Matthew 8

Study Guide 85: Matthew 8-11 THE AUTHORITY OF THE KING Overview This extended section of Matthew builds on the Gospel writer’ s earlier presentation. Matthew showed that Jesus is the One the Old Testament prophets told would come: He fit the prophecies. Matthew showed that Jesus demonstrated in His baptism and temptation dominion over the inner sin which entangles other men: He can lead us to victory. Matthew reported Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: Jesus explained how to live as a citizen of the heavenly kingdom. Now Matthew moved on to establish clearly the authority of the King. The miracles that Matthew now reported do more than authenticate Him as God’ s Messenger. They demonstrate the extent of His authority: over sickness, nature, demons, sin, and even over death itself. Surely this One is to be followed completely, by those who own Him as King. What a privilege to be disciples of our wonderful Lord! AUTHORITY. The Greek word expressing the idea of “ authority” is exousia. It is also translated in English as “ power.” The basic meaning of exousia is that of “ freedom of action.” A person with authority has greater freedom to act than a person under authority. The greater the authority, the greater the freedom of action. Jesus in the New Testament is shown to be a Person with complete authority. No one or no thing can place restrictions on Jesus’ freedom to act — for good — in your life and mine.

Commentary The live TV audience broke into laughter each time one of the cast asked the “ pastor” a question. Why? Well, each time his answer was the same: a decisive “ perhaps” ! It is funny. On TV. But not in real life. Kay found that out as she went the rounds of her Christian friends, asking their advice and counsel. Some said one thing. Some said another. No one seemed to be too sure. The uncertain and conflicting ideas confused rather than helped. No wonder the crowds who listened to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount were stunned. No, not so much by what Jesus said. That hadn’ t really sunk in yet. The words of the sermon would be remembered and talked about, until finally the new way of life Jesus sketched gradually became more clear. What the crowds who heard Jesus were astonished at was His tone of authority. They were “ amazed at His teaching, because He taught as One who has authority, not as their teachers of Law” (Matthew 7:28-29). Christ claimed the King’ s right to govern His people; He spoke with authority. Now all would ask, did He really have the authority He claimed?

Authentication: Matthew 8:1-9:34 The next events seem to merge in a fast-paced narrative. The acts of the King are traced as, over and over, they demonstrate the validity of Jesus’ claim to authority. Willing and able (Matthew 8:1-13). Immediately after Jesus’ descent from the mount on which He spoke His sermon, a leper met Him. He said, “ Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean” (Matthew 8:2). This man sensed Jesus’ power, but was uncertain whether Christ would use that power for his sake. Jesus reached out and touched the leper, healing him. The King is willing to exercise His authority to help humankind. Entering the city of Capernaum, a Roman officer met Jesus to ask for the healing of a servant. Christ offered to go with the Roman, who objected. “ I do not deserve to have You come under my roof” (Matthew 8:8). Instead the Roman asked Jesus merely to speak the word. Jesus spoke; the servant was healed. Jesus is able. LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN Draw pictures of people who are far away who still help us. For instance, a person who makes electricity, a person who cooks the bread we buy at the grocery, the farmer who milks cows, etc. We can’ t see these people, but they do help us in many ways. Put the pictures the children draw together to form a booklet. On the last page have a picture of Jesus or of the centurion’ s sick servant. Leave the booklet in class for early comers, to remind them that though we do not see Jesus, He is real and He does help us in many ways. Power over all (Matt. 8:14-9:31). The next event shows Jesus’ authority over all the powers to which you and I are subject.

