The Immediate Response Of A Willing Heart

TEXT: Mark 2:13-17

3. How Did He Teach? (Matthew 7:28-29; Mark 4:2,33; Luke 23:5; John 7:28,37–40,46)

It is not enough to teach, it is also very important to take note of how we teach. How did Jesus teach?

– As One having authority, unlike the Scribes and Pharisees

– As the Author of the Scripture, just as the author of a textbook will be in the best position to teach the contents of his book. He is the One who has been, even before the Bible was written, He taught differently, assuredly, convincingly and convictingly.

He knew their hearts, and the level of their understanding, so, He taught them the way they could understand it. This was why they were able to understand Him. Dull teachings will beget dull hearers, ignorant teachings will produce ignorant learners, but Jesus’ teachings stirred the people up. He is the Word personified.

John 7:37-38 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” He presented the word in a way that it came alive in them. He taught convincingly and persuasively. The officers who were sent to arrest Him could not because they were overwhelmed by the wisdom in His words. They said “never man spake like this man”.

1. THE CONVERSION AND CONSECRATION OF A SOUL (Mark 2:14-15)

Matthew heard the call, rose and followed the Lord, and also gathered the people together to hear from Him. He taught the people and they followed Him.

1. The Conversion of A Sinner (Mark 2:14,17; Luke 5:27-28; Act 3:19,20,26; Act 17:30; John 8:11-12; James 5:19,20; Revelation 2:4-5; 3:15-19)

Matthew has been there as a guilty sinner, and when Jesus called him, he wasted no time before following Him. When Jesus calls you out of your sin, be like Matthew, rise and follow Him. Maybe you have been following Him before and you backslid, only He can restore you, rise and follow the Lord.

Some people think that they are alright in their own ways, Jesus came not to call such people, but sinners to repentance. As you yield to Him, the grace of God will come to you.

Luke 5:27. When you rise to follow the Lord, you leave everything behind, you burn the bridge and follow Him as the only Saviour and follow Him to the kingdom of God without looking back. If you have been converted already, there will be a renewal in your life.

Acts 3:19-20. All that you did in your past are forgiven at the point of forgiveness.

vs 26. Every sinner has his or own way of committing sin, but whatever the sin is, Christ came to turn everyone away from their iniquity. If you are already saved, may you be established.

Everything you did in ignorance, God is willing to forgive and blot out.

God wants everyone everywhere to repent.

Acts 8: The Jews caught the woman in adultery as if they were clean. He told them to cast the first stone if they were sure of being clean. None of them could, so, they went away. Then He pronounced pardon on the woman and gave her the power to go and sin no more.

James 5:19-20. If someone was in the Lord and went back, he needs to be restored.

Revelation 2:4-5. Christ told the church at Ephesus that they had left their first love and called them back to the first and fervent love. He wants genuine repentance from everyone, and not patched up salvation.

Some people are not here or there, but the Lord wants to know where we are – whether old or hot. As soon as there is repentance from this state, forgiveness follows.

2. His Consecration After Salvation (Mark 2:15; Luke 5:29–32; John 4:28,39; John 10:16; Act 10:24,33,44–47)

After his conversion, Matthew called many people, including other publicans like him and brought them together to hear from the Lord. Many of them got born again. This is similar to what the woman at the well did. She went to tell the people of the experience she just had.

vs 39. Many of the Samaritans believed because of her testimony.

John 10:16 “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” This is why we must tell others about Christ so that they might be brought into the fold.

Acts 10:24. When you have the opportunity of hearing the truth, you will not selfishly keep it to yourself, but share truth of the gospel to other people.

vs 44. As Peter spoke, the Holy Ghost fell upon all who heard him.

1. THE CONTINUATION OF HIS COMMISSION DESPITE THE SCRIBES (Mark 2:16-17)

We see that Jesus continued His ministry despite the criticism and opposition of the scribes and Pharisees. This is what we should do, no matter what we see. The commission will not die at our doorsteps.