Jesus, the Prophesied Messiah

OUTLINE

Vs. 1-4 Jesus heals a leper

vs. 5-13 Jesus heals a centurion's servant

vs. 14-15 Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law

vs. 16-17 Jesus heals demon-possessed and those sick

vs. 18-22 Jesus indicates the cost of following Him

vs. 23-27 Jesus calms the wind and the waves

vs. 28-34 Jesus heals 2 demon-possessed men

9:1-8 Jesus heals a paralytic

NOTES-N-HISTORY

Book’s Purpose: “to demonstrate that Christ is the King and and Messiah of Israel [prophesied in the OT]” (The MacArthur Bible Commentary).

“The central personality of the Old Testament prophecy is the coming of the great King who will rule in God’s promised kingdom” (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 1-7).

“Matthew portrays Jesus as a victorious King” (The MacArthur Bible Commentary).

“[M.] makes no attempt to follow a strict chronology and a comparison of the Gospels reveals that Matthew freely places things out of order. He is dealing with themes and broad concepts, not laying out a timeline” (The MacArthur Bible Commentary).

Q: Why is the cost of following Jesus placed among a grouping of healings?

Q: Are these healings in chronological order? NO: 1. Peter’s mother-in-law; 2. Others; 3. Leper; 4. Paralytic; [Sermon on the Mount]; 5. Centurion’s servant; 6. Jesus calms the sea; and 7. Demon-possessed man.

Written about 60 AD (M. was martyred around 62 AD), prior to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD

M. is a Jewish Tax-collector for the Romans—despised by his own people for his betrayal of them

M. is one of the 12 apostles

“Matthew’s audience was predominately Jewish” (The MacArthur Bible Commentary).

“Matthew presents the Messiah King who is revealed . . . rejected, and . . . who will [one day] return” (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 1-7).

“he demonstrated his power over sickness (8:1-13), nature (8:23-27), and demons (8:28-34)” (Life Application Bible Commentary: Matthew).

Isa 7 Virgin shall have a son, call Him Immanuel

Isa 9 a Child is born

Isa 11 from the lineage of David

Isa 25 the long awaited Messiah

Isa 28 the precious Cornerstone

Isa 42 the Chosen servant

Isa 43, 44, 45 the Holy One of Israel, our Savior, blots out our transgressions

Isa 47, 49, 54, 60, 62 our Redeemer/Savior

Isa 53 Borne our griefs and carried our sorrows

Isa 61 brings liberty/freedom

1. (8:1-15, 16b-17) Jesus has power over sickness

vs.1-4 Leper (“scaly”— modern day “Hansen’s disease” ???)

this leprosy was the most feared in ancient days as there was no cure—even today, it cannot be totally cured (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Mat 8-15).

He came and knelt before Jesus

He acknowledged that Jesus could heal him, if he wanted to

The leper had faith that Jesus could heal him

Jesus reached out and touched him

Interesting to note: Lev 13 Once a person was identified as leprous, they were to tear their clothing, leave their head uncovered, cover their mouth, and cry out, “Unclean, unclean” to warn others to stay away from them. “The Talmud forbad a Jew from coming closer than 6 feet to a leper, and if the wind was blowing, the limit was 150 feet” (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Mat 8-15

Mat 8:3 Jesus . . . touched him and he was healed

As testimony, Jesus told him to see the priest and offer the appropriate sacrifice.

Jesus has power over sickness

vs.5-13 Paralyzed Servant

“centurion” (Roman Officer in change of aprox 100 men) came to Jesus to request His help in healing his paralyzed servant.

Interesting point: Rome’s religion was that of Caesar worship, so a Roman calling Jesus “Lord” would run in direct conflict with this reference to Jesus

The centurion was confident/had faith that Jesus could be taken at His word

v.10 “faith” refers to confidence and trust in

v.12 “gnashing teeth” is referring to one who does so involuntarily, as if overcome

v.13 so, Jesus said, “Go, let it be done for you as you have believed.”

Jesus touched the Leper, but in this healing, Jesus never touched the servant, but spoke a word

Ever wonder if your prayers make a difference in someone’s life who lives far away?

Jesus has power over sickness

vs.14-15 Peter’s Mother-in-law

Jesus saw her sick w/fever

Jesus touched her hand and she was healed

Another example of Jesus breaking barriers: A man would not touch a woman who was not his wife, but here, Jesus touched her hand

She got up and continued her regular household duties

No mention of her having faith to be healed—perhaps, Jesus knew she did and healed her; perhaps, not, and Jesus decided to heal her anyway

Jesus has power over sickness, just as it was prophesied in Isaiah 53:4 (written in 700 BC)

[(8:18-22) COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS]

2. (8:23-27) Jesus has power over nature

Mat 8:18 Enroute to “the other side of the sea” (of Galilee)

Mat 8:24 there arose a storm that began to swamp the boat

Q: What were the men doing?

Panicking; convinced that they are going to die

Q: Where was Jesus?

Asleep; resting

Q: How do you handle circumstances that seem out of control?

Mat 8:25 they wake Jesus

Mat 8:26 Jesus challenges their faith; and rebukes the winds ans the sea

8:27 men marvelled (and there are even movies on these men) and they asked, “What sort of man is this?”

Perhaps, the wisest response they had

Incidentally, it’s always wiser to ask questions first, than it is to pre-determine that we already know all there is to know about something

Jesus has power over nature; over this world; over all creation

3. (8:16, 28-34) Jesus has power over Demons

v.16 Demon oppressed

Others brought them to Jesus

Faith coming from those who believed Jesus could heal

Jesus seeing their faith (?) and healed them all

v.28 Two demon-possessed men who were so fierce, no one could pass by

v.29 demons recognized Jesus and His power and they recommended another being to destroy—pigs

Jn 10:10 The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy

v.32 Jesus cast them out

v.34 freaked people out so much that they asked Jesus to leave their region

Jesus has power over demons

4. (9:1-8) Jesus has power over sin

v.2 people bring a paralytic to Jesus, having tossed him onto his bed

v.2b Jesus saw their faith, speaks to the paralytic, and forgives his sin

vs.3f Jesus is not intimidated by what others think; instead, He confronts them, and let’s His actions/results speak for itself

v.7 the paralytic gets up and goes home

v.8 the crowds saw it, were afraid, and glorified God

Jesus has power over sin

5. (9:18-19, 23-26) Jesus has power over death

v.18 Jesus is approached by a ruler/governor with a request to heal his daughter, who has died

v.18b the ruler has faith that Jesus can heal his daughter

v.19 so, Jesus and His disciples went with him

v.23 Jesus saw the flute players causing an uproar

v.24 Jesus sends the flute players away

v.25 Jesus resurrects the girl

Jesus has power over even death