I’M GONNA TELL, I’M GONNA TELL
Matthew – God’s Purposes
As in all young people groups, there will always be those who love to focus on anyone breaking what they think the rules are and go running to the teacher or whomever is in charge shouting, “I’m gonna tell, I’m gonna tell!” (You can hear the sing-songy mocking voice.) They yell this while running so the student who didn’t do what they wanted them to do will KNOW they are going to get them in trouble. We see it throughout every school day on the playground, in the lunch room, in the classroom, on the way to be picked up for the day. All day long it happens with NO MERCY in sight. It’s tiresome for all who have to hear it and solve the accusations.
How tiresome it must of been for the Son of God, Jesus Christ, to be followed around by nick-picking tattle-talers of his days called Pharisees. It was the Pharisees and others who tacked on impossible, man-made addendum to God’s original law. It was Jesus who came to help people understand the full intent of God’s Law and the fulfillment of the extent of His love. Here is a perfect example of His love and mercy which led to a plot by the tattletalers to do away with Jesus who is Truth. Tatletalers don’t like Truth. They prefer to create their own truth. Tattletalers show no mercy for others.
Matthew 12, NLT
A Discussion about the Sabbath12 At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. 2 But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”
3 Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. 5 And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? 6 I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! 7 But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.” 8 For the Son of Man[b] is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath9 Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, 10 where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.)
11 And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. 12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”
13 Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! 14 Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.
QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT:
Am I a tattle tale or a person who prays to understand Truth in the person of Jesus Christ?
A tattletale is a judge. Am I a judge of others seeking Truth? Do I nit-pick about how others live their lives and tell God he needs to do something about them without knowing what they’re going through at the time? Or do I pray for them with love in my heart, asking God to simply help them in His ways?
Dear Heavenly Father,
I do not pretend to be perfect before you. Cleanse my heart. Transform my life. Help me to focus on You and You alone and not on the faults of others. Help my life reflect Your Truth as the Person of Jesus Christ. Forgive us when we judge others unmercifully. Help us to always show mercy first followed by Your Love in our hearts.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Matthew – God’s Purposes
This wonderful wisdom is quickly followed by, “Come to Me.” “Take MY yoke upon you.” To do this, we must take off what we ourselves have placed on our shoulders in the work God has invited us to do. His yoke fits us much better. It’s lighter, more appropriate for the work HE wants us to do. “Let me teach you.” He will guide us into how to adjust our yoke until it fits perfectly for the work ahead of us. “You will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy to bear.”
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
16 “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. 17 But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. 18 You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. 19 When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. 20 For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
26 “But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 27 What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!
37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
Jesus spends three years training His invited and called motley crew of “fishers of men” and followers of Christ, teaching them to do more than He, in human form on earth, will do while He is walking the earth beside them. Have you ever noticed that Jesus always sent his disciples in twos to do certain tasks? There was only one time that he sent a disciple out alone. That was when he sent Judas, (who allowed Satan to enter in and have control), away from the Lord’s Table to “do what you have to do” to betray Him. (Matthew 26:50) Jesus doubles his efforts when he calls, prepares and sends. We can learn from these actions of Jesus.
Randy and I have been involved in following God, saying yes to where He sends us, while seeking his will and guidance for many years now. What we observe in various groups of God’s people is their lack of praying this prayer. They mumble and groan, grow tired and weary, but seldom pray to the Lord of the harvest to send workers to help them. They hang on to the work as if it is THEIR work and not God’s work. Many find their identity in the work and sometimes lose their identity with Christ, the Lord of the Harvest. They seldom mentor and train others who are willing, trying to follow Christ, seeking God’s invitation to join Him in His work, only to find the “holy few” doing all the work as if they are not needed. And we wonder why there is a leadership and worker void in God’s church today. 
Dear Heavenly Father, 
Matthew 9
Crying out “Son of David” tell us that these men knew who Jesus was. Then Jesus clarifies their faith by asking, “Do you believe I can do this?” The blind men immediately answer, “Yes, Lord”. Can we just stop and camp on this thought for a minute or more? The men, though blind, found Jesus and followed Him until He responded to their request. Jesus then asks, “Do you believe I can do this?” Why ask this question that seems so obvious to us?
“In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
We are not quite sure why Jesus “sternly” told them to keep this news quiet. Was it reverse psychology as our parents used on us as children? Was it because Jesus wasn’t ready for His glory to be revealed in that place at that time? We are not sure. But we are sure that their acknowledgement of WHO Jesus was began the conversation, their persistence in following Jesus got His attention and their faith led to their healing. Hallelujah, Amen! I believe! 
20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” 22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
23 When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, 24 He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. 25 But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went out into all that land.
We have covered the call of Matthew in the first part of
The image of the wineskins teaches that He gives spiritual fullness. Jewish religion was a worn-out wineskin that would burst if filled with the new wine of the gospel. Jesus did not come to renovate Moses or even mix law and grace. He came with new life! Eternal Life!
Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting
Why fast when the reason to fast is to seek Jesus who was right in front of them! We sometimes fast for wrong motivations. We fast to lose weight, to cleanse our bodies physically at times, or to fast from the busyness of life.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
Believers use the word “called” often when describing God’s purpose and action in us and through us. Being called of God is not just for preachers. We are all called as true followers of Jesus to a variety of tasks, at just the right time and place, with the words to say and the ability and strength to say them with God’s love and purpose for His glory. Whew, I know that was a long sentence but isn’t that what being called…or “invited” to join God in His work, as Henry Blackaby explains, all about when we really think about it?
“Will God ever ask you to do something you are not able to do? The answer is yes–all the time! It must be that way, for God’s glory and kingdom. If we function according to our ability alone, we get the glory; if we function according to the power of the Spirit within us, God gets the glory. He wants to reveal Himself to a watching world.” 
“Jesus was the Son of God. Yet He never took the initiative to dream a dream or launch a new ministry. He lived His life in absolute dependence upon His Father. If Jesus was that dependent on the Father, then you and I should realize how ludicrous it is for us to set out on our own without any direction or guidance from the Father.” 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic
I. The faith of his friends in bringing him to Christ. His illness was such, that he could not come to Christ himself, so he was carried. If we do as well as we can, Jesus will accept us. Christ had an eye for their faith. 
