SPECIAL STUDY 3 - JESUS’ PATTERN OF SOUL-WINNING

TEXTS: Matthew 4:17-25; 9:9-13

Memory Verse: “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his
Lord...” (Matthew 10:25).
As Jesus went about fulfilling His ministry of teaching, preaching and healing, Bible scholars note that
He covered about 240 cities and villages. His passion for souls not only drew multitudes of sin-sick
minds from the valley of despair, His style of evangelism also presented challenges and a pattern to all
His disciples in a hitherto uncharted course. The call of Peter, Andrew, James, John and Matthew
presents a platform from which to look at the Lord’s pattern of soul-winning. Here, the authority,
greatness, love, compassion of our Chief Shepherd not only shine, the dramatic change of character and
conduct of a life exposed to divine love is clearly set forth.

1. THE PLACE OF PREACHING AND HEALING IN SOUL-WINNING

Matthew 4:17-25; Luke 4:17-28; 24:25-27; John 2:23; 10:25,41,42; Acts 19:11,12
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the
kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people”
(Matthew 4:23).
Question 1: Why do we need to demonstrate God’s healing and miracle power in soul-winning?
The Lord’s success in soul- winning derives from His vast knowledge of the scriptures and dynamic
power evangelism informed by a consistent prayer life (mark1:35; Luke 4:1-14; 6:12; 10:21; 22:39-
44;John 17:1-26). It is doubtful whether anyone could make much progress who is not given to much
prayer and deep study of scripture (Luke 18:1; 1Thessalonians5:17; 2Timothy 2:15). No one hopes to
make a success of the job without prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21).
Jesus shows by His approach that a result-oriented soul-winning venture must of a necessity be
accompanied by healing of the diseased and the demon-oppressed. Society, as presently structured,
with rampant outbreak of diseases and demonic afflictions needs that the gospel be presented with
demonstration of God’s power. There is a limit to what we can do without the backing of God’s power.
Notice that more souls were won to the Lord through healing, miracles, signs and wonders than
through hard-core preaching. For instance, “In Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many
believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did” (John 2:23). In another instance,
“many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracles: but all things that John spake of this man
were true. And many believed on him there” (John 10:41,42).
Christian experience of salvation, sanctification and Holy Ghost baptism equip the believer for power
evangelism while consistent holy living and prayer sustains him.
Question 2: How can a believer receive power for soul-winning?
2. PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DIVERSITY OF THE AUDIENCE
Matthew 9:9-13; 10:1-7; 13:1-34; Mark 10:17-27; Luke 10:25-37; 15:1-32; John 4:4-30; 8:1-11;
Acts 13:13-44; 17:16-34
The Lord’s approach differed from person to person. Situation and wisdom dictated His method. In
Matthew’s case, for instance, He not only ate with him, His disarming comment silenced, even if
momentarily, the bitter criticism of religious bigots. In Christ’s time, religious and racial prejudices
Scribes, Pharisees, Publicans/the Gentiles, the Samaritans and the Jews affected and guided interactions
among the sets. This understanding of His audiences made Him to vary His approach at reaching them.
He was sensitive to the man-made barriers as He was determined to break the middle wall of partition
existing among them. Successful soul-winning demands diverse approach since understanding and
temperaments differ from person to person.
Question 3: Why do we need wisdom in soul-winning?
People, place and circumstances determined the slant of Jesus’ message. Parables, conversations,
questions, comment on current happenings that all came in handy as a means of driving home a point.
They were thought-provoking as they were witty. He wielded them like a rapier. With them, feelings
were gauged, motives unmasked, thus leaving the sinner with no place to hide from the searching glare
of God’s word. But in all, wisdom supervised and guided the appropriateness and preferences of the
use of each.
For instance, in a rare expression of holy indignation, Christ pronounced “woes” on the scribes and the
Pharisees for their hypocrisy, impenitence and unbelief (Matthew 23:13-33). Yet, in another instance,
He honoured a dinner invitation from a Pharisee (Luke 7:36-50) and in another praised a scribe for his
sincerity (Mark 12:28-34). He was not caught in the prejudice that existed between the Pharisees and
the publicans. He related with them equally. His life was ruled by one maxim: charity towards all,
malice towards none. He was swayed by neither the hermitism of John the Baptist (Luke 7:33,34), the
hospitality of the Pharisees nor the egocentricism of His disciples (Luke 9:55). He related with His
audience with understanding and firmness. Successful soul-winning demands that reason be separated
from emotion. Nothing erodes confidence as when preconception is allowed to rule and guide
interaction between a soul-winner and his subjects.
Commendation or condemnation should come, as occasion demands it. Notice the tactful use of
commendation in the conversation between Jesus and the scribe: “And when Jesus saw that he
answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34). Tact
is also evident in His conversation with the Samaritan woman. “Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy
husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her,
Thou hast well said, I have no husband” (John 4:16,17). In dealing with souls, there might be need to
commend a kind act done or word said by a seeker. In some cases, this might turn out to be the only
means of getting him to accept the gospel.
In associating with Matthew (Matthew 9:9-13), a certified sinner in the Pharisees’ mind, Jesus showed
Himself a true Friend of all spiritual wretches. His condescension that started with His incarnation
acquired a new meaning as well as become redefined as He reaches out to sinful men. Criticism, rather
than bring about change of behaviour in a sinner, will only harden his heart. Ordinarily, a publican
suffered from a poor public image. He was, on account of his activity as a tax collector, shunned as a
stooge of the Roman Empire. Besides, the demand of his duty, an intimate relationship with the
Gentiles placed him in bad light among the Jews.
Question 4: Why were the Publicans so despised in the eyes of the Pharisees?
By interacting with publicans widely regarded as sinners and scorn of the society (John 8:1-11; Luke
7:36-50), Jesus on a collision course with the Pharisees. They queried His disciple: “Why eateth your
master with publicans and sinners?” It is obvious they were ignorant of the Messiah’s mission on earth:
“I am not come to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:13). It is instructive that
Jesus answered them out of their own Scripture. The religious people who regarded Jesus’ association
with men of “questionable occupation and character” as scandalous undoubtedly have a wrong
assumption of what constitutes acceptable service to God. Christ even revealed that the much-despised
publicans and sinners are nearer the kingdom of heaven than the self-righteous Pharisee. “Verily I say
unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you” (Matthew 21:31).
Question 5: What do you learn from Jesus’ association with publicans and sinners of His day?
So, to be a successful soul-winner, friendliness with the people to be won for Christ is important. The
disposition of the soul-winner is as important as his message. It has sometimes turned out to be the
entire message a sinner needs to surrender his life to Christ.
One of the interesting features of Christ’s passion for souls is His practice of taking the gospel to the
seekers’ abodes. Homes, towns, cities, streets, roads, seashores, desert, and synagogues – none proved
a no-go area in pursuance of this objective. He condescended to the level of His audience. He identified
with their agonies and pains. In offices and schools, among relations and acquaintances, in the
neighbourhood and larger society, they may be people who do not care about the salvation of their
souls; they are snobbish. But any soul-winner who hopes to be like his Master must look beyond the
demeanour and character of people. He will need to warm up to the snobbish and cheer up the
downcast.
Christ’s passion for souls is not one without some highlights. One, He is as much grieved over the
spiritual state of multitude as He was “over one sinner”. Before His encounter with Matthew He had
preached the gospel in Galilee, Capernaum, Nazareth, Bethsaida and Jericho. Yet He was as excited
with one seeker as with crowd of them. With both He exuded the same warmth, love, kindness and
compassion.
Two, His passion for souls recognized neither place nor time. Every place or time was just all right
insofar as people were willing to give the audience to His message. People’s homes, places of work,
deserts, synagogues, seashores, wilderness all provided a cozy place to address men on the subject of
repentance and faith towards God. Three, every situation, circumstance and contact with people
became an opportunity not only to experience the wonderful power of God in bodily healing but also
the marvelous grace of God in repentance, redemption and regeneration of life.
Four, only one theme ran through His messages: repentance from sin and faith toward God. Little
wonder this evangelistic fervor, tenacity and zeal passed on to His disciples who constitute the nucleus
of the early church. Later Peter was to re-iterate, “we cannot but speak the things which we have seen
and heard” (Acts 4:20) while the early disciples “scattered abroad” by intense persecution went “every
where preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). And through it all, one theme stood out: “repentance toward
God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

