Let's Meet the King, Part 3

With political tension rising around the world culture spinning out of control. Sometimes she begins to feel like God is stepped away. The question looms is God truly in control as you really know what's happening here today on Insight for living Chuck Swindoll reminds us that the king is on his throne. That's not conjecture trucks conviction comes from the Gospel according to Matthew, the New Testament writer who introduces us to the son of the living God titled today's message. Let's meet the king were all sinners.

Sorry sinners you don't deserve the brevets in our lawns and along came Christ who said to us want you to follow me go back a chapter to Matthew 911, thoughts like this. Matthew nine is Jesus. Verse nine is walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax. By the way is the last places you ever want to go that was a strong right-winger stay away from those crooks say way for most people.

They want your money. By the way is good to have me to add this before I go any further. Matthew being a tax collector. It took the life of Jesus to change him.

They were as much hated as social pariahs. The Jews class them with murderers. They weren't even welcome in the synagogue. To make matters worse.

Matthew worked under the employee of Herod and to put us who in turn had to make massive block tax disbursements to the swine of Rome. It was a very lucrative place in which to work.

This is the man who was changed from his disreputable profession to become a follower of Jesus. Now all that is the background I want you to get the picture of Levi before Christ got a hold of this is not the first time he hears all of our meets Christ. I think there have been weeks of the past respondent from a distance and maybe even believe in his heart that this is Messiah doesn't quite know what to do without. With all of this not look closely, Jesus comes along.

He sees Matthew sitting in the collector's booth and walking away as all the other freedom fighters would have done.

He walks in and says follow me and be my disciple. Matthew got up and followed. Think about it sheet though he was. He was rich he has made money on the hide of fellow Jews hated why would he want to be numbered among those are going to follow Jesus there, filled with people are gonna hate people like him. It was the power of Christ, the druid read on. I love this part later Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home.

I'm sure it was a big place, really big place. He invited them to be as dinner guests along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners mean much to you because we want tax collectors today, but we do what we call by the names but let's say you have a party and you bring in about your friends from the IRS and you bring your buddies along with those with whom you once worked were all together at one table is not going to be fun. I can just imagine some of you would respond to that, sure to be very gracious, but we read verse 11 when the Pharisees saw this so what this whole group sitting together for dinner, disreputable sinners, tax collectors, people that are hated, as well as those the site when the Pharisees saw this, they said to the disciples. What is your teacher eat with such strong these are Pharisees looking in from the outside. They wouldn't dare go in there and get their garments soiled by this. Sorry, but sinners sitting around the table. Milligan Jesus response. He said healthy people don't need a doctor. Sick people do. Then he added.

Now you go and learn the meaning of the Scripture. I want you to show mercy not offer sacrifices are all busy doing all their sacrifices altarpiece alder customs don't go that route going show mercy for I've come to call not those who think they are righteous. Those who know they are sinners. By the way, do you know that about yourself. Honestly, there are some so smug and snobbish to consider that an insulting question. If you are born without Christ. As you are and if you're living your life without God you have no righteousness. All you have status. All you may have all the stuff that money can buy your sinner. Not until you acknowledge that and see yourself is that, would you ever come anywhere near the ranks of those who were followers of Christ. No one comes to Jesus who doesn't first see herself or himself as the center because when you see yourself in that light.

You have no trouble believing in one who can save you from your plight because the tragedy is if you are like most is that you die in your sins and you have nothing when you face eternity to bring you before God clothed in the righteousness of Christ that you're not surrounded by personally righteous people today. You're not hearing the words of a righteous person and myself.

I'm a sinner that's been delivered from my sin, but the grace of God like everyone of you know Christ is what the Pharisees could never see all they could see was the sinfulness of life. They didn't realize they were the same camp in need of a physician as much as any other center. I love this thought was one man writes when Jesus called Matthew as he sat at his receipt of custom Matthew rose up followed him left everything behind him except one thing is pin's not good.

He brought along his pin seat with the other disciples that they weren't writers. The fishermen are people who work the trades Matthew made his living writing that's why when you read through Matthew you if you find it excellent, excellent Greek excellent writing easy well as DA Carson writes Matthew was a skilled literary craftsman and gave his gospel structure form and rhythm that the Matthew were going to be studying.

It will be a book of structure, form and rhythm as far as his styles and phrases are concerned. Just keep in mind what he loves to refer to proceed on the chart.

He refers 32 different times to the kingdom of heaven. That's a phrase he loves.

He also we will refer to the law. He will refer to customs you refer to many of the Jewish traditions because it's a Jewish gospel written to fellow Jews. Here's the theme Jesus Christ is Israel's Messiah.

