Matthew 8
When Jesus concludes His teaching on the mount, He ministers to
various individuals and fully meets their unique needs. He is
willing (and able) to heal the one with leprosy (which was
incurable) 1-4. Note: What must the priest thought when he heard
the testimony 4 ? The Lord also cares for the servant of a
centurion 5-13. He commends him and his great faith 10. The Jews,
which should have been the first to have faith (in Christ) lacked
it, while a Gentile expresses his faith in the power of Christ and
His word ! Note: The Lord responds to faith in Him 13. Jesus heals
the simple (a fever) 14-15 and the impossible 16. This He did in
keeping with the will and word of God 17 (Isaiah 53:4). Some only
follow Jesus on their own terms, which will not do 18-22. Jesus
also has authority over all nature (and the storms of life) 23-27.
Jesus has all authority over all the spiritual realms (demons) and
shows this by casting them out 28-32. Note: I do not know the
meaning of the pigs that perish because of the demons. It is
interesting that demons cause and bring destruction. The people,
out of fear and misunderstanding ask Jesus to leave 33-34.
Matthew 9
Jesus heals a paralytic in response to the faith of others 1-2.
Jesus forgives him his sins 2b, which is immediately the cause of
consternation on the part of the Scribes who think such a
declaration is blasphemy 3. Jesus knows their (and our) thoughts
and responds with a challenging question of which is easier healing
of a physical condition or the forgiveness of sins 4-5 ? Both are
divine prerogatives and Jesus, by virtue of being 'the Son of Man'
(Divine) has authority to forgive sins and to heal 6. He does both,
to their amazement 7-8. Matthew (this Gospel's writer) is called by
the Lord to be His follower. Being a tax collector, he was despised
and corrupt 9. All his friends were of the same kind and yet Jesus
eats with them 10. The Lord corrects the 'religious' for their lack
of understanding of the ways of God 11-12. Note: Jesus calls
sinners to Himself that they may be forgiven and saved ! A question
of fasting comes to Jesus 14. There is a time for fasting and a
place for that 15. The new patch and new wine both have an
application to the Gospel and the age of Grace that was being
inaugurated by Jesus advent and ministry 16-17. Another way to say
this would be that they could not put the Old Testament system and
way of life into the new era of the church. Jesus again does the
miraculous by raising the dead 18-26. He also heals two who were
blind 27-31. Note: In both these instances, the Lord responds to
faith 22,28-29. Do you have genuine and saving faith in Jesus
Christ ? Jesus even casts out demons 32-34. Note: I wonder how much
of the suffering comes because demons are active in someone's life
? Jesus alone can deliver one from such enslavement and bondage.
Jesus ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing call for us to
pray for more workers (to serve the Lord of the Harvest) 35-38.
Note: Do you pray for God to raise up more workers in His kingdom
and field ?
Matthew 10
Jesus calls His twelve disciples 1-4, whom He commissions,
empowers, and instructs in this chapter 5-42. They were to go to
the lost of the house of Israel (the Jews) and give them freely the
words of Christ and the gifts of healing in His name 5-11. They
were to live by what is given to them 12-15. They would be as sheep
among wolves and would face opposition and hostility 16-23. They
would be a testimony to the Lord in these circumstances 19-20. They
would be treated just as Jesus was treated 24-25. They were not to
fear 'them' but the fear the Lord 26-28. The Lord knows those who
are His own and will see them through to glory, yet in this life
there will be difficulty and hostility to the Lord and His message
(even in the same house) 29-36. Note: Should we at all be surprised
that the world hates Christians and opposes what we are and Who we
stand for ? Following Jesus is more important that any earthly
relationship and it involves a cross for each one to take up and
bear 37-39. Note: This does not sound 'comforting' to one who used
to having it easy. How one responds to a follower of Jesus,
reflects (in part) how they would respond to the Lord 40. The Lord
promises rewards to those who follow and serve Him 41-42. Note:
There is incentive for the believer who follows Christ. It is
reward that is not necessarily in this life !
