Reaching the Unsaved Requires Involvement (Matt. 9:35)

"And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction" (Matt. 9:35).

Following requirements are important for anything. Requirements are set in place in just about all areas of life in order to prevent disaster and failure, and to make sure that things are done right and successfully. What if your doctor didn’t follow requirements and gave you hair growth pills instead of back pain medicine? What if a mechanic didn't follow requirements and fixed a cable in your car engine with duct tape? What if your banker didn’t follow requirements and gave a stranger permission to access your checking account?

Requirements are necessities and they are demanded in order to ensure success. And I don't know if you were aware of this or not, but requirements are also important and necessary in the area of evangelism. Our Lord has not left us without the specifics on how to carry out faithful evangelism. In Matthew 9:35-38, He has given us requirements and instructions to follow in order to have fruitful and successful evangelism. There are four of them that He has given us to ensure faithful evangelism: involvement (v. 35), compassion (v. 36), laboring/laborers (v. 37), and prayer (v. 38). The first of these we will look at is involvement. 

Matthew begins this passage by explaining that Jesus was very active in His ministry among the people. He tells us that Jesus' ministry was comprehensive—He has come for every person and ministers to everyone who He comes in contact with. If someone has a need, no matter what their background was, or what they had done—Jesus was there to meet that need.

That’s what Matthew had just documented in chapters 8-9. Jesus cleansed a leper (8:1-4); He healed a Centurion’s servant (8:5-13); He healed Peter’s mother-in-law, and others who were sick and oppressed by demons (8:14-17); He calmed a storm (8:23-27); He healed two men who were demon-possessed (8:28-34); He healed a paralytic and told him to “Rise, pick up your bed and go home” (9:1-7); He healed a woman who suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years, and also a girl who was dead He raised to life (9:18-26); He healed two blind men (9:27-31); And a man who was mute, He caused him to speak again (9:32-33).

Jesus was involved with the people. So Matthew summarizes all of this in Matthew 9:35 by noting that Jesus worked among the people and was involved with them - He went where they were. Jesus was preaching the gospel of the kingdom among the crowds, saying to them, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 4:17). If anyone was involved with the unsaved to exert a holy influence on them, it was Jesus (Mark 2:15-17)

So just like Jesus, evangelizing and reaching the unsaved requires involvement. We must go to where they are, and meet their needs where they are—not expecting them to come to us, but going to them. Of course, we know that we cannot become involved in their sinful behaviors and lifestyles -  Paul prohibits this in 2 Corinthians 6:14-15.

But following the example of Jesus, we must go to where they are and be among them. They need the gospel regardless of their past, skin color, background, or religion. Just use your biblical wisdom in the situations you are unsure about. Would it be beneficial to invite your friend over to watch the Super Bowl while you down a few beers? No. Would it be beneficial to go to a restaurant or important doctor’s appointment with them? Sure. It's important that we find ways to be a faithful witness without damaging our own witness. Our lives should be open doors for people to see and hear the gospel—not stumbling blocks preventing people from seeing and hearing the gospel. Be an open door, not a stumbling block.

Do you have someone in mind right now you could be going to? Who is God putting on your heart to reach with the gospel? Are you going to them with the gospel, or are you expecting them to come to you?

Seeking Christ,
Bro. Brandon G. B.

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Bro. Brandon is the Associate Pastor of Youth and

Children at Ohio Valley Baptist Church. His sermons,

podcasts, book reviews, and other free ministry

resources can be found on Brandon's Desk