Jesus Christ is Israel's Messiah you're looking for a master you'll find him. In Matthew, he alone is the King of glory to another phrase that he loved to use and there is the flavor of the Jewish mind as you work your way through it. Every family has a flavor every lifestyle has a Philippe our family when we were growing up had a flavor music. Music was in our blood. Several of us play musical instruments. We all saying we love music. Music was a part of our lives.

I've heard the story or are heard this the speech of an Italian fellow's name was Tony Fitz Tony talked about his family and he said when he was in school he ran around with two friends all the way through the all Road school bus together and an American friend named Freddie that fits had a Jewish friend named Saul that fits Tony Freddie and Saul. He said when when my American friend would be running to the bus. The mother would be at the door saying Friday. Do you have your baseball glove so American. He said when my Jewish friends. Saul was running to the bus. His mother was at the door, saying, do you have your books today. She would say yes or computer.

He said every time I go to the bus. My mother would say Tony, do you have your lunch. My mother would've said to me dear musical instrument, every family is this kind of flavor.

When you get to this Matthews style you come to realize oozing from the pores of his writing is the way the Jews life to become acquainted with them, especially when we get into Matthew will help us understand it all the more. Now right-click that sort of zoom through the chart. We do that, that's rollerblades on the worry me through about 130. Here we go, to move from left to right, looked on the bottom look at the bottle you see categories chapters 1 through 15. We have the King presented in his identity one through 15, as the case, Israel's promise came move across the page and you will find his destiny is emphasized in chapter 16 to 27. What's the destiny he came to die.

His mission was to die. It was to pay the price for the sins of the world. And when you move into chapter 16 through 27. There is an increase in hostility against it.

As the tide of popular opinion turns against when you get to the last chapter he comes back from beyond and he's victorious over sin and death and the grave and the the title there could be. He is risen. That's chapter 28 go back to the scope in the first 15 chapters.

There are large crowds of people are following him. There's a growing popularity. There is an interest in his teaching people give ear to his stories. They were impressed by the miracles when you get the chapter around chapter 16 he begins to turn his attention to his 12 rather than to the large multitudes. Why would that be because he is mentoring his 12 to carry on without the purpose of his pouring his life into the 12 in chapters 1 to 4. There's a myth emphasis on Bethlehem, and Nazareth.

When you get to chapter 5 through 15 there's a special ministry emphasized in Galilee and would you get to 16 on Judea because that's where Jerusalem is and that's where he was crucified.

The key verses you will see if the very bottom where Peter did testifies that Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God and the very end you come to the great commission. I want turn there as we wrap it up, go to the last chapter of Matthew's gospel you do that. Matthew 28 go to verse 16 Matthew 28 when the 11 disciples left for Galilee going to the mountains were Jesus and told him to go when they saw him they worshiped him, but some of them doubted that. Don't paint the disciples is perfect even to the end. Some of them had doubts. Some of them still scratching their head wondering how it's all going to remember they were looking forward to a kingdom and all of a sudden their Savior was dying and I was been raised from the dead is confusing. We've had centuries look back on it, and had explained to us that it's it's happening in time for them to read on, Jesus came and told his disciples, and this is not called the great commission. Pay close attention here.

His words I've been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nation, baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit, teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I've given you, and be sure this I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

In a previous set of messages are talking about the importance of observation. Remember seeing what is really in the text go back up to verse 18 in verse 19 in verse 20 and look for one word that's repeated 3×3 times I've been given all authority in heaven and earth. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations. Verse 20 teach these new disciples to obey all the commands see the word circle.

It all all all.

The first has reference to the king. We don't have all authority.

He does for anyone to say I have all authority over heaven and earth would be would actually be mentally ill if he thinks that she thinks that but not Jesus.

He's made the heavens and the earth. None of it is unfamiliar to him. He's the one in full authority. So all authority among and in in in his existence, and in his life and now he speaks to those places where to go with his message to all the nations to come back to that in a moment, and have on us to take the message we are to obey all he is said why will for people to believe our message we need to be modeling what the messages softly difficult for a soil messenger to deliver pure message so he says for all of you who are going to carry the message. Remember you to obey all that I've told you you to take the message to all the nations for a brief moment I want you remember the cross member. The sign that was placed above his head on the cross. It read.

This is Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews you know that that was written in three languages. According to John chapter 19 verse 23 languages Aramaic, Greek and Latin. Those were the languages of that day. Aramaic is the spoken language. The lingua franca of that area. Great would be the written language that everyone had been taught the common Greek of the of the day Latin would be the formal language known especially by the Roman so that all who pass by and read what the sign says his message is now to go to all the nations.

