Mathew 8,9

In Mathew 8,9 Jesus went from town to town healing the sick and curing the diseased. Now I know where all these stories come from. I have heard of them before, but there is something powerful in reading it for myself. I often wondered why Jesus was healing all these people. Was he trying to prove to the people his power? There were several people that came to him just to ask for his help. I wonder if these people stayed faithful and followed Jesus after he healed them of if they took his healing for granted and turned their back on Him.

As I read on in Chapter 9, I see the calling of Mathew and I can't help but to wonder if this is why this chapter is entitled "Mathew". According to the word, Mathew was a tax collector. I haven't read on to chapter 10 quite yet, but I think I remember the people being angry that Jesus went to Mathew's house to eat with him because he was a tax collector and he overcharged people with ridiculous interest. The people were upset and asked. "How can you eat with a sinner?" Which is interesting, because, they were all sinners, just as we are today. But for some reason they did not see themselves as sinners.

This reminds me of Mathew 7:3 "Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" They were quick to judge Mathew, but did dismissed their own sins.

I think Jesus purposedly ate with Mathew to send a message to the people and also to soften the heart of Mathew and teach him.