Matthew chapter 10. I'm going to read the first 15 verses. Matthew chapter 10. verses 1
through 15. And when Christ had called unto
him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean
spirits to cast them out and to heal all manner of sickness
and all manner of disease. And the names of the twelve apostles
are these. The first, Simon, who is called
Peter, Andrew, his brother, James, the son of Zebedee, and John,
his brother, Philip, and Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, the publican,
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Levias, whose surname was Thaddeus,
Simon, the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent forth
and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles
and into any city of Samaritans, enter ye not, but go rather to
the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach,
saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse
the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils. Freely you have received,
freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver,
nor brass in your purses, nor script for your journey, neither
two coats, neither shoes, nor yet stays, for the workman is
worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town
you shall enter, inquire into it who in it is worthy, and there
abide till you go thence. And when you come into a house,
salute it, and if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon
it, but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words when
you depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of
your feet. Verily I say unto you, it shall
be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the
day of judgment than for that city." Now, of the calling of
the disciples, we're going to look at one only, Matthew, the
Gospel of Matthew. And the first question I have
is, what does the grace of God teach us? What does the grace
of God teach us? Now, in Matthew 10, the same
words or the same lesson is taught in Mark 3, and again in Luke. And John's Gospel is a little
different. It speaks of the suffering of Jesus the Messiah. But these
other two, along with Matthew, share a lot of the similar stories.
So, what does the grace of God teach us? First, I want us to
turn to Mark 3. And look with me, and I've never
seen this before. Look with me. Mark 3. And verse 13-19. And Christ goeth into a mountain,
and calleth unto him whom he would. And they came unto him,
and he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and
that he might send them forth to preach. The foolishness of
the preaching is to save them that believe. And to have power
to heal sickness, and to cast out devils, and here they are,
Simon, surnamed Peter, James, John, the son of Thunder, Andrew, Philip,
Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, the son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus,
Simon the Canaanite, Judas Iscariot, which betrayed Him, they went
into the house. Turn with me to Luke chapter
6. Luke chapter 6, verse 13 through 16. And when it was day, Christ called
unto Him His disciples, of whom He chose twelve. And they didn't
choose Him, He chose them. And here they are, Simon, Peter,
Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas,
Simon, Judas, the brother of James and John, Iscariot, which
was the traitor. There's no difference there.
Yes, there is. There is a difference. In Luke,
Chapter 6. And in Mark chapter 3, I want
you to notice where Matthew is placed. Matthew and Thomas. Back in Mark, Matthew and Thomas. Now look with me back at Matthew. This Matthew is writing, he's
the author here, he's writing under inspiration of God, but
he's still writing. Men, as they were given of God,
as they were touched by the Holy Spirit, they wrote. Where does
Matthew put himself? Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas,
and Matthew. So when he's writing about himself,
he puts himself after Thomas. What does the grace of God teach
us? We place ourselves behind others. We esteem others better
than ourselves. Isn't that what Paul said? We're less than the least? I
think it's interesting that they're all wrought in the same, but
when Matthew wrote about himself, he puts himself behind Thomas. What else? We shall prefer others
over ourselves. That's what we take the low road,
as one man said. God resists the proud, but He
gives grace to the humble. Apparently, this is what the
grace of God will teach us. If you're called, if you've been
called out of darkness into His marvelous light, we heard this
morning, Bruce so amply described that, we know what we are. But that's not all. Again, Secondly,
what does the grace of God teach us? Look at Mark chapter 3. And when Mark's writing about
who the Lord's picked, he just says, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
and Thomas. Same thing in Luke. He just says
in Luke chapter 6, he just says the same thing. And the Twelve
Apostles, these are who they are. Peter, Andrew, James, John,
Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, and Thomas. But when Matthew
writes, go back to Matthew, they left out one word that described
who he was. When Matthew was writing about
himself in this text, in Matthew chapter 10, he says, Philip,
verse 3, Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew, the publican. the publican. Now, what was a
publican? Remember, Matthew was a Levite
because it's also used interchangeably, it says the Levite, you know,
Matthew the Levite it says in other places. To the Jews, this,
a publican, was someone who was the worst of the worst. He was
a betrayer with Rome, he was hired by Rome to collect taxes
against his own countrymen. And they, you know, apparently
they didn't have, you know, when Rome sent their orders, they
would send it to the tax collectors, nobody else knew what they, they'd
