November 21, 2010
Evening Service

Matt. 15:21-39

 

1.                  This morning Jesus spoke concerning traditions of men, and the traditions of God. 

2.                  The Apostle Paul told the church at Thessalonica, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught whether by word or our epistle.”

3.                  So you can see that this is where the rightly dividing of the word comes in.  The washing of hands types of traditions were of the elders, and did not apply to your souls salvation.  But the traditions Paul is speaking of are the teachings he taught them, and they do pertain to salvation.  Paul said, “whether by word, or our letters.”

4.                  Paul cries out for unity of the Spirit throughout his writings, and this should have a bearing on how we understand God’s will for the church.

 

Let’s look now at the rest of chapter 15;

 

Mat 15:21-39 KJVR  Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.  (22)  And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 

• 1.  She sought out Jesus.

2.  She cried unto Him.

3.  She first ask for mercy for herself, because of her plight.

4.  Gives Him glory as the Son of David, who was prophesied to be the Messiah.

5.  Then her real need.  My daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

It is not told us here what kind of devil it was.  There are many different kinds.

 

(Mat 10:1 KJVR)

And when he 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.

 

(Mar 1:27 KJVR)

And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

 

(Mar 3:11 KJVR)

And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

 

(Luk 4:36 KJVR)

And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

 

(Luk 6:18 KJVR)

And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.

 

(Act 5:16 KJVR)

There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

 

(Act 8:7 KJVR)

For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

 

(Rev 16:13 KJVR)

And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

 

 

The story of the Gadarene, who’s name was legion, because we are many unclean spirits.

 

 

 

(Mat 17:15-21 KJVR)

Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

• We got a problem here.

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

 

(23)  But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.  (24)  But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 

 

(25)  Then came she and worshiped him, saying, Lord, help me. 

• Look at her attitude.  One of need, and worship.

(26)  But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 

• I believe Jesus was just seeing what she would do.

(27)  And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 

• She admits her own unworthiness.  Then gives a very good answer.
• She is also saying that this terrific need that her daughter has, even though ever so important, is nothing more than a crumb of bread, in comparison of what He can do.

(28)  Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. 

• This kind of attitude, and faith gets results.

 

(29)  And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.  (30)  And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:  (31)  Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. 

• And they glorified the God of Israel.  They sure did, and rightly so.

 

THEN JESUS FEEDS THE 4000 PLUS.

(32)  Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.  (33)  And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?  (34)  And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.  (35)  And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.  (36)  And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and broke them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.  (37)  And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.  (38)  And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.  (39)  And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

 

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Do we believe this tonight?

 

Almighty God build our faith, and works, to bring glory to Your name.  Amen.