From the Pulpit...

In this message Pastor Matt leads our continued study in the book of Matthew. Jesus Christ heals a paralytic who was lowered down through a roof into the room where He was. Jesus saw the faith in the hearts of the four men who helped the paralytic down through the roof. Jesus saw the sin in the heart of the paralytic and forgave him. Jesus also saw the unbelief in the hearts of the scribes. The multitude of peoples marveled and glorified God, but they missed the significance of the miracle. Jesus did it not to demonstrate that God has given such power to men, but to demonstrate that God's presence was among them in Him. Additionally, Jesus passed a man named Matthew, a tax collector for the Roman government, and told him to follow Him. The Jews deemed Matthew a traitor because of his occupation and service to the Romans. Jesus called Matthew to be one of His disciples demonstrates that Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. Jesus then sits with many tax collectors and sinners and is questioned by the Pharisees why He is eating with such sinful men. Jesus responds with mercy and love by stating "For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.