Mercy in Matthew (2): Have Mercy!
2014/08/31
Christ Church, Mountain Top
Christ Church, Mountain Top
Message,
Matthew 9.27-31, 20.29-34
Matthew 9.27-31, 20.29-34
“Mercy”
in Matthew:
in Matthew:
Last week, “fraternal twin stories”, Jesus
quoting “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”. Inclusion & Permission. The
unworthy made welcome and sinners made guiltless.
quoting “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”. Inclusion & Permission. The
unworthy made welcome and sinners made guiltless.
This week, “identical twin stories”, both
of the healing of two blind men. In both stories, they call out, “Have mercy on
us, Son of David”. In both stories, they follow Jesus. In both stories, they
call him “Lord”. In both stories, Jesus touches their eyes. The fact that
Matthew tells this story twice, whereas Mark and Luke only do so once, and the
fact that Matthew puts two blind men in the story, whereas Mark and Luke only
list one … well, that’s a mystery that the scholars still haven’t figured out …
but it matches other patterns in Matthew’s writing (Bruner, I:434). I won’t be
offering a ground-breaking solution – or any solution at all – to that
particular conundrum, though I will be making an observation relative to their
placement within the broader context of Matthew’s gospel.
of the healing of two blind men. In both stories, they call out, “Have mercy on
us, Son of David”. In both stories, they follow Jesus. In both stories, they
call him “Lord”. In both stories, Jesus touches their eyes. The fact that
Matthew tells this story twice, whereas Mark and Luke only do so once, and the
fact that Matthew puts two blind men in the story, whereas Mark and Luke only
list one … well, that’s a mystery that the scholars still haven’t figured out …
but it matches other patterns in Matthew’s writing (Bruner, I:434). I won’t be
offering a ground-breaking solution – or any solution at all – to that
particular conundrum, though I will be making an observation relative to their
placement within the broader context of Matthew’s gospel.
These two stories, with their reinforcing
similarities and their contrasting differences, provide us some insight on the
experience of God’s mercy. In line with the structure of the story, we’ll
structure the experience of mercy as
similarities and their contrasting differences, provide us some insight on the
experience of God’s mercy. In line with the structure of the story, we’ll
structure the experience of mercy as
Mercy’s Cry
Mercy’s Community
Mercy’s Commission
1. Mercy’s Cry
Persevere
9 – follow Jesus (ignored?), follow
into a house
into a house
How
do the blind follow Jesus? (Hauerwas, Matthew,
Brazos Theological Commentary, p 103; Bruner)
do the blind follow Jesus? (Hauerwas, Matthew,
Brazos Theological Commentary, p 103; Bruner)
20 – through the rebuke of the crowd
Desperation – have to meet Jesus
Perseverance manifests faith,
nurtures faith
nurtures faith
Perceive
“Lord”
“Son of David” – Messiah, royal
(political?)
(political?)
They
perceive Jesus as “Son of David” (Messiah), though those who are have sight are
unable to perceive this (Hare, Bruner).
perceive Jesus as “Son of David” (Messiah), though those who are have sight are
unable to perceive this (Hare, Bruner).
2. Mercy’s Community
Connecting with experts – medicine, lawn
care, cooking, computers
care, cooking, computers
Recent retail experience
TENS (learning names, meeting people)
Touch
Eye contact
Name (spoken, and repeated)
Story
Blind, marginalized, second to leprosy;
repulsive (Bruner, I:436)
repulsive (Bruner, I:436)
Sitting (social outcasts, Bruner
II:349)
II:349)
Question
Invites them into community
Calls forth faith that they may not
even know they have
even know they have
Touch
Grossness and congregational care
3. Mercy’s Commission
Obedience
9 – disobedient – tell the story
when are told to be silent
when are told to be silent
Perhaps due to the political
content of Jesus-Messiah
content of Jesus-Messiah
Patriotic theology (Bruner,
I:438)
I:438)
28.18-20
– “disciples … teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”
– “disciples … teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”
20 – followed Jesus
Experiencing
God’s mercy does not relieve us of responsibility to obey Jesus in all things.
God’s mercy does not relieve us of responsibility to obey Jesus in all things.
Mission
In the context of Matthew,
9 – precedes mission of
disciples
disciples
20 – precedes passion of
Christ
Christ
Mission that overcomes
barriers & integrates into community
barriers & integrates into community
20 – the crowd was following Jesus,
and preventing the blind
and preventing the blind
“Sometimes
Christ’s followers are the greatest obstacle to others following him” (Bruner,
II:350).
Christ’s followers are the greatest obstacle to others following him” (Bruner,
II:350).
Resources:
Frederick
Dale Bruner, Matthew: A Commentary (2
volumes), Eerdmans
Dale Bruner, Matthew: A Commentary (2
volumes), Eerdmans
Stanley Hauerwas, Matthew, Brazos Theological Commentary
Douglas Hare, Matthew, Interpretation