In this chapter, I see the believers and the non-believers placing side by side. Some would believe Jesus was the Messiah but at the same time, the non-believers came up with excuses. When they ran out of excuses, they said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons." (34)
Human’s heart is hard. Men are spiritual dead. Even miracles won’t change their position. Also, seeing is not believing. Our faith is usually tie to our experience or our environment, but this kind of faith is at most a “little faith.” True faith rests on our knowledge of our God (9:21, 28). May we believe before we see.
Mike
Starting from the end of Ch 8, Matthew told us that not everyone welcome Jesus. In the region of Gadarenes the people did not like what He did and pleaded with Him to leave them. Obviously Jesus did them a good favor but casting out the demons (8:28). In Ch 9, the objection becomes more obvious. The teachers of the law said Jesus is blaspheming v.3. This deserves death penalty according to the Jewish Law. Only if someone who is not God but said he is then he is blaspheming. From what He did (healing the paralytic v.1-7) people should know that He is God. Second critic comes from the Pharisees when He eating with the tax collectors (v.11). Even His old allies, John, whose disciples question Jesus v.14. However, He performs the most amazing miracle, resurrecting the death. In v.33, Matthew concludes, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." The Pharisees has no more room to criticize Him. They can only say that He is the prince of demons v.34. From the beginning of the book we see that to enter the kingdom there is a requirement, i.e. the spiritual change in the heart. This is why these people cannot accept Jesus. They did not repent. Then, why did Jesus do not change their heart? When we share the gospel with others and those person reject we often pray that God will change their mind. Yes, the Holy Spirit can help us. However, the responsibility of man cannot be denied. Jesus did not change the Pharisees at that time. Their rejection postpones the Kingdom. Today, the rejection of the Gospel still hold the unsaved responsible for their destruction (Audrey).
Human’s heart is hard. Men are spiritual dead. Even miracles won’t change their position. Also, seeing is not believing. Our faith is usually tie to our experience or our environment, but this kind of faith is at most a “little faith.” True faith rests on our knowledge of our God (9:21, 28). May we believe before we see.
Mike
Starting from the end of Ch 8, Matthew told us that not everyone welcome Jesus. In the region of Gadarenes the people did not like what He did and pleaded with Him to leave them. Obviously Jesus did them a good favor but casting out the demons (8:28). In Ch 9, the objection becomes more obvious. The teachers of the law said Jesus is blaspheming v.3. This deserves death penalty according to the Jewish Law. Only if someone who is not God but said he is then he is blaspheming. From what He did (healing the paralytic v.1-7) people should know that He is God. Second critic comes from the Pharisees when He eating with the tax collectors (v.11). Even His old allies, John, whose disciples question Jesus v.14. However, He performs the most amazing miracle, resurrecting the death. In v.33, Matthew concludes, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." The Pharisees has no more room to criticize Him. They can only say that He is the prince of demons v.34. From the beginning of the book we see that to enter the kingdom there is a requirement, i.e. the spiritual change in the heart. This is why these people cannot accept Jesus. They did not repent. Then, why did Jesus do not change their heart? When we share the gospel with others and those person reject we often pray that God will change their mind. Yes, the Holy Spirit can help us. However, the responsibility of man cannot be denied. Jesus did not change the Pharisees at that time. Their rejection postpones the Kingdom. Today, the rejection of the Gospel still hold the unsaved responsible for their destruction (Audrey).
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