READ MATTHEW 9:9–13

Let’s face it: times haven’t changed much. No one wants the IRS knocking at their door. When a Jew became a tax collector, he was regarded as an outcast from society—he was prohibited as a judge or witness in court, he was banned from the synagogue, and, in the eyes of the community, his dishonor and shame extended to his entire family. Matthew was hated and despised. His wealth was gained from the sweat and tears of his fellow brothers and sisters. And yet, Jesus invites Matthew to follow Him. This provides great comfort and hope for us.

“He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth.” Jesus saw Matthew as a man, not as a tax collector. He didn’t say, “First stop being a tax collector, then follow Me.” Instead, Jesus calls him and us right where we are and then transforms our hearts, minds, and spirits. He doesn’t call us by our sin, “Hey thief, hey addict, hey adulterer.” He calls us by name.

Christ’s compassion and pursuit of the lost and broken gives hope and encouragement to us and should compel us like Matthew to bring everyone, regardless of who they are or what they’ve done, to meet Jesus.

1. What can we learn from Jesus’ interactions with Matthew and then with the Pharisees?
2. Why does Matthew host a party after receiving Jesus’ call to follow Him? In what ways can we follow his lead?

READ MATTHEW 9:14-17

In this passage, Jesus shares three illustrations that basically state the same truth: that His new way of life is so much better than their old system or our old way of life!

He says that His coming is not a time to be characterized by mourning or fasting. It’s an occasion for celebrating! To focus on fasting with what Jesus is now doing would be like treating a wedding like a funeral. He then shares that what He’s bringing is so wonderfully new that it can only be received as its own new thing. It cannot be combined with what “had been.” It would be like putting a new patch on an old garment or new wine into an old wineskin. The nature of what’s new cannot be contained by the old; it must be set apart and accepted on its own terms.

By coming to live, die, and rise from the dead on our behalf, Jesus introduced something so wonderfully new—a new way to approach God by trusting in His Son. This new way can’t be defined by a somber spirit or share space with an old religious system riddled with man-made traditions. It liberates people by moving them from a legally oriented relationship with the Almighty Judge to a love-based relationship with their heavenly Father. This is the new level of spiritual life Jesus opens up to us, and it’s our great privilege to now walk in this newness of life.

3. Why is Jesus’ new life better than our old life?
4. How do you sometimes try to combine the old with the new in a spiritual sense?

READ MATTHEW 9:35-38

According to the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, “Harvesting is the process of gathering ripe crops, or animals and fish, to eat.” Essentially, it’s picking something at its peak of readiness. Now, in order to have a successful harvest for all the crops planted, nurtured, and grown over a year, farmers bring in additional workers to help them gather. It’s literally an all-hands-on-deck time.

In this last section of Matthew 9, we see the very same principle at work. You see, as Jesus went preaching, teaching, and healing throughout the Jewish world, everywhere He went, He saw how needy, broken, lost, and trapped people were, how ripe they were, and how ready they were to be redeemed, restored, and saved. So, He tells His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” Many people were ready to hear and receive the good news of the gospel, but not enough people were ready to help them.

According to Barna research, only 64% of Christians believe it’s their responsibility to share their faith. A Lifeway study shows that 55% of Christians surveyed had not shared their faith with anyone in the last six months. Can you imagine going six months without talking about the most important thing in your life? Can parents go six months without telling someone about their kids? Can you go six months without talking about your job, favorite show or movie, politics, etc.? Probably not . . . How then can more than half of people who call themselves Christians go six months without telling someone about their life in Christ?

If you’re a disciple of Jesus, you’re a harvester; you’ve been sent. It’s not just a call for 45% of Christians or the job of a select group of missionaries, elders, and pastors. It’s our collective mission!

Mark 16:15 (NIV) says, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation,” while Matthew 28:19 (NIV) says, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” In 2 Corinthians 5:17–20, we’re called ministers of reconciliation and Christ’s ambassadors, “as though God were making his appeal through us.” This is for all of us!

Bible college training isn’t required to do this. Like the woman at the well who immediately went into her town to tell people about Jesus, you just need to tell people what Jesus has done for you—how He gathered you when you were at your ripest. Like the blind man in John 9:25 (NIV), you don’t need to know everything because he said, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

The gospel of Jesus has the power to change every heart; all you need to do is be a messenger who delivers this good news. And here’s the best part: You’re not alone in this work. You have Jesus, who works in and through you, and your co-workers, your brothers and sisters in Christ. This is why Jesus encourages us to pray and ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers.

5. Why do we so often avoid the work of the harvest? Why do we avoid evangelism?

6. What will you do this week to put the principles of this passage into practice?

This Week

Think about someone in your life who is a nonbeliever. Pray for them. Ask the Lord to open his or her heart to receive, to open a door for you to boldly share the gospel, and for the words to flow from His Spirit and not from you. Then, when He makes a way, when the Spirit leads, be a harvester!

Memory Verse

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”—Matthew 9:36-38 (NIV)

Prayer Guide

Lord of the harvest, I want to be Your hands and feet. I want to be Your messenger to those who need to hear the gospel. I want to be a worker in your harvest field right now. In Isaiah 6:8 (NIV), it says You asked “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Lord, I pray like Isaiah did, “Here am I. Send me!” Please give me the courage, boldness, and humility to do so. Help me be empathetic and gracious as I enter these conversations. Equip me with the words to say and fill me with Your Spirit so that I may walk in Your will. And Lord, bring other workers, co-laborers in the gospel, along with me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

If you have questions you aren’t sure of, please reach out to us at CalvaryFTL.org/Questions.