go, 10%. You know what, I'm gonna get
11%, they don't know, and I'm gonna pocket. And most of the
time, they were pretty well-to-do. So he was a publican, and he
writes this about himself as though he didn't forget, like
the scripture says, the pit from which the Lord found him. So,
he was a tax collector, a sinner of the most vile sorts. Yes,
we never, if we understand the grace of God, what does it teach
us? That we're less than the least, we're behind, the chief
apostles were behind. And secondly, we don't forget
where the Lord found us. We never quit acknowledging,
if Christ did not do something for us, we would carry on straightway
onward to hell. He just left us alone. That's
what we would do. And we would think we're on the
right path because there's a way that seems right. It seems so
right. It seems so right. But it's not. Unworthy publicans, undeserving
publicans, miserable wretches. This is us. Christ, it was, the
publicans were such a vile word and people that Christ, and I
think it's, well, Matthew 18, he says, when you go somewhere
and they don't receive you, he said, you know, let them be as
the Gentiles and publicans. And Christ himself used, let
them be like this. Matthew 18, verse 17. And where was Matthew found when
Christ called him? Now, this is in Matthew 9, but
it also could be found in Mark 2 and Luke 5. Mark 9, turn back
one page, and Matthew 9. And as Jesus passed forth thence,
He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the receipt of customs, and
He said unto him, Follow Me. And Matthew arose and followed
Him. Where was Matthew? Where was this notable, vile
sinner? Was he in the synagogue? No. Was he in fellowship? No. Was he in deep prayer? No. He was found Christ said, I'm
fond of them that sought me not, because Christ sought us. He
was as far away from God, so to speak, in the receipt of customs,
as anybody could be. We may be religious, but spiritually,
we are far away from the grace of God's mercy and truth. Secondly,
what does this grace reveal to us? The first point was, what
does the grace of God teach us? To deny ourselves, or less than
least, that we don't forget the pit from which we've come, and
we know we've got to be called. Because if He didn't call us,
we wouldn't call Him. So, what does the grace of God
reveal to us? He reveals what happened at the
garden. He reveals to everyone that He's going to redeem, going
to call, that Adam's fault. He shows us that there's none
good, no, not one. When Adam fell, we fell. Totally. Mind, will, and soul. There was
nothing in us left whole. As a matter of fact, Isaiah chapter
1, He says that very thing. Isaiah 1, verses 2-8, Hear, O
heavens, and give ear, O earth. For the Lord has spoken, I have
nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against
Me. The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master's crib, but
Israel does not know. My people, they don't consider.
Before we were His people, we don't consider. We're living
our life. I've heard this so many times and so much more in
my last place of employment. How you doing? Living the dream.
I guess, if that's all you got, it ain't much of a dream. My
people does not consider a sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity,
a seed of evildoers, children that are corruptors. They have
forsaken the Lord. They have provoked the Holy One
of Israel to anger. They are gone away backward. Why should you be stricken anymore?
You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick and the
heart faint from the sole of the foot even to the head. There
is no soundness in it but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores
that have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with
ointment. That's what we are. That's what
we understand. In the garden, this is what we're
like. This is what we're like. Romans
3, there's none that doeth good, no not one. Genesis 6, the Lord
looked down from heaven, and every imagination of the thoughts
of man was only evil continually. We're that bad. So He's going
to teach us. Grace will reveal, as it did
to Matthew, Because when he wrote himself, he put him behind tiles.
When he wrote about himself, Matthew the Publican. The Scripture says in Ephesians
2, 1, we're dead. Not just wounded with a slight
limp, but as Maurice would say, we're graveyard dead. Helpless,
hopeless, unreconcilable by our own efforts, our own works. and what we are left in the hands
of an offended, angry, and insulted God who demands justice. But we, as Matthew, hopefully
with us here today, will see what grace reveals to us. What happened in the garden?
Secondly, that we must be called. We must be called if we are to
be saved. Sovereignly. That means it's
going to all be of God. Singularly. That means particularly
and personally. Mom and Dad can't be saved for
the kids. The kids can't be saved for the
parents. The Lord has to call them. And He does such through
the preaching of the Gospel. And without error, this calling
is based upon the substitutionary perfections of a slaughtered
lamb, Christ. He must die. And all this is
not of ourselves. None of ourselves. He calls with
the holy calling, not according to our works which we have done
before the foundation of the world, that we may be holy without
human blame. And lastly, what does grace reveal
to us in Christ? What happened at Calvary? I'm
sure the Old Testament saints looked forward, and I'm sure
even though Christ was right there, they understood a little
bit, because He said, go preach, go preach the Gospel. All key
events in our history, the history of mankind, points to that one
event. Now, they may change it, and
I realize, I don't know how long ago they changed it, but they
don't say A.C. and B.C. and before Christ, and A.D.,
after death. They don't use those anymore.
