The 4 Gospels - Matthew No 8 - Matthew 8-10

The 4 Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke & John Matthew 1. Preparation for Ministry (3:1-4:11) 2. Galilean Ministry (4:12-25) 3. FIRST DISCOURSE: The Sermon on the Mount (5:1-7:29) 4. NARRATIVE (8:1-9:34) 5. SECOND DISCOURSE: The Mission instructions (9:35-10:42) 6. NARRATIVE (11:1-12:50) 7. THIRD DISCOURSE: The Kingdom Parables (13:1-52) 8. NARRATIVE (13:53-17:27) 9. FOURTH DISCOURSE: The Sayings of Jesus (18:1-35) 10. NARRARIVE: The Judean Period (19:1-22:46) 11. FIFTH DISCOURSE: Teaching on Eschatology (23:1-25:46) 12. THE PASSION & RESURRECTION NARRATIVES (26:1-28:20)

4. NARRATIVE (8:1-9:34), Jesus’ Ministry of Healing & Deliverance Three groups of miracles from Jesus’ early ministry, a) 3 healings: cleansing a leper (8:1-4), healing the Centurion’s servant (8:5-13), healing Peter’s mother-in-law (8:14-17). b) 1 wonder: calming a storm (8:23-27), 2 exorcisms: the 2 Gadarene demoniacs (8:28-34), and 1 healing: healing a paralytic (9:1-8). c) 4 healings: the woman with the haemorrhage healed (9:18-26), the dead girl raised (9:18-26), 2 blind men healed (9:27-31), 1 exorcism: a dumb demoniac delivered (9:32-35).

Chapter 8 In our first narrative or discourse section Matthew dealt with a lot of information in four chapters! You might like to quickly review that material, - the genealogy, the birth, the baptism, and the temptations of Jesus.

Before embarking on His public ministry (4:17), Matthew describes the call of Simon and Andrew, James, and John. Matthew gives a summary of Jesus’ ministry and its impact (4:23-25; see also 9:35). Ch.5-7 is the second part of this first section, the Sermon on the Mount.

Thus, Matthew in these 2 introductory sections (ch.1-7), has brought together the miracle and the teaching ministry of Jesus, - both word and deed demonstrating His authority. Jesus demonstrates the same authority when He sends out His apostles to preach and to heal – both word and deed operating now through them.

New Life Radio – Talk No 42

Derrick Harrison

28/07/2021

Matthew (8 -10)

In this second discourse, Matthew deals with individual cases of healing and one act of power (a wonder). 1 He also describes the call of Matthew (9:9), followed by a brief period where Jesus eats with the marginalized and socially outcast – “publicans and sinners,” concluding with Jesus’ important saying, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Matt:9-12-13).

This saying was Jesus’ response to the criticism of the Pharisees who judged Him for eating at the same table with sinners.

John’s disciples came to Jesus and speak to Him about the fact that His disciples did not fast. Jesus replied by speaking of Himself as the bridegroom and His disciples as the bride and Jesus points to the inappropriateness of His disciples fasting in the light this fact. However, when the bridegroom is no longer with them, then they will fast. This is clearly a prophetic saying which was later recollected by Matthew when he wrote his Gospel. Jesus concluded His conversation with a final saying about the necessity of wearing new garments for Jesus’ marriage feast and the need for new wine skins to contain the new wine of the Spirit which freely flows at Jesus’ marriage feast, “No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved” (Matt.9:16-17).

This saying of Jesus about new wineskins was understood by the Charismatic’s as referring to the renewal of the Holy Spirit which required new channels in which to flow as opposed to the older denominational channels. However, such was the power of the Holy Spirit that God moved among many congregations within the context of the main-line denominations. It is also true that the old wine skin of our sinful heart has to become a new wine skin by the Holy Spirit creating a new heart in order that the new wine of the Holy Spirit can flow in us.

The first group of miracles, The cleansing of the leper (8:1-4), Chapter eight begins by linking Jesus’ teaching with the miracles which continue the narrative and are described factually with brevity and clarity. Firstly, a leper appears to challenge Jesus about His willingness to heal and to plead for his own healing (this miracle is recorded in each of the Synoptic Gospels). Jesus immediately responds, “Yes, I am willing – be healed!” and stretched forth His hand to touch Him – Jesus bridges the gap of personal and ceremonial uncleanness and social isolation, ignoring the belief that this disease was communicated by physical contact. Immediately the leper is cleansed. Leprosy was a defiling disease and needed cleansing rather than healing and the person having been cleansed needed clearance from the priest before that person could be accepted again into the community and the temple, hence Jesus’ instructions are to show himself to the priest (v4; Lev.13:45-46) and to tell no man about his healing. These first 3 healings related to people who were barred from the temple due to their physical condition.

