"YOUR TEACHER!"

Matthew 9:10-13                           (ESV)
"10 And as JESUS reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with JESUS and HIS disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to HIS disciples, "Why does "YOUR TEACHER" eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
12 But when HE heard it, HE said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
13 Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."



The Pharisees were constantly attempting to "catch", or "corner" JESUS using their vocabulary to put HIM in an unfavorable light.  In John 8:42-47 JESUS lets them know they are of their father the devil and that they can't help but do the will of their father!  JESUS could see their spirit and knew by observing to whom they belonged.  They wore the outer garments of "the temple", but their hearts were far from being in tune with GOD!

When the Pharisees called the SON of GOD "YOUR TEACHER", they said more than they ever dreamed for those who were so educated and refined.  GOD, the CREATOR, was in their midst and all they could call HIM was "YOUR TEACHER"?  The Pharisees couldn't see the things of the Spirit of GOD (1 Corinthians 2:14), for they are folly to them!  All they could see was a threat to their comfortable lifestyle and they were doing whatever they could to limit HIS influence to those who believed on HIM.

This was a supposed unlearned son of a carpenter before them, when in REALITY the SON of GOD was in their midst!  "YOUR TEACHER" was, and is, calling the sinners, not the righteous!  The humility of a true believer isn't difficult to conceive when one considers the magnitude of a HOLY GOD.  But when all you can "see" is your position among men, pride has probably gotten control of your life and that generally brings disaster!

Lessons need to be learned from the Pharisees in Matthew 9.  Our desire should not be to be part of something that glorifies the things of "this world", rather our efforts should be for the furtherance of HIS Kingdom.  Don't let the "great deceiver" blind you from THE TRUTH (John 14:6)!  What "this world" sees as "YOUR TEACHER" may be  GOD in the flesh!