Friends Church Sermons

As we come to Matthew 9 once again we see Matthew present Jesus miracles in a set of three scenes. It started in chapter 8 – 3 scenes demonstrating the outcast and Jesus ability to heal physical disease – then 3 scenes demonstrating his authority over the men, the natural, and the supernatural world. With each set of 3 scenes Matthew is bringing his readers to understand a higher level of Jesus authority – now he brings them to a deeper message and a deeper healing- see if you catch it. Matthew 9:1-17 Jesus crosses back over the Sea of Galilee from the decopolis (area of the Gaddarenes) to Capernuum where He has made His home – probably in the house of Peter. Somewhere in the village He has gathered a large following who are filling the house while He is teaching. He is once again sitting in the seat of the Rabbi in Beth Midrash teaching His disciples while the crowd watches on. In the crowd are some of the local Scribes and Pharisees who have come to listen to this new Rabbi.