The healing of the Centurion’s servant (8:5-13), this healing takes place in Capernaum, the place where Jesus made the focus of His ministry. A centurion2 urgently requests Jesus for his paralyzed servant suffering pain. Jesus was prepared to go into a Gentile’s home and thus He would contract uncleanness and be defiled, and therefore the centurion protests at Jesus’ willingness to enter his house due to his unworthiness. The centurion tells Jesus that he believes that it is sufficient for Him to “speak the word only” (v8). No one had been healed at a distance, but the centurion understood the meaning of authority. Jesus’ 1

“wonder” – the phrase “signs & wonders first appears in Ex.7:3 (there are 17 ref’s in OT), first appears in NT in Mat.24:24 (there are 15 ref’s in NT). This is a biblical phrase and does not originate with Pentecostals!

2 Centurion, an officer in charge of 100 soldiers, the word is used 4 times in Matt, 3 times in Lk, 13 times in Acts and nowhere else in the NT.

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2 Derrick Harrison

28/07/2021

Matthew (8 -10)

authority in teaching and healing has already been demonstrated by Matthew, but here is a Gentile who understands the meaning of authority in relationship to God. Matthew records Jesus’ astonishment (a very human reaction!) at the centurion’s “great” faith and His commented to the crowd that He had not found such faith in Israel. Jesus says that many from throughout the world will sit down with the patriarchs at the messianic banquet, but the children of the kingdom (the Jews) will be cast out (Rom.2:17-27; ch.4; 10:3).

Jesus assured the centurion that his servant was now healed (his servant was healed at the moment of his believing).

The healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (8:14-17), (this miracle is recorded in the 3 Synoptic Gospels). There is no reference to a request for healing, simply that this woman had a great fever and that, “Jesus touched her hand.” To do this was taboo in Jewish culture as was His touching of a leper (and healing on the sabbath).

Obviously in these instances Jesus conveyed healing through physical contact, whereas the servant of the centurion’s servant was healed by Jesus speaking a word from some distance. Methods of healing vary on every occasion, but faith is the vital element in successful healings. Instantly healed, the woman got up and busied herself in serving Jesus.

Mass healings are mentioned by Matthew which take place in the evening at the end of the sabbath day (v16). He carefully distinguishes between the sick who need healing and those who are demon possessed and need deliverance (v16). In this context, Jesus quotes Isaiah (53:4) regarding healing and His future crucifixion; this verse is beloved by both Charismatics and Pentecostals who see here a reference to healing in the cross, “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses” (v17).

The cost of discipleship (8:18-22), there must have been many who considered following Jesus but the cost was too great. Jesus’ response to an enquiring scribe seems harsh. Jesus said to him that even the foxes had holes and the birds had nests, but the Son of man had nowhere to lay His head.3 Such a saying could well be designated as one of Jesus’ “hard sayings.” Perhaps it is not so harsh a comment when we consider the elaborate ceremonial event of a Jewish burial and the utter distraction of fulfilling the necessary requirements demanded by the religious authorities and the local community. The important point is that Matthew wants to make clear what Jesus demands from His disciples. Burying the dead father of a disciple was secondary to following Him. The same imperative which motivated Jesus, He sought to reproduce in His disciple’s commitment to Himself. The absolute terms of discipleship are non-negotiable, - note the call of the 4 fishermen earlier (4:18-22).

The second group of miracles, a) 1 wonder: calming a storm (8:23-27), 2 exorcisms: the 2 Gadarene demoniacs (8:28-34), 1 healing: healing a paralytic (9:1-8).

Jesus calms a storm (8:23-27), the important point is that the 12 disciples are with Jesus as we see His authority and power over the storm and the water which was pouring into the boat. This incident shows the danger and the glory of being Jesus’ disciples. Jesus not only teaches discipleship (ch.5-7) but He trains/mentors His disciples, introducing them to faith which even conquers the elements. In their desperation and fear they wake Jesus, - Lord save we are perishing, (the verb “perish” occurs 19 times in Matthew). Only in this Gospel do we read of Jesus’ severe rebuke, “Why are you so frightened?” One translation uses the word cowardly. Jesus speaks of them as men of little faith (in contrast to the centurion who had great faith). Jesus turned to the stormy waves and rebuked them. Jesus rebuked the evil power behind the storm which was seeking to destroy them. Immediately there was a great calm and the lake was 3

Jesus did eventually find a resting place for His head, - after He had finished His great work of gaining our salvation on the cross, He cried, “It is finished” and then He reclined His head and died. At last, He had found a place to lay His head.

