Do you remember a time where a conversation, an interaction with someone – totally impacted you? Influenced you? changed you? *maybe it was a coach, teacher, friend, - someone. This Fall we begin a series in the gospel of Matthew. And it was just such an encounter that changed the Author of this gospel account of Jesus’ life. Matthew went from a Jewish tax-collector for the Roman Empire – to a follower of Jesus and his entire life changed. Matthew would then do all he could to point people to the love and hope of Jesus; he’d speak about HIM to his dying breath.

As we look at Matthew – we’ll be looking through the lens of ‘disciple-making’ – how did Jesus disciple the disciples? How did He go about training them to have his heart, attitudes, and actions replicated within them? How might He still be wanting to do that within us?

A disciple isn't an intern. Interns are assigned to someone to manage – and really it’s about managing their energies to accomplish tasks. The life of following after a Rabbi was one of apprenticeship & thus active 'followership'. “May the dust of your rabbi always be upon you” was a famous saying to a disciple…meaning may your proximity to the one you follow be so close that their dust rests upon you. That you would see how they see, act as they act, do as they do.

Jesus quotes from Hosea 6:6 in the OT. It has deep meaning. Hosea’s (6:6) words were not a blanket condemnation of the sacrificial system of the Jewish nation at the time; rather, God was condemning a thoughtless, mechanical approach to sacrifice. A religious ritual helps when carried out with an attitude of love for God. If a person’s heart is far from God, ritual will become empty mockery. God did not want the Israelites’ rituals; he wanted their hearts.
"Mercy" is the same word in Hebrew as love = ‘hesed’. It's the Old Testament equivalent to grace in New Testament; it's used 458 times in OT; and means: steadfast love, loving-kindness, loyal love, faithful love, covenantal love.
a real relationship of love for God > religious rituals practiced for God

It took a willing heart for Matthew to leave his 'known' and follow Jesus into the 'unknown'. Matthew would begin to see how Jesus would continually call for that willingness to follow.
*The BIG TRUTH for tonight: the heart of a disciple is WILLING…
That’s what Jesus is shaping within his early followers. A willing heart.
A willingness to go where He goes and willingness to do what He does.

Leprosy was the most dreaded of diseases in New Testament times. The condition rendered the body a mass of ulcers and decay. Fingers would curl and gnarl. Blotches of skin would discolor and stink. There were even certain types of leprosy that would numb nerve endings, leading to losses of extremities and fingers--even a whole hand or a foot. Leprosy, as one man has said, was “death by inches”. The social consequences were severe. Since they were considered contagious, lepers were quarantined or banished, usually to a leper colony. Throughout Scripture the leper is representative and symbolic of the ultimate outcast.

We can tell a lot about the CONDITION of the man who approached Jesus by his hands. We can tell a lot about the CONDITION of Jesus' heart by the use of His hands.

We immediately see the 'condition' of the man: leprosy and most would keep their distance. But we immediately see the 'condition' of Jesus' heart - a heart willing to come near those who are left out, passed over, hurting, shunned, broken and in need. Willingness to 'enter in' to the mess with people would mark the life of Jesus and his ministry. A willing heart is what Jesus desires to build within his followers.

(think of JESUS’ hands)
His hands were the artistry behind every handiwork of creation.
His hands would put mud upon a blind man’s eyes so he could see again.
His hands would draw in the dirt, buying time for accusers to walk away - then offer a hand up to a broken women, extending her a hand into a new future & healing for her broken heart.
His hands would multiply a meal to feed thousands.
his hands would break bread to offer a new covenant, his hands…would one day spread out on a cross to show us how much we’re loved.

*Jesus’ hands would touch the untouchable, would reach out for the wanders. His hands would cling to a cross and be pierced for our iniquities in order to save us who are in desperate need; it’s his hands that still embrace all who turn toward him AND it’s his hands that promise to hold you, walk with you and never let go of you...

Godly touch – bringing the hope of Jesus into the situations around you where your heart, your actions, your touch can encourage the heart of another, is powerful – it’s God’s grace unleashed to change people and uplift their soul.

Matthew 25:
Jesus said, “Whatever you’ve done for the least of these, my brethren, you’ve done also to me.”

We have the opportunity to care for Jesus, by caring for the forgotten, the vulnerable, ‘the untouchables’ within our society. Jesus willingly did so…He challenges His followers to willingly do so as well.

Jesus modeled a willingness to ‘enter in’ with people to reach out – to invest in, never avoiding, but always welcoming. He desires our lives and our hands and our hearts to be willing as well.
Key Questions to ponder:
1) To grow in our resolve & willingness in following Jesus, we must ask ourselves “why is my heart unwilling at times?” What's holding me back?
2) Am I willing to go where Jesus shows me to go and do what he leads me to do?

Memory verse for this week:

Matthew 9:12-13
12 ...Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

This week, as you prayer, why not pray with 'open hands' (literally) before God as a symbol of your heart desire to grow in your willingness to follow Him where He leads and to do what He calls you to do in the opportunities He provides...

NEED PRAYER? ....we've got some of our prayer team and pastors available following service to pray with you. You can also submit your prayer request via our app. We look forward to partnering with you in prayer.

Join us next week as we continue in our Disciple series in the gospel of Matthew. *hint: don't be late, things are looking a little different next week:) Have a blessed week ahead friends!