Matthew 9

JESUS' POWER TO FORGIVE MEN'S SINS

Matthew 9:1-17

Lesson 9A

Key Verse: 6

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Jesus Heals A Paralytic (1-8)

1. Where did Jesus land when he returned from the region of the Gadarenes? Who met him (compare Mk 2:3,4)? What can you learn from these men and their efforts to bring their friend to Jesus?

2. What did Jesus say to the paralyzed man? What do Jesus' words, "Take heart" and "son" teach us about the man? About Jesus?

3. Why did Jesus tell such a helpless man, "Your sins are forgiven"? What kind of sins might he have committed? How does sin make people useless? Why does everyone need to forgive and to be forgiven (compare Mt 6:12 and Mk 11:25)?

4. Read verses 3-8. What was the response of the religious leaders? What did Jesus say to them? How did Jesus demonstrate his authority to forgive men's sins? What does this reveal about Jesus?

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Jesus Calls Matthew (9-17)

5. What was the response of the people when they saw this man's changed life? Why could the Pharisees not see God's marvelous work and praise him? For what can you praise God?

6. As Jesus went on from there, whom did he see? What does the fact that Matthew, a Jew, was working as a tax collector for Rome tell us about him? What kind of life did Matthew probably live?

7. What did Jesus say to Matthew? How did Matthew respond to Jesus' calling? Why? What did the big party this selfish man gave for Jesus and his fellow tax collectors show about the change in his life?