Let me give you an example of how the nations have advanced in the last few centuries. Now think of how poor the name of Jesus is going. The name could be written in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Mandarin Hendy Spanish English, French, Portuguese, Polish, Bengali, German and Russian, Arabic, Japanese all the Slavic countries. All the Scandinavian countries. All European languages and then when you get to Africa you have languages and dialects, many of which have not yet been translated. Some of them are called heart languages because there isn't even an alphabet. Then you go to the islands of the sea you have the same thing. Imagine that ultimately even the heart languages by God's grace will be getting the message of Christ and will be our pleasure to make that message known to them. Never think of this message of Christ is something you cling to it was given to us to pass it on to release it illustrated even with the sign that hung above Jesus had a great thought that is talk about a message for the missions.

That's it. Now about us personally when we wrap it up with four statements ready number one when we were born again the king arrived could put that here in your outline. When we were born again the king arrived in our heart. Are you there is the king arrived. Has he begun to change or nature is a given you another name if you will. Unlike the name you were born with, and you have lived out. Is there a new name is beginning to take shape.

Now that the king is arrived in your heart when you were born again the king arrived is the second when we began to grow in our faith. The king demonstrated his power, just as he does through the gospel of Matthew. Changes occurred some nearly miraculous. The truth began to sink in. He revealed his will to us.

He dealt with addictions in our lives.

He took care of vulgarity evil thoughts that once dominated our thinking he took away our greed. He made us aware that life is not made up by the things you can touch, or by are you there is that where you are in the stage of your growth here was the third as growth accelerated so that opposition and testing same with Jesus. As you noticed, even the disciples.

There were doubts. Maybe you've experienced them lately doubts replacing what was once simple comparable faith discouragement now harasses you maybe are being misunderstood by those who once called you a friend. Perhaps if you're in a mixed marriage where you're saved and your partner is not there may be a growing distance between you and there's been a sword brought instead of peace that you once had. Maybe in your business success is waning because as you grow deeper you will discover the Lord purifies us as he brings us to a place of focus only on him forth and finally, when all seems lost, he arises victorious in our lives just as he does in chapter 28 he reminds us, I'm still king Jesus, I'm sure to call his still here to call the shots in your life you can trust me.

I have all the power I have all the authority. Now I ask you to obey all that I've told you what a great place to close my asking you where is Jesus in your life you were to put that answer on on up on a piece of paper what role would he fill. I'm just being introduced to him.

I'm just beginning to realize what he can mean a begun to discover that life is a made up the things I could buy her own. Maybe I'll come to a place very very painful, crossroads in my walk with you may say I've never met her, knowing he still a bit of a stranger to me and I would like to know him personally following the service.

In the first hour and a man come to me who is searching so obvious from the words he used it several questions to ask me I could tell that the Lord was working on his heart is intrigued by the power of the Scriptures and how they still speak to his life speak right into where he is today.

I'm convinced Lord can win them over, just as he will in your life. Remember the Lord never met his match. He could turn a Quisling like Levi into a disciple like Matthew that with me, will you please.

We look forward our father to a journey through these stories lines on the page that would become living truths in our lives make us good students of your word even better. Followers of your son here in our hearts father. The cry teach me, change me begin now to make me like Christ. Father, we anticipate the growth that will come from learning of your son through this story of his life give us ears to hear and eyes to see parts to accept this. Matthew writes about him maybe come to know him and love him as never before in our lives. We pray for Christ's sake.

Everyone said amen. Including the first message in a brand-new study in the gospel of Matthew. You're listening to Chuck Swindoll. He titled this opening message let's meet the king to learn more about this ministry. Visit us online@insightworld.org. This comprehensive series is never been shared on Insight for living until now and we are confident you gain a whole new understanding of Jesus life and ministry by joining us for this fascinating study.

It begins with the birth of our king, and concludes with his great commission. It's our hope that you'll resolve to listen every day to this powerful study Matthew's unique perspective provides a magnificent view of our Lord's life and ministry. And when we truly engage with the biblical Jesus, our love and affection for him grows immensely concurrent with Chuck's new teaching series on Matthew be glad to learn that he's just completed an exhaustive commentary as well. It's titled Swindoll's living insights commentary for Matthew. The Matthew commentary comes into hardbound volumes and we encourage you to purchase your copies now in order to make the most of this in-depth series to purchase when dollars living insights commentary for Matthew. Call us if you're listening in the US dial 1-800-772-8888 or go to insight.org/store. And here's another resource for the entire family. Many of us are making every effort to understand our changing times and were learning how to communicate truth with the next generation will Chuck is been impressed with the insight in the new book is recommending to you called a practical guide culture.

The authors John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkel provide a biblical view on key issues in our culture that all of us face such as sexual orientation and gender identity, racial tension and more. You could purchase a copy right now by going to insight.org/store.

The book is titled a practical guide and there's a similar book targeted for younger readers titled the students got culture listening in the US dial one 800-7788 88 or purchase the book online@insight.org/store. Join us again Monday. The Bible teaching of Chuck Swindoll on Insight for living.

The preceding message. Let's meet the king was copyrighted in 2014 and 2021 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2021 by Charles R. Swindoll. All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited