The Master's Men Part 3: Matthew and Thomas B

I believe that promise preps only equaled by John at such a deep and intense love for Jesus that he could not endure existence without him and I believe what he's reflecting here is Jesus is going to die then let's not die because the alternative is bound for Los Angeles.

Somehow, though he ended up in Dublin, Ireland. After that, no matter what great things he may have accomplished. He was forever known as wrong way. Corrigan now it seems the disciple Thomas suffered a similar indignity he is forever remembered as the guy who doubted the Lord's resurrection. But maybe history has overemphasized that incident and overlooked Thomas his positive traits.

John MacArthur considers that today's continuing his series. The Masters men here on grace to you, but before John looks at Thomas. He has more to say about the disciple Matthew. So with that, let's get to the lesson here is John Matthew was a traitor.

Matthew was an extortion Matthew was a robber.

The feet. Matthew was greedy.

Matthew was a social pariah or outcast and he knew it and look in Matthew 99 and there is where you find easy to be a tax collectors to be a public what that meant was that you as a Jew were used by the Roman government to collect taxes from the Jews to give the wrong you then sort of work for the oppressor.

You are a traitor, first class and not only that, but you bought the right to collect taxes so you paid the government you bought into the system and then the government would stipulate a certain amount of tax that had to be collected and that was given to Rome and then you are free to collect anything more you could from the people and that you kept for yourself. And so there were bribes and extortionist routes taken abuses beyond what we could even dream. There were two kinds. There were goodbye GABA I there were the general tax collectors.

They collected property tax income tax, pool tax, standardized. There was, not apparently as much graft at that level. Then there were the mochas them.

Okay HES they collected the duties they collected duty on everything they set up their little deal where the roads crossed and they collected on all import all export all items bought all items sold. They set tolls on roads tolls on bridges tolls on harbors they set tolls on axles. How many legs on your donkey packages letters, you name it. Every everything was Matthew was a mochas text everything were two kinds of locusts.

There was what was called a great mochas. He was a guy who hired some hireling to do the tax collecting and he faded into the background. He didn't really want to be associated with the actual activity itself in here.

He retained a little more dignity because he backed off that was called a great mochas. Then there was a little locusts the small locals. He was too cheap to hire somebody to collect the taxes. He was a really did himself and didn't care about the social stigma and Matthew was that little mochas.

He was verse nine sitting at the tax office, greedy, extortion, or traitor to his people and what makes it so fascinating to me.

Also, he also had a name Levi which indicates that he really was in the flow of Jewish tradition and what also is interesting is that in the Gospel of Matthew, you might be interested to know there are more quotes of the Old Testament, then in Mark Luke and John combine so Matthew knew the Old Testament. In fact, he quotes out of the three sections of the Old Testament that a Jew knew the law, the prophets, and the hagiography of the holy writings. Matthew knew the law of God in the Old Testament, and yet we have no idea of him at all being interested in spiritual things. But when Jesus comes along. He says to him, follow me and he arose and followed instant what is involved in this.

First of all, he just walked away from his career and he wasn't like the earlier guys who were fishermen.

If they didn't like what went on with Jesus. There were always fish right and there were always next and there were always boats and they could go back and in fact they did in John 21.

The only backspacing and the Lord shone and they couldn't catch anything, but when Matthew walked away from that table.

Believe me, the Roman governor would have somebody there the next day and somebody was in line to buy into that and he was cutting off his career for good.

No lingering also he was identifying with somebody who was equally rejected by the establishment of the Pharisees and the scribes hated Jesus as much or more than the hated as a public so is really going from the frying pan into the fire side Principe is a white he do that well I'll tell you why did is only one reason this little section in chapter 9. The thread that keeps weaving its way through here is the forgiveness of sin in verse 10. Matthew calls a feast after Jesus calls him and he gets together tax collectors and sinners and Jesus as the guest of honor at the feast on the Pharisees say, well, why does he hang around with tax collectors and sinners and Jesus says they that are well need not a physician but they that are sick, you better go and re-learn your lesson that I am, not to call the righteous, but what sinners to repentance. The point of the banquet then was for Jesus to call sinners to repentance, so the whole thread here is confession of sin, repentance and forgiveness and Matthew plopped himself in their because I think that's the issue with nobody in the world knew better. His soon then Matthew new Lucent here is graft is abuse is extortion is greed. He knew that he betrayed his people knew that he could be bought for money. He knew that and I believe he despised it. I believe he wanted out.

I believe he wanted a way to get away from it and you heard about Jesus, and he had heard him preach because he was in that little town of Capernaum, and I believe what Jesus came to him and said, follow me. He knew that inherent in that was the forgiveness of sin, and he ran to get in. He was willing to say goodbye to his career, and everything else is he one of forgiveness, people does God use stained glass saints. No vile, wretched, rotten sinners, the most despicable people in society who are willing to be forgiven is a habit he can use them for much.

Oh, how about writing the gospel that introduces the New Testament. You see, God is in the restoration business. He takes the unqualified and transforms them.

