I fear that my pastor is influencing me too much in my preaching. First of all, I am using a large portion of Scripture which is broken up in weird sections. Secondly, I want to begin by identifying two aims for this morning before I actually get to the passage (just seems like something Lee would do). Anyway, the two aims or purposes that I have this morning are as follows:
1. I want to identify the authority of Christ that Matthew relates in this passage and discuss how that applies to us today. We will spend the bulk of our time dealing with this.
2. Yet, I also want to encourage you that there is fruitfulness in laboring in the Word. I have recently been studying through the book of Matthew and God has been so faithful to teach. Passages I have heard a thousand times have really come alive with meaning as God has opened my eyes to some truths in this book. Hopefully, this morning will be evidence of God’s faithfulness to His Word.
I. That being said, I want to begin by pointing out the areas in which Jesus displays authority in this passage:
A. The first area we see is teaching. In chapter 7, Jesus is finishing His sermon on the mount. We have been studying through this sermon in Sunday school and I am constantly amazed at the weight of Christ’s teaching here. The paradox of the beatitudes, the reinterpretation of the Law, the call to humility, and the overwhelming command of radical obedience just pound away at the life of all believers. Fittingly, Jesus concludes the sermon by reminding us that to hear these words and ignore them is simply building our life on the sand. We find out quickly that we are not the only ones who are amazed at this teaching. The people there were also amazed and awestruck, for Matthew records at the end of ch. 7: “The result was that when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were amazed at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.” He taught with authority and the people knew it.
B. Immediately, in chapter 8, we see another area in which Jesus displays authority. The chapter begins with Christ healing a leper. After that He heals the Centurion’s servant, Peter’s Mother-in-Law, and in chapter 9 he commands the paralytic to take up his mat and walk. We clearly see the authority of Christ over sickness and disease. Matthew makes this clear in verse 17 when He once again claims the prophet Isaiah to be speaking of Christ when he says, “He himself took our infirmities, and carried away our diseases.” I say once again because Matthew is continuing to point out the evidence of the messiahship of Christ. Isaiah speaks of One who will have authority over sickness and disease, Christ is the One. I point this out simply to challenge you to be aware of authorship and purpose when studying the Scriptures because a great deal can be gleaned from asking such questions.
C. Another area of authority Jesus displays is over the wind, or over nature. It is a very familiar story, but how great is it seen in the light of the other areas of authority Matthew is recording. Think of the impact this had on the disciples as they claimed, “even the winds and the sea obey Him.” His authority even stretches over nature.
D. Still another amazing incident takes place in this chapter. It too is familiar, yet, humbling in light of everything else. Just imagine, you step out of the boat that Jesus has obviously guided safely across the sea, you have heard Him preach and you have seen Him heal, and before you can make it to the city you listen as He casts begging demons into a herd of pigs, relieving men who had suffered greatly. Can you see how His authority is being proclaimed right before their very eyes. Who could miss it?
E. But if they thought these acts were great, they must have truly marveled at the next incident mentioned. In chapter 9, a paralytic is brought to Christ seeking healing. But Jesus does not begin physically. Rather, He makes a bold statement, a shocking claim so crazy that the scribes called it blasphemy. Jesus tells the man simply, “Take courage, My son, your sins are forgiven.” Who could make such a statement and better yet, who could defend it? They knew that only God had the authority to forgive sins. So who did this Jesus think He is, God?
II. With the next verses we see a vital teaching of Christ. Many have wondered what place miracles and healing have in the Church. And why is Matthew going to such great lengths to show the authority of Christ? What is his purpose? Obviously, one reason behind Christ’s display of authority is simply to reveal who He is. He is creator, master, a lover of the broken, powerful, over everything, and this can scarcely be doubted by those seeing His acts. Yet, one part of his revealing his authority over sickness, demons, nature, teaching, is to simply offer validity for His claim to have authority over sin. Listen to His words, “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, ‘Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, and walk’? But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…Rise, take up your bed, and go home.” We see this in Peter’s ministry in Acts. The miracles seen there offer validity to the gospel. Things we see with our eyes bare witness to truths we cannot normally see with our eyes. And in all this what is the result? Look at verse 8, “But when the multitudes saw this, they were filled with awe, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.” This display of authority simply points people to the greatness of God. They hear teaching, they see miracles and they are amazed. Clear truth, calm winds, clean hands, and cast out demons lead to the glory of God. When men catch a vision of the authority of Christ, what else can follow but worship?
III. I want to turn now to a word of application. Turn with me to Matthew 28:18. Listen to this familiar passage again, “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘ All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I with you always, even to the end of the age.’” Or listen again to the passage that Lee quoted Wednesday night from James, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” As we consider these passages in light of what Matthew communicates about the authority of Christ in ch. 7-9, can we not help but be amazed. Christ commanded us to take the gospel to the nations. Why? Because He has the authority to rescue them from their sin. We are told to pray for one another in sickness. Why? Because God has authority over all disease, even death has lost its sting. And the list goes on. Under the authority of Christ we live the Christian life with great confidence because we realize that truth will be taught, men will be healed, seas will be calmed, demons will be cast out, and the nations shall hear and believe. And all this will be done to the glory of our great God.
It is truly amazing what Matthew is communicating to us in this passage. He gives us such a clear picture of the messiahship of Christ by recording these great acts of authority. Again, labor in the Word for there is great fruit and God is so faithful to satisfy us. In closing, I just want you to consider the different responses we find in the passage to Christ’s authority. Let us not be like the disciples who feared the creation, even in the midst of the One who created it. Let us not so quickly forget the power and authority of our God. Also, let us not be like the townspeople who out of lack of understanding asked the Son of God to leave their region. Let us not so quickly frown on that which we cannot explain. Rather, let us respond like the Centurion. Look at his words with me one last time, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I, too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” He recognized the power of God. He acknowledged the authority of Christ. And he concluded with this, “Just say the word.” May our prayers for the sick and the lost be uttered with that faith. And may we glorify our Heavenly Father when He faithfully responds, “Go your way; let it be done to you as you have believed.”