Matthew 8:1-17

Proverbs 16:2, All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.

Hebrews 1:3, The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being…

Mark 12:30-31, ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ³¹ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Isaiah 1:17; Romans 12:17-21; Acts 10:38

Jesus Calls Matthew

Matthew 9:9-13-(NLT), ⁹ As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. ¹⁰ Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. ¹¹ But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” ¹² When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” ¹³ Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices. ‘For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Matthew 5:46-48, ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 8:1, When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him.

Real Servanthood

1. Blesses the REJECTED. (Matthew 8:2-4)

Matthew 8:2-4 ² A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” ³ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. ⁴ Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone . . .

Leviticus 13:46; Mark 1:41 (NLT); 1 John 3:8; Psalm 145:9; Psalm 145:17

2. Blesses the DISRESPECTED. (Matthew 8:5-13)

Matthew 8:5-8, ⁵ When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ⁶ “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” ⁷ Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” ⁸ The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

Matthew 8:10, When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

3. Blesses OUR OWN. (Matthew 8:14-17)

Matthew 8:14-16, ¹⁴ When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. ¹⁶ When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.

Galatians 5:6, . . . The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Galatians 5:14, For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Questions:

1. What did you hear from the Holy Spirit? 
2. What will you do because of it? 
3. How can we pray for you?