Extreme Makeover Matthew 9:1-8

1. Extreme MakeoverMatthew 9:1-8 Logos Bible Fellowship January 17, 2006

2. Framework of the Passage • Healing of the leper (8:1-4) • Healing of the Centurian’s servant (8:5-13) • Healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (8:14-15) • Healing of the many (8:16-17) • Demands of discipleship (8:18-22) • Calming the storm (8:23-27) • Healing of demon-possessed men (8:28-34) • Current passage (9:1-8) • Conversion of a blatant sinners (9:9-13)

3. Faces of the Crowd (v.1) • Pharisees • Small ritualistic and legalistic sect of Jews • Rigid adherence to the fine points of the law • Jesus rebuked them for… • Using human tradition to nullify Scripture (Matt 15:3ff) • Rank hypocrisy (Matt 23:13-32) • Teachers of the Law (scribes) • Professional scholars • Authorities on Jewish Law • Did not teach with authority (Matt 7:29) Application: Examine our traditions; speak and live by the authority of Scripture (Romans 9:30-33)

4. Faith of the Friends (v.2) • All three gospel accounts mention the friends • Mark points out that there were four men • “Seeing their faith”…“your sins are forgiven” • Whose faith? Does “their” describe the four men only or is the faith of the paralytic included? Why? What verses support your argument? • What kind of faith was demonstrated? • A strong faith, humble faith, and active faith Application: How can you intercede for those who cannot go to Christ on their own? Be concerned about spiritual sickness first and foremost.

5. Forgiveness of the sins (vv.2-8) • Who has the right to forgive a sin? Were the Pharisees correct (Luke 5:21)? • But there is forgiveness with You [God], that You may be feared (Psalm 130:4) • Against you, you only, have I sinned…(Psalm 51:4) • Healing the paralytic proved that Jesus had the power and authority to forgive sins – ironic • What was the result of the healing? Application: Are there any sins that you need to forgive? Are there any that you need to confess?

6. Fingerprint of the God (vv.2-8) • Only God can completely see man’s faith (v.2) • Only God can forgive sin (v.2) • Only God can read minds (v.4) • Only God has authority (v.6) • Kenosis = emptying (Philippians 2:6-8) • Jesus emptied Himself of glory • Jesus set aside the independent use of His divine attributes (Luke 5:17; v.8; John 5:30) • Application: Realize that God sees all of your thoughts. How will you allow that to affect your walk this week?

7. Small Group Discussion • Why do you think the Pharisees and Scribes clung to tradition? Where did they go wrong? What can we learn? • Who can you intercede for (see Gen 20:7,17)? How powerful is corporate prayer (James 5:16)? • How far would you go to help a friend? Give examples. • Jesus’ healing of the paralytic proved that He had power to forgive sins. How did His Resurrection prove that He was who He said He was and that His words are truth? • How did Jesus’ actions compare with the people’s expectations? How does His work in you compare with your expectations? • How did the paralytic feel after he was forgiven? What affects does sin and/or unforgiveness have on a person? • What aspect of the friends’ faith do you most want to emulate? How about of those friends who have “carried you to the Lord”? • Name some things only God can do? What is the affect on us? • Actions speak louder than words…what are some practical ways that we can show our love to God and others?

8. Matthew 9:1-8 1Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city. 2And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven." 3And some of the scribes said to themselves, "Thisfellow blasphemes." 4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, "Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? 5"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 said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home." 7And he got up and went home. 8But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men. Mark 2:1-8 1When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. 5And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." 6But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7"Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, "Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9"Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, 'Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'? 10"But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--He said to the paralytic, 11"I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home." 12And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this." Luke 5:17-26 17One day He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing. 18And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him. 19But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus. 20Seeing their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." 21The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" 22But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23"Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins have been forgiven you,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 24"But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,"--He said to the paralytic--"I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home." 25Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. 26They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen remarkable things today."