We got too smart. It's something else. I can't remember what it
was, but they don't use those anymore. In the scientific literature,
they don't use those anymore. But it doesn't matter what they
say, or what human says, or what human logic says. The Scripture,
it points solely to that one event, that one event that happened
at Calvary. When God was reconciling or atoning
or satisfying every claim we had against us, as He laid upon
the back and breast and heart of God the Son, Christ Jesus. He says, Jesus Christ, the iniquity
of us all was laid on His back, Isaiah 53, 6. And this act that
was done at Calvary was totally successful, totally sufficient,
and totally sovereign or totally supreme. It was totally successful,
that means it can't fail, and all for whom Christ died will
be saved and no one else, Matthew 1.21, he shall save his people
from their sins. It was totally sufficient. God
is completely suited or this death was enough. You know, we
talk about kids are eating or whatever. I've had enough. Enough.
That means it's fully satisfied. God was suited with the death
of Christ. And that's why He says when He hung on the cross,
it is finished. The work of salvation. I've satisfied
Father's requirements and decrees for His people, which are my
people. And since these above statements
are true, God will get all the glory, do His name, for He says,
I am God, and there is none else. None else. So I ask. We say that this is what the
grace of God teaches us. We see what is taught Matthew.
We're no different than Matthew. We see what the grace of God
reveals to us, in us, in Christ Jesus. These certain things we'll
understand and acknowledge. So what should we do? What should
we do? Turn back to our text. Actually,
turn back to Matthew. What should we do? Matthew 9,
verse 9 again. And Jesus passed by and saw a
man, his name was Matthew, sitting at the receipt of customs. And
he said unto him, follow me. And Matthew arose and followed
him. That's what we should do. If
we're not following Him here today, may God give us grace
to fall at His feet, acknowledge His glory, acknowledge His right
to rule over us, and follow Him. Confessing our sins. Thank Him
for revealing our sinfulness to ourselves daily, or believe
and be baptized. Come unto Him. Come unto Him,
all you that labor and are heavy laden, and He promises rest.
But what else should we do? What else does every believer
do? Some 60, some 30, 60 different fruit, but we all bear fruit.
We all bear fruit. What did Matthew do? Let's just
look back at Matthew. Matthew chapter 9 again. Well,
actually, turn to Mark chapter 2. It's a little bit better worded,
a little bit more understandable, I guess, however phrase you want
to phrase that. What did Matthew do? Mark chapter 2, Mark's account
of what happened. Mark chapter 2, starting in verse
14, And as Christ passed by, he saw Levi, the son of Aphias,
sitting at the receipt of customs. He said unto him, Follow me.
And Matthew arose and followed him. Now look at, this is what
else we do. You entertain people at the house?
This is what you should do. Don't talk about the weather.
I mean, talk about the weather, talk about sport, do whatever
you do, but this is what we are to do. What Matthew did, who was called
of God, who understood the grace of God, understood what happened
at Calvary, understood what happened at the Garden, understood that
he had to be called. Look at verse 15. And it came
to pass, that as Jesus sat at meat in
Matthew's house, many publicans and sinners sat also together
with Jesus and Jesus' disciple, for there were many that followed
Christ." So, what does he do? He's hospitable. One of the first
things he does is he opens his house up because he had money. He was pilfering it before. Remember
what I think Christ said when the publicans came, when the
tax collectors came and said, what should we do? He said, just
do what's right. Just take what's lawful. Don't
take anymore. So Matthew, he's like, you know
what? I've been stealing. I'm going
to give back to the community. And who does he invite? Oh, he had
the kings and the princes. No, no, no, no, no. He invites
the same people like himself. Sinners. sinners publicans and
when the scribe and in the kingdom pass that Jesus sat at his house
not that Jesus didn't have a house he had nowhere to lay his head
at Matthew's house many publicans and sinners so much so that you
start doing that and Then the religious people verse 16 and
scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with public and sinners.
They said on disciples How is it that he eats and drinks with
publicans and sinners? You're never gonna please everybody
But it doesn't matter. It's not up to you. Invite sinners
and publicans. We should be of all people, knowing
that we're behind in the least, less than the least. If God saved
us, He can save anybody. That's how we know how bad we
are. But that's a beautiful... In Matthew's house, we tell people
what God has done for us through Christ. Tell those, also public
and sinners, just like us. For we know and have experience,
God will save the chief of sinners, for He saved you and me. And
I understand, you have family, invite family. You have friends,
invite friends. But we know we're not one, He
makes us to differ. Him and Him alone. Tell them
indeed. Invite, if you can't tell them,
invite them to come in here. They invite them. And perhaps
maybe more importantly is, Matthew had Christ was there with them.
Once Christ reveals Himself to you, you don't ever want to be
apart from Him. You don't ever want to be apart
from His company. And we don't have Him here now, but we do
have Him in this book. And we don't ever want to be
apart from this book. We always want to read and look and see what
the Scripture says. because they are they which testify of Christ. So let us be like Matthew, which
if we're believers we will be. To God be the glory. Bruce, would
you close us?