SicknessJesus healsMat_8:14-17 NatureJesus stills a stormMat_8:23-27 DemonsJesus casts them outMat_8:28-32 SinJesus forgivesMat_9:1-8 DeathJesus makes aliveMat_9:18-26There is nothing to limit the authority of Jesus, who has demonstrated His power over everything under which you and I are crushed! This Man is able to speak “ as One having authority” (Matthew 7:29, KJV) — because He does! LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN The Bible contains images to help us sense how fully God’ s forgiveness blots out our sin. Among them is the image of sins “ sealed up in a bag” (Job 14:17). After telling the story of Jesus forgiving sins (Matthew 9:1-8), help each child write down one bad thing he has done on a slip of paper. Then put all the slips of paper in a bag, and cover up the bag so it cannot be seen. Jesus takes away our sin so completely that it is hidden from everyone, even from God. When sin is forgiven it is really gone, and gone forever. There are three very special riches for us in this extended passage. (1) Under authority. The Roman soldier speaking to Jesus said, “ I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘ Go,’ and he goes” (Matthew 8:9). He said this to explain the confidence he had in Jesus which enabled him to ask Jesus to heal from a distance, by the mere speaking of a word. His point was this: As a soldier, his authority over others was derived. It was his relationship in the chain of command which gave this military man his power. When he spoke, all the power of Rome’ s mighty empire, under whose authority he stood, spoke through him. And what about Jesus? How was Jesus able to speak and have nature, demons, and even death jump to obey? Because here on earth Jesus also operated under authority; the authority of God. When Jesus spoke all the limitless power of God Himself spoke through Him. It’ s like this today. We can trust Jesus. The full power of Almighty God is His. (2) New wineskins. A fascinating dialogue here is inserted in Matthew 9:14-17. John the Baptist’ s disciples had noted that Jesus was unlike their master. They came to ask why. Jesus explained, and added, “ Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins” (Matthew 9:17). You and I cannot stuff Jesus or our experience with Him into our old ways of thinking and living. Life with Jesus is a new and exciting thing. He Himself wants to fill us, to expand our personalities, and to reshape us to fit who He is. When Jesus, the Man with all power, comes into our lives, we are privileged to open ourselves up to newness. (3) Dead and blind. Through these two chapters the acts of Jesus follow a progression. Each portrait shows Christ as having power over a greater enemy than the last: sickness, nature, demons, sin, and then death itself. Why then does an instance of healing the blind follow the raising of the ruler’ s daughter? For our sakes! You and I can find the faith to believe that Jesus will make us fully alive when He returns. But how often we look at the dead dimensions of our present lives with despair. The blind men were living — but with dead eyes. When they begged for healing, Jesus asked, “ Do you believe that I am able to do this?” (Matthew 9:28) They did believe. Jesus touched their eyes. And where the moment before there had been death, now there was sight. Jesus comes into our lives with hope for today. If your personality has died to the capacity to live, or has shriveled in bitterness, or if you have lost the capacity for compassion, Jesus asks, “ Do you believe that I am able?” We can answer, “ Yes!” Jesus does have the power to revive the deadened areas of our lives. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT In a minilecture note the progression of the miracles reported in Matthew 8:19-32. Then ask your group members to read this passage individually. Each is to find two insights which can be applied by Christians to enrich life today. After about 15 minutes have the group members come together, to minister to each other through their insights. To really understand the significance of the extended passage we’ ve been considering, we need to note one of its peculiarities. Throughout this sequence of events Jesus referred to Himself as “ the Son of man.” He did not use the term in the Sermon on the Mount. The first occurrences are here. The term “ Son of man” is found in both the Old Testament and the New. In the New it is used 94 times, and, with 5 exceptions, always by Christ of Himself. Clearly Jesus affirms something important about Himself in His selection and use of this term. On the one hand, of course, the phrase “ Son of man” emphasizes Jesus’ full humanity. But even greater significance is found in the fact that, as in Matthew 9:6, “ Son of man” signifies Jesus’ redemptive work and mission. In the term “ Son of man” Jesus presents Himself as the Victor, for He accomplished all that man was intended to do, and becomes all that man was intended to be. The demons recognized and spoke to Jesus as the “ Son of God” (Matthew 8:29). They were right; they knew Him for who He is. The whole Bible makes it very clear that the One who became Man at Bethlehem truly is the Creator God. John insisted that Jesus is God, coexisting with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1-51). Jesus does not hesitate to claim equality with God (John 17:1-26). Paul’ s writings affirm Jesus as God, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Old Testament prophecy identifies Jesus as the “ Father of eternity” (a phrase meaning the source or originator of eternity itself!) and speaks of the Child to be born as “ a Son . . . given” (Isaiah 9:6, KJV). The name Immanuel, as we have seen, means, “ With us is God.” Jesus had every right to speak of Himself as the Son of God, for that is who He is. Yet Jesus chose another title for Himself: “ Son of man.” A Man, with God’ s prerogative of forgiving sin. A Man, with power to heal and to give life. A Man, yet Victor over death. In Jesus the very power of God entered the mainstream of humanity, and in Jesus’ authority as the Son of man you and I find an anchor for our hope. Many years ago Johann Burger (1598-1662) caught a vision of the authority of the Son of man, and expressed it in the hymn, “ Jesus Lives, and So Shall I.” Jesus lives and reigns supreme; And His kingdom still remaining. I shall also be with Him, Ever living, ever reigning. God has promised: be it must; Jesus is my hope and trust. The Man with all power lives today. His kingdom does remain. With Him, we also shall reign. Then — and now.

