Matthew chapter 9. I have a new song. It's called, “I Exalt Me!”
There are so many healings packed full in this chapter. And the whole time the Pharisees and teachers of the law are attacking Jesus and accusing him of being a demon worshiper.
Jesus calls a tax collector to be one of his disciples, Matthew, and he follows Jesus. Then Jesus celebrates by eating dinner with Matthew and other tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees saw this and confronted Jesus's disciples as to why they were eating with sinners? Jesus heard them and basically said that he came to give health to the sick and that a life following the Lord is more than just doing religious things like making sacrifices or going to church. Jesus said it's more about showing Mercy versus looking down on others. The Pharisees were arrogant and thought they were so much better than everybody else because they were THE PHARISEES!! I'm sure they had a song that said, “I exalt me!”
You're not going to reach sinners by arrogantly looking down upon them. The only way you can look down on someone is if you exalt yourself above them. And once you exalt yourself above them, you no longer show love and mercy. Instead you give yourself permission to belittle others, condemn them, gossip about them, and speak evil of them. That's no good way to reach those who are lost in sin and need a Savior.
The best approach is the one Jesus took. He came ALONGSIDE PEOPLE and loved them, and spent time with them. To come alongside someone is to send a message of companionship and friendship. Mercy draws you because you know you're no better than they are. You remember your struggles with sin or maybe even your current struggle with sin and therefore are driven to show Mercy as they struggle with their mountains to climb. Sinners respond much better to Mercy shown to them versus condemnation.
Take the two blind Men who are following Jesus with the crowd calling and yelling to Jesus for mercy. They kept calling him the son of David, meaning that they knew he was God's chosen one that would come from the root of David. They were physically blind but they could see Jesus was God's chosen one. Sadly, the religious leaders physically had sight in their eyes but were not able to see that Jesus was God's chosen one, the Son of God.
This chapter ends with Jesus telling his disciples that the harvest is plentiful, and that there are people everywhere in need of the touch of his hands. He calls us to be his hands and feet to the Lost world in need of healing, and forgiveness, and Salvation. We are told to pray that God would send us out into the harvest field. Jesus I want to be to others what you were to the crowds of people.