themselves when fasting in Matthew 6:16. (15): Jesus responded by giving three illustrations. The first was about, wedding feasts which were great celebrations lasting several days. Here the language indicates that it is impossible to not have joy at a wedding feast or when the bridegroom is present. But when the groom is removed there is no joy– Jesus was referring to the future, his death on the cross. Jesus was indicating his awareness of the coming rejection and death. He was saying “I am with you now so rejoice.” The time will come for sorrow and fasting. From his two mentions of fasting, we can assume that fasting was a time of mourning: over sins, events resulting for man’s fallen nature, and the failure of believers to live out the redeemed life. Likewise, we have joy at the presence and working of the Spirit within us. (16): Second, Jesus made the point that one does not patch and old garment with new material because the new material will shrink and separate or tear from the garment. Likewise, John’s disciples should not add what Jesus was teaching to the old rituals and practices of the scribes and pharisees. Jesus was saying that he was not revising the old system but was replacing it. (17): Jesus’ third illustration was about putting new wine into old wineskins. Old wineskins, made from animal hide became hard and brittle over rime. New wine continued to ferment and produced gases that would burst the old skins. Jesus was saying that what he was teaching could not be contained in the old structure of rules and regulation. Therefore, it needed to be replaced. We recognize that spiritual growth cannot be contained in a legalistic system – keeping the rules. The new way of thinking needed a new structure, a new mindset. Some believe Jesus was referring to the church. Challenge: What does this say about our life after salvation?

9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him. 10 While he was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 Now when he heard this, he said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. , For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matt 9:9-13)  (9): Jesus called Mathew, and like Peter, Amdrew, James, and John, he dropped everything to follow Jesus. Matthew was making a great material sacrifice. His action was final. Unlike the fisher men who could return to their trade, someone else would quickly step into his job. Further who would hire a former tax collector if he tried to find another job. This event provides insight into the “great banquet” that followed, hosted by Matthew as described by Luke,. (10): In verse 10, Matthew reported that Jesus and his disciples were eating a meal with other tax collectors. Mark indicates that it was at Matthews house. Since this event immediately followed Matthew’s call, we can assume Matthew wanted to introduce his friends to Jesus. (11): Pharisees observed this, perhaps from the courtyard since they would not have taken a meal with “sinners.’ They asked the disciples why Jesus was eating with sinners, and because tax collectors dealt with gentiles, there is the element of associating with the unclean. Why was Jesus, seen as a spiritual leader, associating with such people. If he ate with sinners, he must also be a sinner. (12): On overhearing their conversation, Jesus said that it is the sick that need healing. His answer was a rebuke of the Pharisees who saw themselves as being well, spiritually healthy, or righteous. He was challenging them to consider what it meant to meet the needs of the people. (13): He said that mercy was more important than ritual service by quoting Hosea 6:6. Even if the tax collectors did not think of themselves as sinners, they were, in comparison, not righteous. Jesus challenged their mindset by stating that his mission was to minister to sinners, not the righteous. This was Jesus job description. He said, “I did not come . . .” pointing to Jesus existence prior to his birth. Jesus repeated in Matthew 10:34. Jesus healing ministry (physical) provided a pathway for his healing ministry at the spiritual level. Challenge: What did Jesus come to do? Who are the pharisees today?

So he got into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own town. 2 Just then some men brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.” 3 At this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “He’s blaspheming!” 4 Perceiving their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts? 5 For which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then he told the paralytic, “Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.” 7 So he got up and went home. 8 When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck , and gave glory to God, who had given such authority to men. (Matthew 9:1-8) (1): Jesus traveled to a gentile region southeast of the Sea of Galilee where he had healed two men with demons and sent the demons into pigs. The pigs then rushed into the sea causing a uproar among the people. Matthew reported that he got into a boat and returned to Capernaum, now his hometown. (2): While Jesus was teaching in a house, men brought a paralytic on a stretcher to him for healing. Mark’s and Luke’s account reports that the men made a hole in the roof to let the man down. Jesus proclaimed the man’s sins were forgiven. The Greek carries the thought that his sins were gone. By forgiving his sins Jesus indicated that the sin was a cause of the man’s paralysis. Further, forgiving sins was more important than healing the paralysis.  Forgiving sins had an eternal impact, healing physically was only for this life time. (3-4): The scribes were experts in the law and were the ones to determine if forgiveness was needed. They reacted to Jesus statement, thinking he was claiming to be God or that he was committing blasphemy. Jesus, understood their thoughts asked why they had such evil thoughts. (5-7): Jesus responded to their question with one of his own. Which is easier: to forgive sins or “Get up and walk”? Jesus question goes from easy – forgiving sins, to the difficult – commanding a man to stand and walk. Notice that there is no way to verify that sins have been forgiven. On the other hand, any man can forgive sins but only God can heal. However, at a deeper level, it is the second statement that is easier: a healer can say that, but it takes deity to forgive sins. Jesus proved his authority to forgive sins by healing the man. By using his Messianic title, Son of Man, he claimed both divinity and humanity. The man then got up and walked. With this, Jesus proved his authority over the physical and spiritual diseases. “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27) (8): The crowds were filled with wonder and reverence (awestruck). However, they saw Jesus as a man not as the Messiah. They believed that God had given healing authority or power to a man. Challenge: How far do you need to go to get God’s attention; or adjust your mindset and attitudes. Who are outcasts today? How can we show compassion? How can we help those with physical handicaps? How can we show Christ in these situations. Why did Jesus address spiritual needs before he addressed physical needs?

