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Matthew 9:35-36 Matthew New Testament

The People Who Encountered Jesus

Study Overview: An expositional study on Matthew 9:35-36 by Rhodes Davis, examining key biblical principles, textual insights, and practical applications for Christian character and faith.
Speaker / Author: Rhodes Davis
#Work & Stewardship #Faith & Discipleship #Spiritual Disciplines #Holiness & Sin

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I. Text:

II. Introduction

  1. We have been studying the life of Jesus for 6 months.
  2. What impact has Jesus had on our life as we have encountered him during this period?
  3. As Jesus walked the earth He did mighty works and spoke wise words
  4. Matthew 9:35-36 – Jesus journeys
  5. Matthew 7:28-29 – People astonished at Jesus’ teaching
  6. Let’s look at how people who encountered Jesus as he walked among men.

III. Some rejected Him despite His great works and wise words

  1. Jewish leaders
  2. Couldn’t deny the miracles
  3. Matthew 9:32-34 – People marvel but Pharisees attribute miracle to Satan
  4. John 12:9-11: Kill Lazarus because people are following
  5. Marveled at His words
  6. John 7:45-49 – Guards marveled but Pharisees dismissed
  7. They had the evidence before them but didn’t want to follow Jesus
  8. Those who feared the Jewish leaders
  9. John 12:42 – “Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue;”
  10. Some came heartbroken from sin
  11. Luke 7:36-49: Pharisee and the sinful woman
  12. She sought forgiveness for sins

IV. Some followed him for what they could get

  1. They were fans of Jesus
  2. They liked Jesus when He made no difficult demands on them
  3. John 6:22-27; 60-66
  4. Some today would say that Jesus’ problem in John 6 was that He didn’t package the gospel message so the multitude would accept it—He didn’t need to be so hard or dogmatic.
  5. Those who didn’t really care left Him.
  6. Those who desired to serve Him stayed.

A. They didn’t like His difficult sayings

B. Matthew 15:8-12 – the saying offended the Pharisees

C. Did Jesus backtrack or soften His message so that the Pharisees would not be offended?

D. Did Jesus apologize to the Pharisees for hurting their feelings?

E. Verses 13-14 – Let them alone

F. They are blind and do not want to see and will not see the truth because they do not seek it.

G. God will uproot them for their rebellion—don’t pander to them, don’t soften the message to make it palatable to them, don’t step down from a strong stance on the truth—LET THEM ALONE!

V. Some became His disciples

  1. Some saw the signs and heard His teaching and wanted to be like Him.
  2. Acts 4:1-22 (abbreviate) – knew they had been with Jesus

VI. Becoming a disciple

  1. John 8:30-32 – Listen to His words
  2. Put nothing in front of Jesus: Luke 14:26-33
  3. One cannot be like Christ if he has other loyalties; Christ was completely dedicated to the Father
  4. Other affections can put demands on us that would lead us not to follow Christ completely
  5. We can never gain the full riches of Christ if we hold back in our sacrifice to God.
  6. We cannot have a new life when we are hesitant to go to the cross with Christ and loosening the shackles that would hold us to this earth.
  7. Jesus gave Himself completely to save us and we must give ourselves to Him completely to serve Him
  8. Only when we lose ourselves completely in God will we truly find ourselves, why we are here, what life is truly about, and receive an abundant life
  9. Die with Him
  10. Matthew 16:24-25
  11. Mark 16:15-16
  12. Romans 6:1-4
  13. Live like Him
  14. Romans 12:1-2
  15. 1 Cor 11:1 – Imitate me as I imitate Christ
  16. 2 Timothy 1:13

VII. How will we let our encounter with Jesus affect our lives?

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