That's his business, but I believe Matthew risked a lot more than the fishermen did because he could never go back and he was a vile sinner, one of Jesus can forgive. There he would be stuck with the same sin and no job to go back to, but he quietly forsook all and the genuineness of his repentance, I believe, is found in the fact that you see his humility. He is utterly humble. She has nothing to say about himself is nothing to say about his talent and what he has to offer the Lord. The only thing he wants to say is Jesus forgives sin and one of the ones he forget it was a manly Matthew who was really a sinner and was only friends were a lot of other sinners and tax collectors and sinners so we learn about his humility.

I think we learn nothing get a heart for the lost.

There are some people in this world just kinda gravitate toward the down and outers you know I must've been Matthew when, if ever there was a discussion about whether the disciples to get involved with some riffraff.

I'm sure Matthew would lead the parade toward the riffraff, having been one.

I'm glad that when the Lord put together a team of men. He takes someone from out of the deepest pit or some of us might never be willing to go back into that.

Not knowing that something can really happen there. I was Matthew limit criminal and outcast. The most hated of men got utterly convinced of the sin when given an opportunity to believe he believed any followed.

He became a man of quiet humility who love the outcasts who gave no place to the religious establishment. A man of great faith amount of total and utter surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in a manner knew the Old Testament and Amanda God used to write the gospel. One writer calls it the glorious unconventionality of the Lord Jesus Christ. He chooses the most unlikely people that brings us to the last man in group 2, Thomas is his name and immediately when I say Thomas was the first word you think of doubt.

Thomas has gotten bad press. Thomas is a better man than you think.

In fact, I'm convinced that most people really don't understand Thomas. We just say Thomas the doubter I think you can learn something about Thomas. You did know in the next few minutes was Matthew Mark and Luke give us nothing about Thomas but John again always digging into the heart of people opens Thomas up to us. John chapter 11 will look at three very brief texts. John chapter 11 let's really get to know Thomas, verse 14, the Lord is up by the Jordan River and the Lord is out of the city of Jerusalem. The pressure has been tremendous. The plot to take his life is been hatched. In fact, they had to get out of Jerusalem because his time was not yet company had to do it to preserve his life.

He and the disciples are up by the Jordan. The report comes to them that Lazarus is sick. That is significant because Jesus loves Lazarus in a very special way. Verse 14 Jesus had tarried to give sufficient time for Lazarus to die and then says this Lazarus is dead and I'm glad I waited while you glad for your sakes, I'm glad I wasn't there for the reason that you may believe.

In other words, I will do a miracle will increase your faith. They were a weak bunch want is rework and they always need some kind of demonstration of his power and choices is dead and I'm glad for your sakes that I wasn't there because now you're going to see some little make you believe, then, verse 50.

Let us go on to him. Let's go where was Lazarus Bethany where's Bethany 2 miles east of Jerusalem. Now that is a scary announcement because all the disciples can think about is old. This is suicide. This is absolute suicide. We can't go back to Jerusalem and the implication is that there sort of beginning the little disintegration and some of the guys are probably saying. I think I'm a go see my my old friend in Galilee Jerusalem. Thomas apparently moves into the situation with some leadership.

Verse 16 then said Thomas was called didymus, which means the twin, yet a twin brother or sister likely, and he says to the fellow disciples.

Let's also go we may die with him. Now I see several things in that first of all I see a certain amount of initiative. Don't you see that because it takes over the scanner rises to the tops of women you guys but you know him and I would also see pessimism, don't you. I see some pessimism that he was convinced Jesus ago to be killed, and that if they went they would die.

It was all very clear to him yield the greatest courage in the world is not the courage of an optimist optimist has courage because he believes the best weapon.

The greatest courage in the world is the courage of a pessimist because he knows the worst is going to happen is willing to go anyway. See Thomas as well die. Let's go that's that's a lot of courage and was cut and dried him regarding figure out his epitaph and everything you can only see disaster, but he was grimly determined to die with Christ much tougher for a pessimist in an optimist now. Why does he want to do this you know if you think of him only as a doubter if you really think that Thomas doubted Christ, then this is a make any sense honey. Why was he willing to go die with Jesus. Not because he doubted him, but because he so totally believed he so utterly believed. I believe this I believe that Thomas perhaps only equaled by John at such a deep and intense love for Jesus that he could not endure existence without him and Stennett and I believe what he's reflecting here is if Jesus is going to die then let's go die because the alternative is to be without him.

See, let's go with let's go with the words of love is the words of faith he believed he could die and be with Jesus. Yet no illusions saw the jaws of death is willing to die men of courage and amount of love.

He did not want to be separated from Christ. Put it this way – yes, disloyalty never. He could never be disloyal to Jesus because die for. Before he be disloyal. That's how deep his love go to chapter 14 and we see him again in the same attitudes come out again. Jesus gives this little message about letting the not your heart be troubled, and believing in God is going to prepare a place for you and I'll come again and receive you to myself and where I am, there you may be also all and whither I go you know in the way you know I said you know where I'm going you how to get there.