Shared Authority: Matthew 9:35-10:40 Jesus’ authority had been established by His miracles. Then He did an amazing thing. “ He called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority” (Matthew 10:1, italics added). Immediately after establishing His own authority, you and I are shown that Jesus intended to share that authority with His followers. It was human need that moved Jesus to this unexpected decision. Matthew 9:35-38 pictures Jesus continuing His itinerant mission, teaching and healing. Everywhere there were crowds; everywhere Jesus saw men and women who were “ harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Moved, He turned to His disciples. “ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field” (Matthew 9:38). Jesus determined to multiply His ministry by sending His disciples to every place where He Himself wanted to go. It must have seemed exciting to His disciples. To be men, themselves harassed and helpless a short time before, and suddenly to have power! “ Heal the sick,” Jesus told them. “ Raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons” (Matthew 10:8). With it all, they were to share the good news that the long-awaited kingdom was at hand. But the thrill and pride must have been dampened as Jesus went on to explain the lifestyle of men who were given the gift of power. The disciples were not to go in pomp or in luxury. They were to live among their fellowmen as Jesus did — humbly, as servants. And while Jesus’ disciples were given authority over sickness, death, and demonic power (Matthew 9:8), they were not to coerce men. Some people would receive them; some would hate them. The disciples’ role was to use authority to serve. Lifestyle then. This chapter gives us deep insight into discipleship and helps us see ourselves as kingdom citizens who have power — but who humble ourselves to serve. Note these features of Jesus’ instructions: Disciples were to be dependent on God, not on their own wealth or possessions, for necessities (Matthew 10:8-11). Disciples were to give all men the freedom to accept or reject them and their Lord (Matthew 10:12-15). Disciples were to expect and to endure persecution from those who rejected and hated their Lord (Matthew 10:16-25). Disciples were to remember their great value to God the Father, and do His will without fear of men (Matthew 10:26-33). Disciples were to expect conflict, even in their own homes. In everything, Jesus is to be put first, and pain is to be borne just as Jesus bore the pain of His cross (Matthew 10:34-39). Disciples could know they brought great gifts to men, who would be rewarded for their responses to the Father and His children (Matthew 10:40-42). How very different from the life we expect of a man with power! Instead of wealth, there was self-chosen poverty and dependence. Instead of exercising power over others, disciples extended to all men freedom to choose. Instead of honor and praise, the disciple was often persecuted and maligned. Jesus chose to empty Himself to win us victory as the Son of man. So too disciples are called to wear the humble garb of servants as the badge of their God-given authority. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT “ Discipleship” in Jesus’ time was the basic way Jewish leaders were trained. They lived with their master, and learned by observing — then imitating — him. After their years of training were complete the disciple could be recognized as a teacher. While “ disciple” is used in several ways in the Gospels and in Acts, its basic meaning is that of learning to be like one’ s teacher (cf. Luke 6:40). Divide your group into teams of four or five. Each team is to study Matthew 10:1-42 and write at least six statements which describe how a disciple will live. Then each team is to suggest one incident from Jesus’ life which illustrates each statement. Finally, each team is to suggest two ways that we might practice discipleship in our own times.

