The Great
Physician
TEXT—Matt. 9: 10-13
I. Introduction
A. God speaks plainly. Not
author of confusion—1 Cor. 14: 33. Jesus
spoke plainly to everyone, even when speaking in parables.
1. The Farmer—“parable of sower” Matt.
13: 3-8
2. The Fisherman—“parable of fish net”
Matt. 13: 47
3. The Vine grower—“parable of vineyard”
Matt. 20: 1-16
4. The Physician of the text (Read vs. 12-13)
B. Lesson Divided into Four Sections.
1. The disease
2. The patient
3. The physician
4. The remedy
A. The Disease—Sin
1. It is universal. Rom. 3: 23; 5: 12
a. It originated with Adam. Rom. 5: 18-19
b. But what we lost in Adam we gain in
Christ—1 Cor. 15: 21
2. It will not get well of itself. 2 Tim.
2: 16; 3:13. It must have a
remedy.
3. Incurable by human skill. (Prov. 14:
12)
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a
man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.”
a. Man has almost conquered many bodily
diseases.
b. Not soul’s disease—Heb. 10: 3-4
c. No cure until Christ came. Heb. 9: 22
4. It is fatal if not arrested. Jas. 1: 14-15; Rom. 6: 23
a. Some diseases may last lifetime and
not kill—not so with sin.
5. A deceptive disease—may think getting
better but worse. Rev. 3:
14-17 (17)
6. It is an epidemic—a contagion.
a. Prov. 16: 29, “A
man of violence enticeth his neighbor, And leadeth him in a way that is not
good.”
b. Prov. 22: 24, “Make no friendship with a man that
is given to anger; And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go”
c. 1 Cor. 15: 33, “Be not deceived: Evil
companionships corrupt good morals.”
7. Some people ask, “Why didn’t God make
man so he couldn’t sin?”
a. “Why not fire so it wouldn’t burn?”
b. “Water—drown?”
B. The Patient—Sinner
1. Sick man needs physician when sick. Text
2. Suppose he offers excuses:
a. “Can’t understand all about the
remedy.”—Can’t understand the entire Bible.
b. “Too sick to take remedy—get better.”
–Not good enough to become Christian.
c. “Afraid I’ll get sick again.” –Afraid
can’t hold out against sin.
3. Patient must have faith in physician.
a. To add to or take from prescription
shows a lack of faith—dangerous. Rev. 22: 18-19.
b. Trust doctor to prescribe right
remedy.
C. The Physician—Jesus.
1. To be successful must be
prepared. Jesus had 4,000
years preparation. Gen.
3:15—First prophecy concerning Jesus
2. Must be acquainted with Human System.
a. In regards to Jesse’s first son,
Eliab.
b. 1 Sam. 16: 7, “But
Jehovah said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his
stature; because I have rejected him: for `Jehovah seeth' not as man seeth; for
man looketh on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh on the heart.”
b. John 2: 24-25; 1: 14
3. Must be acquainted with disease. Matt. 4: 1; Heb. 2: 18; 4: 15
4. Must be good judge of remedies. Right prescription for illness.
a. Head wound—Foot Powder
b. Bone fracture—cough medicine
5. Must be physician of ability. Matt. 11: 28-30; Heb. 7:25
6. Must be willing. 2 Pet. 3: 9; Matt.
11:28; Rev. 3: 20
7. Contrasts between most physicians and
Jesus.
a. Don’t visit unless sent for. Jesus did. Jn. 3:16
i. Or won’t set up office unless needed.
b. Don’t usually come unless paid for
it. Jesus did.
i. Or won’t see patients unless assured
payment.
c. May contract disease. Jesus can’t. Heb. 4: 15, “For we have not a high
priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities…”
d. Jealous of rivals. Jesus gladly took our case after
others failed. Mk. 5: 25-29
e. Lose their patients. Jesus never did when remedy
taken. 2 Pet. 1: 5-10
D. The Remedy—Gospel. Rom. 1: 16; 1 Cor. 15: 1-4
1. Must be taken. Bible on shelf will not cure. Rom. 10:
17
2. Must be taken according to the
directions. Matt. 28:
19-20; Mk. 16:16; Luke 24: 47
3. Taken until gone. Unto death. Rev. 2:10
1. Symptoms may return. Gal. 5: 4; Heb.
10: 26; 2: 1
2. Example—Medicine (10 day prescription)
Taken until feel better (3 days), stop then symptoms come back.
3. Follow gospel until feeling better
about self, and then go about daily routine. Or taken only in dire need.
E. Other Physicians and Remedies?
1. The Devil—2 Cor. 11: 13-14
a. Can offer remedy. Quote
scripture—Matt. 4: 6 (Read First) Compare—Ps. 91: 11, 12
11. For he will give his angels charge
over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. 12.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a
stone.
b. Claims to be equally qualified. Truth—Jn. 8: 44
2. Other Remedy—Placebo
AHD—Placebo: 1a. A substance containing no
medication and prescribed or given to reinforce a patient's expectation to get
well. b.An inactive
substance or preparation used as a control in an experiment or test to
determine the effectiveness of a medicinal drug. 2.Something of no intrinsic
remedial value that is used to appease or reassure another.
a. Examples of placebos
i. Sinner’s Prayer, Faith Only
ii. “Out of body” experience—Bernice
iii. Universal—“All are saved”
iv. Doesn’t matter—What you believe or
what church you go to. We
worship same God.
** Take Out
Songbooks**
A. If a hungry man refuses to
eat—starves. Who’s
responsible?
B. If a sick man refuses
remedy—dies. Who’s
responsible?
C. Is God unjust to punish the
disobedient man who refuses the remedy?