Verse five Thomas said to him, Lord, we know not where thou ago was and how can we know the way this is the same heart, the same Lord don't you go somewhere where we can't come same.

The thought of separation was the issue with Thomas.

I don't like what I hear you're going to go to where you are or how to get there is hard I think is newly broken as he speaks and he's a pessimist to get his will never find the place so bleak, negative, bewildered heart.

Jesus tells them Thomas. I am the way, the truth of the life momentum of the father but by me. What he saying is I'll take you, Thomas. I'll take you there on the way to fear. I'm looking to go someplace and leave you see the same pessimism. Again, don't you, and you see the same love again school with third and last look at Thomas John 20. Jesus died know what happened to Thomas when Jesus died, he said I knew it. He died and I didn't died.

He went somewhere on Gloria's I knew it in all of his fears came true all the worst things that he never thought he felt betrayed he felt rejected he felt for sake and it was out of laugh that it was shattered, it was like a wounded animal, and he didn't want to be around people and so we just split. That's what he did all the rest of the disciples came together. He is wasn't. Larry was he was out he was depressed because he loved so deeply, he would've died with Jesus, but Jesus died without a he wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus went without him and now is pessimism is vindicated is really in the pits. In verse 20 forces Thomas, one of the 12 called didymus wasn't with them when Jesus came. Sure he was out looking as well. Jesus appeared to the remaining disciples. Thomas wasn't there.

Verse 25 the other disciples said we seen the Lord. We seen the Lord Thomas and you weren't there, you didn't show up, but Thomas is depressed. You try to talk somebody's depressed really difficult is very difficult. He says, except I shall see in his hands, the part of the nails for my finger to the print of the nails thrust my hand into his side. I will not delete nice because I see it before you pounce on him with both feet. Would you kindly remember this that none of the disciples believed until they saw Jesus coming after all, it is not that easy to believe that somebody rose from the dead. Me on the road to Emmaus to move 24 two were walking along the Lord is with them in their moaning and groaning about his death and they don't believe either gleefully so. So don't make Thomas the doubter see he's a loving pessimist is what you that's better than being a doubter I want to see before.

I believe he says so the Lord, by the way case you don't know the Lord doesn't mind.

People wanted to be sure you want to be sure he'll accommodate that desire. Eight days after verse 26 is the disciples were inside.

Thomas was with them.

Jesus came, the doors being shut. I like just reraise molecules and his body came through the wall and always he says when he does that. Peace be unto you, it's understandable seems a fitting greeting doesn't the chaos. It must've occurred and then he zeroes in on this dear soul that loves him enough to die with him and is utterly depressed and shattered said to Thomas. Thomas reacher you finger hold my hands and reacher your hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithless, but believing the Thomas do the unstated. It just says immediately without doing anything. He answered and said, my Lord and my God. The greatest single confessional ever made. The affirmed the deity of Jesus Christ. He affirmed the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He affirmed that he was God. You know he wanted that so bad.

Jesus was back Jesus at Thomas because you seen me, you believe in your alone the rest of the same basis. Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed. No, that is about who came after that that you and me with never seen that we believed. Blessed are they Thomas.

Yes, he was melancholy. He was moody, pessimistic comfortless shattered when he saw the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh my give the greatest testimony ever given.

And you know what that one little statement. Thomas gave the speech that literally destroys every lie that is been told about Jesus not being God that it's ever been uttered in the history of man is a monumental statement. My God said isms and Chisholm using spasms and yogis and all the rest the time and deny the deity of Christ are put to silence by Thomas learn a lesson Jesus wants you to be sure surety most frequently comes when you hang around other believers does not mean that Christ cannot come to you in a solitary place but more likely does he appear among those who are his own.

Thomas, tradition tells us a lot about preached some say what is far as India preaching and one tradition says that he died a very special way. They took a spear and rammed through because of his faith in Christ be have a fitting climax for one who was told to reach forth his hand and feel the spirit market is O Lord, what kind of people is God.

You file sinners like math, tenderhearted, moody melancholy pessimists like Thomas, you name it. They're all unique and he can use you to this is grace to you with John MacArthur. Thanks for being with us. Our current study is looking at the 12 disciples or as John calls them the Masters men.

John, as we learn about the disciples.

There is a diversity there with a lot of differences from person-to-person coming give a tax collector. He's a guy who's working for Rome and another disciple was a zealot who opposes Rome even as a terrorist sort of character. How significant is it that God chose people with such a variety of personalities and gifts and points of view. Is there anything in that that we should come away with you that God uses a variety of people that he made us all unique that this is the this there are fingerprints are unique. That's just a little bit of an indication that every human being is different when you can tell it thought of apart by their fingerprints, so that is not only true on the outside is true on the inside.

God is designed is so uniquely at his believing people are so designed that they might fit a role in the body of Christ. An effective and necessary role. The Lord chooses the most unlikely people and we are seeing that in looking at the Masters men for sure want to mention again.

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Check your local listings for channel times then be here Monday when John starts looking at some lesser-known Disciples of Christ men who can learn a lot from it. Another half hour of unleashing God's truth one verse at a time wasting