BULLETIN ARTICLE
12 April 2020
JESUS’ NEW COVENANT AND OUR RESPONSE AS HIS DISCIPLES

Matthew 9:9-17 reminds us that Jesus came to establish a new covenant – through his death, his blood would be an atonement for our sins. With this atonement, his gift of eternal life is for all sinners who repent and believe in him – both Jews and Gentiles.

“Came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (9:13)

Matthew was a tax collector and tax collectors were not liked by most people. They were not only considered notorious sinners, but also regarded as collaborators with the Romans against their fellow Jews. Tax collectors helped the Romans collect taxes. They would overcharge people and take the excess as their profits. Here, we see a surprising scene where Matthew so readily followed Jesus when he was called. This reflects Matthew’s eagerness and trust in Jesus. Are we as ready to answer Jesus’ call to follow him as Matthew did?

Soon after, we see Jesus eating with a group of tax collectors and “sinners”. He was willing to associate with those who were considered by society to be of lowly character. Romans 3:23 says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. As sinners who are unhealthy, we all need to receive God’s gift of salvation in Jesus Christ in order to be saved. In recognizing this, how can you be an instrument for God in telling a family member or friend about this gift of salvation?

“The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them” (9:15)

The Church is often referred to as the bride and Jesus as the bridegroom (Matthew 25:1-13; Ephesians 5:25-27; John 3:28-29). Here, Jesus foretells his death. He dwelled amongst both Jews and Gentiles to tell them the Good News. However, this was for a limited time. People started to reject Jesus’ message of salvation. Eventually, he was crucified on the cross. But on the third day after his crucifixion, he rose from the dead. Christ has ascended to heaven, but he will come again (Matthew 24:42, 44; John 14:3; Acts 1:11). Knowing this as a believer in Christ, how do you stay prepared?

“But new wine is put into fresh wine skins, and so both are preserved” (9:17)

If new wine was poured into old wine skins, the pressure of the gas from the fermentation would break the old wine skins and the wine would seep out and be lost. Here, it illustrates that the new covenant in Jesus is so much more than the old Jewish laws and cannot simply be reduced and contained in the matrix of the old covenant (2 Corinthians 3:7–18). For us who are under the new covenant, we have received Jesus’ grace and can have an active and living relationship with him (Romans 7:4, 6).

As Christians all over the world remember and celebrate this gift of salvation on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, what are some things that you can praise and thank God for his goodness? Let us remember the work of Jesus Christ, and his victory as he conquered sin and death. We now have hope, and can inherit the kingdom of God.