Shattered Expectations: Matthew 11:1-30Like Matthew 10:1-42, Matthew 11:1-30 is completely discourse. While Matthew 10:1-42 is addressed to the disciples, Matthew 11:1-30 is addressed to the crowds — crowds who, struggle as they will, cannot see in Jesus their coming King. The dialogue was initiated by disciples who had come from John the Baptist. The great prophet and forerunner of Jesus was in prison. Soon he would be executed by Herod, his head a prize won by the sensuous dance of a girl with whose mother Herod was living in sin. John had recognized Jesus at His baptism when our Lord was clearly marked out for him by God. But now even John was wondering. Why? Because John too expected the King and kingdom to burst on Israel with outward power. Not even John had expected the coming of a servant King! Jesus’ answer was to direct John’ s disciples’ attention to the acts of mercy He was performing. “ Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the Good News is preached to the poor” (Matthew 11:4-5). John would grasp the meaning. John, like Jesus, was steeped in the lore of the Old Testament. His thoughts would turn to Isaiah 35:1-10 and he would remember that prophet’ s words about the glory and the majesty of God (Isaiah 35:2). Behold, your God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come, but He will save you. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb will shout for joy. Isaiah 35:4-6, NASBJohn envisioned the glory primarily as recompense; as the day of God’ s judgment. But the glory of God was also to be seen in the tender care of Messiah for men and women in need. John did not understand then that the servant ministry of Christ had to come first. But the report reassured him. Jesus was doing what the Scriptures foretold that Messiah would do. The crowds were not so easily satisfied. Jesus spoke then of John, and said that if they would accept it, “ He is the Elijah who was to come” (Matthew 11:14). Clearly Jesus claimed to be the Messiah whom John announced (Matthew 11:7-15). But the people of Israel were unable to make up their minds. They were repelled by John’ s austerity and demand of repentance — he took his religion a little too seriously. Yet they were tempted to dismiss Jesus because, in contrast with John, Jesus lived a normal life and was a friend of tax collectors and “ sinners” (Matthew 11:19). Like people today, they wanted to have a God who fits their expectations. Yet, like changeable children, they could not make up their minds what He should be like. Each time a new candidate appeared, they changed the rules! (Matthew 11:16-19) Then Jesus uttered His first recorded words of warning and judgment. He spoke of the cities where His miracles had been done, and announced a coming woe. Even pagan Tyre and Sidon, even licentious Sodom, would have repented and believed if a messenger from God had come with such powerful authenticating works as His. But Israel had hesitated — and hesitated still. Israel simply refused to commit herself to her King (Matthew 11:20-24). The chapter closes with a prayer, and with an invitation. Israel’ s rejection of the King was also part of the Father’ s “ gracious will.” The nation might refuse its King, but all who labor and are heavy laden are called to come to the Saviour. “ Come to Me,” Jesus invited, “ and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). The word picture is a beautiful one. The yoke of Jesus’ day was a fitted collar-like frame, shaped to rest on the neck and shoulders of two animals. Teamed together, the task was far easier for two oxen than for one. And if one were a young ox, how much easier to have an older, stronger companion to share the burden. To men who called for God’ s King to reign over them, Jesus offered to be God’ s Servant, yoked in harness with them. Today, taking up the yoke that links us to Jesus, we too find rest. We walk beside Jesus. We learn from Him. And because our older, stronger, all-powerful Companion takes His fullest share of all our burdens, when we are linked to Jesus our burdens truly are made light.

Teaching Guide Prepare Study Matthew 10:1-42. What do you learn about being a better disciple of our Lord?

Explore

1. Give a minilecture overview of these chapters, stressing the two major themes of Jesus’ authority and of Jesus’ explanation of discipleship.
2. List on the chalkboard the sequence of Jesus’ miracles, and the areas over which they demonstrate His authority.

Over sicknessMat_8:14-17 Over natureMat_8:23-27 Over demonsMat_8:28-31 Over sinMat_9:1-8 Over deathMat_9:18-26Discuss: “ What were His observers intended to learn from these miracles? Which would be most impressive? Is there any significance in the sequence?” Don’ t draw conclusions, but let this discussion launch closer study of the text.

Expand

1. Divide into teams to look in Matthew 8:1-9:32 for insights to apply to our lives today. See “ link-to-life” above.
2. Or focus on discipleship and what the disciple’ s life is like. Use the method explained in “ link-to-life” above. Be sure to emphasize the fact that the life of discipleship to which Jesus calls us is essentially His own kind of life! He asked nothing of us that He was unwilling to do Himself.

Apply Challenge those who hesitate over discipleship to remember two things. First, Jesus has authority of all that could harm us. And second, we will be yoked to Him (Matthew 11:25-30).