Jesus Came to Call Sinners

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Matthew 9:1-19. This Scripture talks about Jesus healing people from all types of diseases. The scribes thought Jesus had committed blasphemy, but He knew what they were thinking and asked them if it was easier to forgive sins or to heal someone. Which do you think would be easier, to heal someone from their sickness or to forgive their sins? Jesus tells them He came to call sinners to repentance.

Matthew also records in Matthew 9:9 where Jesus saw him sitting at the receipt of custom, the tax collector’s booth, and asked Matthew to follow Him. Matthew arose immediately and followed Jesus. How would you have responded if you had been Matthew?

The scribes couldn’t understand why Jesus was eating with the publicans (Jewish people who worked for the Romans who acted in authority over other Jewish people) and sinners. Jesus explained to them that He didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.

The Pharisees asked why the disciples didn’t follow the Jewish custom of fasting as they did. Jesus tells them the story about the bridegroom. Jesus told them the disciples weren’t fasting because the bridegroom, speaking of Himself, was with them. Then He told them there would come a day when the bridegroom wouldn’t be with them any longer, then they would fast.

While Jesus was talking with them and trying to explain things to them, a ruler came whose daughter was dead and asked Jesus to come and lay hands on her. Jesus and the disciples left and followed the man.

Daily Bible Reading:

Matthew 9:1-19

1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7 And he arose, and departed to his house.
8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

Things to think about:

• Did Jesus say He came to heal the sick or to save the lost?
• Why was Jesus eating with the publicans and sinners?
• Why did Jesus say the disciples weren’t fasting?
• When did Jesus say they would fast?
• What was Jesus talking about?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You that You sent Your Son, Jesus to earth to call sinners to repentance and to heal the sick. We know that You are able to do anything, if we only believe. Help us to study Your word and build our faith, that we might be able to believe that You are almighty. We love You, LORD. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

– Matthew 9:6

– This is an excerpt from The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ Get your copy now!

Christian Video: Casting Crowns – Jesus, Friend of Sinners

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Please come back again tomorrow and invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

Featured Book:

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ
by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman, which takes you through the life of Jesus Christ. The book of Matthew is the first book in the New Testament of the Bible. It begins with the genealogy of Jesus Christ and His birth.

The Book of Matthew also goes into Jesus’ ministry on earth, including the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ parables, and Jesus’ final days, including His death, burial, and resurrection. The book concludes with the great commission.

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ includes fifty-seven daily devotionals which contain a brief commentary, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions to think about, and a prayer of the day. It is a great book for individual daily devotions or a group Bible study.

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

Click Here to Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman author site to receive

Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Recipe for Life

Like Deborah H. Bateman on Facebook

Deborah H. Bateman

Deborah H. Bateman encourages other believers in their walk with Jesus Christ through Bible study. She is a Christian Author, Blogger, Website Designer, and Book Publishing Coach. She is the Founder of Christian Daily Resources a Christian online ministry dedicated to "Sharing God's Word". Deborah is the author of more than thirty books in the Daily Bible Reading Series and one book about self-publishing called: Self-Publishing Simplified: How to Publish a Book on Kindle. Deborah shares Daily Bible Reading lessons here on her blog at http://DeborahHBateman.com/blog Her website: Christian Daily Resources is at http://ChristianDailyResources.com She shares a Daily Bible Verse on her blog Bible Verse Tweet at http://www.bibleversetweet.com/. Deborah has a family favorite recipe blog called Recipe for Life at http://deborah-bateman.blogspot.com. She invites you to check them out and subscribe to the ones you like.