INTRODUCTION:

Our focus should always be Jesus Christ. We say we believe in Jesus and we say we do what He tells us to do, but we may be surprised over actually how little we know about what He actually said and what He actually did not say. It is important we spend time with Jesus, reading the Gospels. Jesus taught repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He preached about “attitudes.” He warned us about the Pharisees and Scribes.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5, Ephesians 3:8, Colossians 1:28-29

Jesus tells the religious people: “Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 9:13

LESSON:                                                                                                                                                                   Key Scripture: Matthew 9:1-13, Matthew 12:7, Hosea 6:1-11, Matthew 22: 37-39, Matthew 5:3-12, Matthew 5:20-25, Malachi 1:10-11

1.JESUS HEALS THE PARALYTIC MAN & JESUS MESSAGE, MATTHEW 9:1-13

Read the story. Jesus said “Son be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you.” verse 2
Jesus was accused of blasphemy, verse 3.
Jesus calls Matthew the tax collector to follow him verse 8-9
Pharisees, the “law keepers, the law-dogs” saw it. Verse 11.
“Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

All the worship in the world, assemblies you may attend, offerings you bring to God. things you do religiously can cover up your LACK OF MERCY towards God.  You must have a heart of mercy. The foundation for your relationship with God is not that you keep all His rules and regulations, but it is because of mercy, love, patience and kindness. That is what God wants!

THE PHARISEES LOOK FOR FAULT IN JESUS & HIS DISCIPLES, Matthew 12:1-10 Read the passage & discuss it.

Pharisees attack Jesus and His followers.
Pharisees were not looking to bond or connect with Jesus.
They were in the distance looking for a chance to find fault.
Jesus says to that Pharisees you are so, so wrong.
Jesus & His disciples did NOT violate the Sabbath law.
The Pharisees felt they knew the law better than others and were addicted to telling others when they were wrong. They were blind from seeing the truth as God intended it.

THE CONTEXT OF THE PASSAGE, HOSEA 6:1-11 Understanding Hosea will help us understand Jesus’ teaching. If we know and understand God’s relationship with Israel through the prophet Hosea then we can better understand Christ’s message, actions and teaching for us today.

OUTLINE OF HOSEA:                                                                                                                                   Hosea 1: 1 Hosea’s background.                                                                                                                                  Hosea 1: 2 – 11 God tells Hosea to marry a prostitute and have children that will be used to illustrate his judgments against Israel.                                                                                                          Hosea 2 God treats Israel like an unfaithful wife.                                                                                  Hosea 3 God tells Hosea to buy back his adulterous wife from her lover, and he did this to illustrate how the people of Israel would no longer have a king or to be able to worship false gods.                                                                                                                                                                      Hosea 4 – 14 The remaining chapters of the book of Hosea outlines God’s judgments and his call to repentance for the nation of Israel.

God had shown Israel mercy and kindness time and time again.
God gives them one last try or chance & sends Hosea.
Hoses 6:1-2 God speaks very optimistically.
Hosea 6:3 You need to truly know God.
Hosea 6.4 God questions: what shall I do with you Israel? God wanted Israel to love Him and to love His people. I don’t need your sacrifices or worship. I want Israel to show mercy and loyalty. We are God’s house on earth and are to reflect the nature of God in the world.

Malachi 1:10-11 God was tired of their sacrifices!

4.THE PURPOSE OF JESUS COMING TO EARTH!  Matthew 5:1-11                                            -Establish His Kingdom. It is all about the heart. Attitude is everything in the Kingdom!                             -Not about what we look like but WHO WE ARE!                                                                         -We are gentle, hunger & thirst for righteousness, merciful, not hypocrites, peacemakers, when persecute we tolerate it. We are totally humble and gentle JUST LIKE CHRIST!

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-10, Hosea 6:6, Matthew 22:37-39                                                                      Jesus’ mission was to save the lost, not to throw stones at sinners. Until we have a love for the lost God is not happy about all our rule keeping! God wants people who love people just as Christ did. God is looking for people who love Him and others.

5.THEIR ARGUMENT WAS COMPLETELY WRONG & FALSE. MATTHEW 12:7-9 & 5:20-25      Being driven by winning and being right rather than having compassion & mercy for others. We may not murder our brother, but I refuse to talk to him. I will not sit by him at church services, You are “dead” to me. Would we dare say: I need to go repair my relationship with him before I worship God today!”  We need to be open-minded and honest and consider if sometimes our arguments are also wrong, incomplete or even false!