14 Jesus went into Peter’s house and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 So he touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and began to serve him. 16 When evening came, they brought to him many who were demon-possessed. He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick, 17 so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: He himself took our weaknesses and carried our diseases. (Matt 8:14-17)  Capernaum (14): Jesus went to Peter’s house in Capernaum and found Peter’s mother with a fever. Peter’s Mother (15): Jesus touched her and the fever left. His touch was not needed to heal but expressed personal caring attention. No words were spoken. There was no request for healing. We do not know of any explanation, just that Jesus saw her, touched her, and she was healed immediately. And she began serving him – no indication as to how she served. It was her response to being healed. Notice that Matthew makes a distinction between sickness and casting out spirits or demon-possession. Demon-possessed (16): Matthew reported in verse 16 that people brought a demon possessed man. They came in the evening. Some suggest it was because of the sigma of demon possession. However, Mark said they came from the Synagogue, meaning it was in the evening after the Sabbath. Matthew goes on to report that Jesus drove out spirits with a word. And healed all who were sick. Illustrating his care for all and power over every need. Here the healing was with a word, not a touch. Prophesy (17): Matthew reported that Jeus healing people was a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy (Isaiah 53:4), proof that he was the Messiah.

When he came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. 2 Right away a man with leprosy came up and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 3 Reaching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 Then Jesus told him, “See that you don’t tell anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” (Matth 8:1-8)  The Crowds (1): Great crowds or multitudes followed him - yet he took time to meet the needs of individuals such as the man with leprosy. Leper (2): The crowd opened a way for the leper to approach Jesus. He was required to call out “unclean, unclean” to make his presence known. Lepers were considered both physically unclean (touch) and ceremonially unclean, he could not participate in worship. Leprosy could mean one of several skin diseases or conditions. Being shunned, he lived separately, yet he heard about Jesus. There was no known cure for leprosy, but he came for healing – in faith, or as his only hope? He bowed down or knelt, showing respect and called Jesus, “Lord,” a polite address, or a recognition of his deity or significance. Touch (3): Touch – Jesus touched the man. That was unthinkable because it made Jesus unclean. Yet touch is a form of compassion and love. Jesus commanded the man to be clean, and he was healed - immediately. Jesus said two words, which in the Greek were: “I am willing” and “Be clean.” This was Jesus first reported healing of an individual. Matthew 4:23 reports that he went about healing every disease – in general. Go to the Priest (4); Jesus warned him not to tell anyone. Some suggest it was because: · Jesus did not want to be just a miracle-worker, or he did not want his teaching ministry hindered, · He did not want his death to come prematurely – his teaching ministry raised questions, but his healing ministry and actions/behavior created anger among the religious authorities. Further, Jesus told him to go to a priest, an action needed for the man to be restored to society physically and ceremonially. He was to give an offering or sacrifice. That meant having to go to the temple in Jerusalem. By doing this he made the religious authorities aware of the healing. In other words, give testimony about what the Lord had done. It is interesting that the law made provision for healing leprosy – a disease for which there was no known cure.

“Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit. (Matthew 7:15-19)  Guard (15): Jesus warned the people to continually guard against or discern the seemingly valid message of false teachers, those who come or speak in God’s name but deceive believers. They sound legitimate, but their message is intended to distract and destroy the faith of believers. Jesus describes them as wolves covered in sheep skin. Their outer appearance covers their true nature and character. Fruit (16-17): We know false teachers by their fruit. In this case do their words and deeds match? Further, their message did not match the doctrine believers had been taught. To make his point, Jesus asked if thorns come from grapevines and thistles from fig trees. That is, what is taught should be measured against the source. Bad or diseased fruit spoils the crop. The application of his illustration is that even good people sin but that is not their character. On the other hand, non-believers may do good deeds but that does not reflect their true character. Godly teachers may be incorrect on occasion, but they do not intend to deceive. But the intent of false prophets and teachers is to deceive. Their message may appear to be true, but their intent is to deceive. Quality (18-20): In these verses, Jesus repeats what he had just said in different words. Good trees produce good fruit, and bad trees produce bad fruit. He then told his listeners to measure the way the teachers lived against their words. He extends the illustration by stating that rotten trees, those that do not produce good fruit, will be removed and thrown into the fire. Bad trees have no value and just take up space. Jesus’ point is that discipleship involves more than religious activity. He concludes the point on fruit by stating that the quality of the fruit is the test of the tree just as the quality of the fruit is the test of the teacher. Good teachers produce good fruit.