The Mercy Harvest - 10/27/2024 Sunday Sermon

The Tabernacle Today

The Mercy Harvest

After Matthew’s gospel house party 2 very different groups questioned Jesus’ actions; 2 very different women were healed; 2 never before done miracles were performed; and after again proving He was and is the Messiah Jesus called His followers to join His mercy harvest.

Matthew 9:11-38

Two very different groups **question** Jesus’ actions - V. 11-17

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love mercy (Hesed), and to walk humbly with your God? - Micah 6:8

If you come to church as a proud self-righteous person that doesn’t think you have a sin problem, Jesus says you have **flunked** Bible 101. But if you come to Jesus as a needy sinner, the Doctor is in!

When truly following Jesus means doing things different than your favorite preacher does, which one should you stick with – the teacher or Jesus?

There were 2 sets of Prophecies about the Messiah – the first set was that somehow the Messiah would be a Wounded Healer, a Suffering Servant. The other set was that He would be a Conquering King, throwing off Pagan Oppression and ruling physically over Israel.

In verses 14-17 Jesus gives them 3 little mind pictures to transform their understanding of what “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” truly meant.

New wine must be put into new wineskins that will expand as the fermenting gases expand. Jesus is telling them what He told Nicodemus – you **must** be born again – you need a new heart to hold Jesus, then the Spirit of Christ inside you will help you do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God!

Two very different **women** are healed - V. 18-26

Jairus knew that whoever Jesus was, He had power to heal – maybe he could even raise the dead like Elijah and Elisha the great prophets of old.

While Jesus was going with desperate Jairus this desperate woman approached Jesus. Our need as sinners **unites** us at the foot of the cross.

Why did this woman believe that touching the corner of Jesus’ garment would heal her? Because she believed that Jesus was the **Messiah**. She believed what Malachi 4:2 said about the Messiah.

But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. - Malachi 4:2

Two **never** before done miracles are performed - V. 27-34

Why did the 2 Blind men call Jesus the “Son of David”? Because they believed that Jesus was the **Messiah** (Matt. 1:1; Isa. 9:6-7). These men embraced the very thing the religious leaders denied.

Perhaps some skeptics had responded to Jesus raising the dead by saying, “Yeah but Elijah and Elisha did that also, so maybe Jesus is just a prophet.” So here Jesus opens blind eyes, which the **prophets** had said Messiah would do.

“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the death unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.” - Isa. 35:5-6 (see also Isa. 29:18-19)

Jesus calls His followers to His mercy Harvest - V. 35-38

When you see people what do you see? Do you have compassion on them like Jesus does?

The Lord of the Harvest asked His disciples to pray for laborers who will go out into the Harvest of lost people as Harvesters – and then He sent **them** out as those Harvesters in Chapter 10!