Mercy in Matthew (1): Inclusion & Permission

2014/08/24
Christ Church, Mountain Top

Children,
2 Samuel 24.1-17

Message,
Matthew 9.9-13, 12.1-8

Mercy
in Matthew

      This week, twin stories, Jesus quotes the
same passage from Hosea

      Next, identical twin stories of healed
blind men, both calling for mercy

Repetition
for emphasis

This
week’s stories, in common:

      Jesus, or disciples, violate holiness
taboo

      Pharisees offended & confront

      Jesus responds with teaching & quote
(a theme verse for Jesus?)

Hosea
6.6 – “For I desire steadfast love (mercy) and not sacrifice, the knowledge of
God rather than burnt offerings”

      Jesus says the Pharisees do not understand

Variations on the
theme:

Inclusion versus Exclusion

            Who is in? versus Who is out?

Permission versus Prohibition

            What
can I do? versus What can’t I do?

Religious
people everywhere & in all times favor the last questions

      Exclusion & Prohibition – language of
judgment, not mercy

            “Who’s out?” – has a place, but not
the first place

            “Thou shalt not” – has a place, but
not the first place

      No wonder David, in the darkness of his
sin, declares,

I
am in great distress; let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is
great; but let me not fall into human hands (2 Samuel 24.14).

Ancient
rulers – throne, or other public seat, was a “judgment seat”

      Pilate, condemning Jesus to death, John
19.13

      But YHWH, “mercy seat”, the ark of the
covenant, Exodus 25.17

      “Let me not fall into human hands” (2Sa
24.14)

      “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire
mercy, not sacrifice’” (Mt 9.13)

Mercy,
sacrifice

      Jephthah & his daughter (Judges 11)

      Saul & Jonathan (and the ban on eating,
1 Samuel 14)

      Jesus: “For the JOY set before him endured
the cross” (Hebrews 12.2)

      “If I give away all my possessions and if
I hand over my body … but do not have love, I gain nothing” (1Cor 13.3)

      No pain, no gain

      Give until it hurts

Inclusion
versus Exclusion:

      Race, Ferguson, MO

            Confessing the truth about racism
& white privilege

            Does not mean that we have not been
the subject of discrimination

            We manufacture prejudice

                  Hair parted in the middle – vain (but was
petty)

      Sexual Identity

            A matter of debate in churches today

            Biblical prohibition language, and
cultural issues

            Clear call of Mercy is welcome

Permission
versus Prohibition:

      Wesley’s 2^nd general rule – do
all the good you can (permission)

By
doing good; by being in every kind merciful after their power; as they have
opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all
men (John Wesley, Book of Discipline)

      Confirmation – love God, love everyone

      Galatians 5.6, “The only thing that counts
is faith expressing itself through love” (mercy)

      Acting in mercy, “guiltless” (Matthew
12.7)

      Need for discernment – love for self in
disguise? “The heart is devious above all else … who can understand it?”
(Jeremiah 17.9)

“Go
and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’” (Mt 9.13)

      The gift for us:

            Unworthy made welcome

            Sinners made “guiltless”