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24HourForums.com > The Top 10 Supported Forums > The Christian's Straight and Narrow Path > Bible Study > Bible Study: Matthew CH 8 |
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DesertRat Forum-Blogger© Pioneer100© Member 
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Matthew 8 We move now into a new section of Matt., in which the King reveals His power (chaps. 8–10). Matthew groups together ten miracles to prove to his readers that Jesus Christ possessed the powers of the King that the OT promised the Messiah would have. In His first “sermon” (Luke 4:18–19) He had announced that He would prove that the Spirit was upon Him by healing and helping the multitudes. Isaiah 35 promised that in the Kingdom Age the blind would see, the lame walk, etc. (vv. 5–6). These miracles were Christ’s credentials, proving that He was sent of God. These chapters take us back to 4:23–25. I. Power over Disease (8:1–17) A. Leprosy (vv. 1–4). This was the most dreaded disease in Jesus’ day, a disease for which there was no cure. Jesus touched the leper, thus defiling Himself; yet His touch meant healing. He also healed through His word, “Be clean!” (v. 3, NIV) Leviticus 13 describes the priests’ test for leprosy and shows how leprosy is a picture of sin: it lies deeper than the skin (v. 3); it spreads (v. 7); it defiles (vv. 44–45); it isolates from God and man (v. 46); and it is dealt with by fire (v. 52). The nation of Israel was pictured as defiled with leprosy (Isa. 1:5–6). Leviticus 14 describes the ceremony the healed leper went through when declared clean. It describes the work of the Cross. B. Palsy (vv. 5–13). Here we have a Gentile coming to Christ for help. There are two instances in Matt. of Gentiles coming to Christ, here and in 15:21–28. Note that in both cases Christ healed at a distance. This parallels Eph. 2:12–13 where the Gentiles are said to be “far off” spiritually speaking. In both cases it was faith that Christ honored, and it was by the power of His word that the miracles took place. Christ offers a stern warning to the Jews (vv. 10–12) that because of their unbelief, they will lose the kingdom and the Gentiles will receive it instead. C. Fever (vv. 14–17). We have moved from a terrible disease, leprosy, to a common ailment, a fever; yet Christ has power over both. Peter was married (1 Cor. 9:5) and perhaps his mother-in-law lived with her daughter and Peter. She served Christ after He healed her, which shows how complete the cure was, and how grateful she was for what He had done. We should do likewise. Note that Matthew quotes Isa. 53:4 to give scriptural proof for Christ’s ministry. Some interpreters take this passage to mean that there is “healing in the atonement” and that the death of Christ gives us the privilege of physical healing today. But notice that Matthew is not referring to His death, but His life! Isaiah 53:4 does not refer to Calvary, but to Christ’s earthly ministry of healing. First Peter 2:24 applies Isa. 53:4 to the healing of our sins. Certainly God has the power to heal today, and because of the death of Christ we shall have physical redemption someday (Rom. 8:18–24); but let us not apply this verse to healing today. Matthew did not, nor should we. II. Power over Nature (8:18–27) Instead of “playing up” to the crowds, Jesus left them! How different from some Christian celebrities today who appeal to the crowd and love the praise of people. Verses 19–22 show why Jesus was not impressed with the great crowds: the people were not willing to forsake all to follow Christ. They were interested in seeing the miracles, but not interested in giving their all for Christ. Some believe that this storm was satanic in origin, since the disciples (some of whom were expert seamen) were terrified. Perhaps it was a satanic attack to destroy Christ. We do know that sudden storms are common on the Sea of Galilee. See the peace Christ displayed—able to sleep in a dangerous storm. This is the peace we can have when we know we are in the center of God’s will. Again, by His word He controls the wind and the sea, and there is an immediate calm. We go from a “great tempest” (v. 24) to a “great calm” (v. 26) because of a great Savior! How thankful we should be that Christ calms the storms of life (see Ps. 107:23–31). III. Power over Satan (8:28–34) Christ now meets His enemy again, this time in a graveyard. What an illustration this is of Eph. 2:1–3! We see death (the graveyard), satanic possession, the filthiness of the flesh, and an awful display of enmity against God. While Matthew speaks of two men, the other Gospels speak of one, perhaps the one who was the most prominent. Matthew does not contradict Mark and Luke; he supplements their account. We must admit the reality of demonic powers in our world today (Eph. 6:12) and the desire of Satan to destroy human bodies and condemn their souls to hell. The fear of the demons that Christ would torment them “before the time” (v. 29) indicates that there is a future judgment for Satan and his armies. Demons must have bodies to do their work in this world, just as the Spirit needs the Christian’s body (Rom. 12:1–2). This is why the demons begged to enter the swine. A pig is as good as a man in Satan’s eyes! (See where the prodigal son ended up—with the swine, Luke 15:15–16.) Demons must obey His Word, and His one word “Go!” expelled them from the men. The swine perished because Satan is a murderer (John 8:44). This is what the demons would have done to the men had Christ not intervened in His love and grace. Jesus was willing to go through a storm to save these men from Satan! Yes, and He was willing to go through the storms of men’s hatred and the storms of Calvary to save our souls! How foolish the citizens were to ask Jesus to leave. If you compare this with the Gospels of Luke and Mark, you discover that there were three “prayers” in that graveyard: the demons prayed for permission to enter the swine; one of the healed men prayed for the privilege of following Jesus; and the citizens prayed that Jesus would leave them. Jesus Christ today has power over Satan (John 12:31; 14:30; Col. 2:15). The devil’s demonic powers may work in different ways from when the Lord was on earth, but they are at work just the same. One man is beset with pride; another, with lust; a third with a love for money. Christ alone can deliver the captives and set them free. Note the power of God’s Word in chapter 8 (vv. 8, 16, 26, 32). It is the Word of God, not our word, that is powerful (Heb. 4:12). We must major on the Bible in our preaching, our personal witnessing, and our daily living. [1] [1]Wiersbe, W. W. (1997, c1992). Wiersbe's expository outlines on the New Testament (37). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books. Last edited on 02-17-2008 05:55 pm by DesertRat |
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24HourForums.com > The Top 10 Supported Forums > The Christian's Straight and Narrow Path > Bible Study > Bible Study: Matthew CH 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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