3. CONVERSION AND COMMITMENT TO EVANGELISM

Matthew 9:9,19; 10:1-3,5,6; John 4:28,30,39-42; Acts 2:47b; 8:1-4; 2 Timothy 2:8,9; 4:1,2
Matthew honored the Lord and His disciples not only to commemorate his spiritual rebirth but also to
create opportunity for seekers to meet with the Savior. Of course, being young in the faith, he could not
preach to the people. He left the job for Jesus. Therein lies an unforgettable lesson for new converts:
you can share your testimonies with and invite your acquaintances and intimate friends to fellowship
and church services. You can organize a forum where a minister of God or a more experienced church
leader can minister to them. This was the same principle applied in the disciples meeting with “certain
Greeks” who came to Jerusalem to worship at the feast of the Passover (John 12:20-22).
Question 6: In fishing for souls, how may we employ Matthew’s method?
An unfamiliar face sitting by our side during worship or fellowship session could be a visitor waiting to
be won for Christ. Striking up conversation with the person after service might prove to be the ideal
thing to do. Every believer is called to be a soul-winner. And what an excellent pattern the Lord has left
for us to follow.
One, avoid popularity seeking and see in every man or woman you meet a unique creature whose soul
is as important as any other in the sight of God. Two, let seekers see in you the love, compassion and
understanding, which the society around them seemed to have denied them: let them know through
your conduct and character that he that comes to God He will, in no wise cast out. Three, give no
respite to your passion for soul-winning but recognize in every contact with people an opportunity to
reach out to them with the gospel; to suffer some inconveniences and to share in their pains and agony
if need be. Lastly, keep to the message that can save the soul from eternal damnation: repentance from
sin and faith toward Christ.
Our willingness to be commissioned for the task of soul-winning is the true test of our conversion.
Conversion and evangelism go together. Where there is real conversion, there must, of a necessity, be
zeal to take the gospel to the unreached by all possible means.