Matthew 11
John, the Baptist is put in prison and he sends to Jesus
questioning if He is really the One who they were to look for 1-3.
Note: This is the same John who affirms that He (Jesus) is indeed
the very Son of God (see: John 1:15,29-34). Even a godly person can
have times of doubt ! Jesus does not rebuke john for his questions
or his apparent wavering faith but reassures him 4-6. Jesus then
takes and extended time to express the ministry of John and the
great man of God that he was 7-15. In fact, John fulfilled the role
of Elijah, who was to come (at least in part) 13-15 (see: Malachi
4:5-6). The people did not respond to the ministry of John as they
should have 16-17. This was due in part to their wrong expectations
and lack of spiritual perception 18-19. The unrepentant cities, who
had the benefit of hearing the first hand and seeing His miracles,
would suffer greater judgment than the wicked cities of old 20-24.
Note: This under girds the principle that to whom much is given,
much will be required. What do you do with all the spiritual
advantages God has given you in life ? What about those given to us
as a nation ? Jesus promises spiritual rest and relief from the
burdens of life to those who are weary and who come to Him 25-30.
Note: This is an invitation without any restriction - come to Jesus
! He will receive and restore you to that which God intended for
your life (for your good and His glory).
Matthew 12
This is a tremendous chapter, for in it Jesus reveals His deity by
His words and actions. He is rebuked for 'working' on the Sabbath
1-2. However, He is greater than the temple and the Lord of the
Sabbath 3-8. The Lord is not wanting strict, rigid adherence to the
Law, but mercy over sacrifice 7. A man with a shriveled hand (a
true need) is healed by Jesus. He heals on the Sabbath, a day for
doing good 12. The hardness of the heart is seen by their response
want Jesus killed 14. Jesus heals many more and is thus the
fulfillment of the words of the prophet concerning the Lord's
servant who was foretold to be coming 15-21. Note: Meditate on all
these words which describe 'Messiah's ministry' and you see none
other than the Lord Jesus Christ ! Jesus casts out demons which the
Pharisees think is the work of 'Beelzebub' or Satan 24-26. Jesus
reply shows their faulty think and failure to recognize the Spirit
of God at work 25-30. The seriousness of their 'charge' comes close
to an unforgivable sin (against the Holy Spirit) 30-32. Note: The
context of the unforgivable sin is one in which there is a total
and complete rejection of Jesus Christ for who He is revealed to be
(by His words and actions). Some suggest that this sin can not be
committed by anyone today, for it was unique to the privileged
people who saw and heard Jesus first hand. I would suggest that
this sin is committed by all persons who exit this life having
refused and rejected Christ to the very end. They enter eternity
condemned and lost without hope of any possibility of forgiveness
or salvation. Jesus calls them to good fruit. To have good fruit,
one must have a good heart out of which it grows 33-37. Only God
can give one a new heart that produces such fruit. This is taught
elsewhere in the Scriptures (Ezekiel 36:25-27). Those to whom Jesus
spoke (and us as well) are warned that all will give account for
what we have spoken 36-37. Note: Do my words match my actions or do
I have profession without possession of the Lord ? The Scribes and
Pharisees want a 'sign' to prove Jesus authority 38. He says they
are wicked for asking for such (where have they been up to this
point ?) 39. Jonah was a sign that would teach them about Christ
39-40. Note: Jonah was a real person and Jesus affirms the truth
and reality of what the OT book of Jonah records ! Jesus declares
that HE is the One who is greater than Jonah and Solomon 41-42. Wow
! Note: Let what He is saying sink into your ears and hearts.
Believe on Him, the Lord of heaven and earth that you might be
saved ! The illustration of the evil spirit that leaves and
returns, making one worse in the end applies to all who clean
themselves up (by being religious) but have no real transformation,
through a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 43-45. In the
end they will be lost and the last state will be the worst of all
(see: Matthew 5:30, 7:23, 10:28).