Daily Lectionary | Exodus 2 & Matthew 9:1-17
Exodus 2
Summary
The story of Moses’ life begins as a rescue from Pharaoh’s tyranny through water. Moses, born of a Levite mother and father, is recognized as “fine,” but this is the word “good,” as in the the creation that God calls good in Genesis 1. Moses seeks a way to spare his life. She places moses in a basket, which is the same word Noah’s ark in Genesis 7:1. Noah’s name means rest, and he brought sabbath rest to the world through his ark of water. Noah will bring God’s people out of house of slavery and into the house of rest in the book of Exodus.
This is the story of salvation for those in Christ. We are drawn up through the water, rescued from the house of slavery and brought into the hosue of rest safely throught he ark of God’s provision. Moses’ early days preview his and Israel’s life to come His name means drawn up out of water. In his name is God’s way of rescue. Later in the chapter, Moses will rescue women under threat at a well and will “draw water” for them. The theme of water and deliverance will stay with Moses.
Moses grows up and is apparently quite strong as he kills an Egyptian man mistreating a Hebrew. Moses saw the burden of his people and responded to the injustice. But when he witnessed infighting among his own, he was identified as the guy that killed that Egyptian and he fled to the wilderness at Midian.
At Midian we see women going to a well. Once again, when you have women near a well you should think a marriage is on the horizon. Moses will marry one of these women, Zipporah and have a son by her named Gerhsom, whose name means “sojourner.” His son's name will also be telling for Hebrews; they are also sojourners.
Moses responds to the burdens of his countrymen, and so does the Lord. The people cry out for rescue and “God heard their groaning and remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.”
Reflection
How does the birth of Moses preview the mission of Moses.
What should we make of Moses killing an Egyptian to defend a fellow Hebrew. Was this just?
Matthew 9:1-17
Summary
Some friends brought their paralytic friend to Jesus, presumably to be heated. What’s striking is that Jesus responds, it seems, not just or even to the paralytic’s faith but to “their faith,” the friend’s. Jesus acts to bless, forgive, heal someone on the basis of the faith of others. This should encourage us as we think about bringing our friends and loved ones to Jesus, whether it’s invited them to church or bring them to Jesus in prayer.
Jesus doesn’t respond to the obvious problem of paralysis, he first deals with the deeply rooted spiritual condition: “Take heart, your sins are forgiven.” Jesus is taking over what could only be accomplished at the temple and through the sacrificial system. But he is the temple and the perfect sacrifice. Jesus then heals his paralysis and tell him to get up.
Jesus then calls Matthew who was in his office collecting taxes. We’re simply told Matthew followed Jesus, leaving behind his work.
Jesus is at the table with his friends, but the Pharisees did not like who his friends were tax collectors and sinners!
Jesus responds to his critics: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For ‘I came not to call the righteous but sinners”
What can we learn about bringing people to Jesus in this section? From these verses, what might an evangelistic strategy look like?
What does Jesu mean that he desires mercy and not sacrifice and that he calls not the righteous but sinners? Who are the “righteous”? The “sinners”?