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3 Derrick Harrison

28/07/2021

Matthew (8 -10)

still. The change was immediate and startling, and the disciples were stunned at the authority of Jesus in exercising such command over the raging storm, in sharp contrast to the helplessness of the disciple’s (and don’t forget they were fishermen!) This miracle was a natural wonder and it left them in awe of Jesus.

The Gadarene Demoniacs (8:28-34), (in all 3 Synoptic Gospels, - and again Matthew has the shortest account). These two men were extremely violent and dangerous, they screamed out, “What have we to do with you? – there is no common ground between you and us, you are “the Son of God.” Did they mockingly confess His Sonship? Were they compelled to confess His Sonship? Certainly, Jesus never accepted the confession of demons regarding His Sonship because He always commanded the demons to be silent. The demons are afraid that Jesus has come to torment them before the time allocated for their judgement. The demons speak to Jesus urgently, asking Him to send them into the pigs. The pigs were regarded as unclean animals as the demons were unclean spirits. The demons came out at Jesus’ command, - “Go!” and they went into the pigs, whereupon the entire herd rushed down the steep slope into the sea, choked and perished. The deeply traumatised swineherds run into the town telling everything that had happened, with the result that the whole town begged Jesus to depart from among them because of their fear.

Chapter 9 Jesus heals a paralytic (9:1-8), This is another story that is found in Mark and Luke, and again, Matthew’s account is shorter (Matthew does not describe the lowering of the man into the room). The focus was on the faith of the men who bring the paralytic to Jesus but also pivotal to this story are Jesus’ words of forgiveness, before the healing took place.

Jesus demonstrated His authority to forgive sins by healing the man, thus provoking opposition from the scribes who inwardly think that He is blaspheming God. Jesus was concerned only for the man lying in front of Him, “be encouraged, my child, your sins are forgiven.” The Greek tense points to the fact that this gift of forgiveness is bestowed now. Obviously, this poor man needed forgiveness more than healing! Relieved of guilt he then received a second blessing of complete healing, he went home a truly blessed man.

It is Jesus who exposed the thoughts of the scribes and says that He will prove His divine credentials to forgive sins by healing the paralytic man. Jesus commanded him to get up from his bed and to go back home, which he did!

Discipleship (9:9-17). My original suggestion that Matthew’s Gospel is a teaching manual for new disciples is affirmed not only in the clarity of the Gospel but also in the 5 sections of the Gospel devoted to teaching, but we have seen the cost of discipleship in 8:18-22. In the light of Jesus’ demands, Matthew describes his own call.

The calling of Matthew (9:9-13), with brevity and clarity, Matthew describes Jesus’ words of command to Matthew sitting in the tax office (compare the call of the 4 fishermen, ch.4:18-22).

“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So, he arose and followed Him” (Mat.9:9).

The 3 Synoptics refer to Matthew’s call following the healing of the paralytic and his immediate obedience and Luke records how he left everything to follow Jesus – there could never be a return to the lucrative job in the tax office. Matthew now made a great feast and he described how the tax collectors and sinners reclined with Jesus at his table, an event which scandalized the pharisees. Jesus’ famous statement was spoken to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (v12-13).

New Life Radio – Talk No 42

4 Derrick Harrison

28/07/2021

Matthew (8 -10)

Fasting (9:14-17), Jesus says to John’s disciples that His disciples do not fast because He, the “Bridegroom” is now present with them, but a time is coming in the future when He will be “taken away from them” and then will be the time to fast. In NT times devout Jews fasted on Tuesdays and Thursdays, whereas here Jesus and His disciples are feasting with sinners and tax collectors!

Jesus uses another illustration of a poor family where they sow a patch of new cloth onto an old worn-out garment, describing how such a patch of unshrunk cloth sown on to an old garment would tare under strain.

The old garment of Judaism could not bear the strain of this new cloth, nor the old wine-skin the new wine.

The third group of miracles: 3 stories of healings (9:18-34), in all 5 people are healed. a). The sick woman and the dead girl (vv18-26), the 2 healings are in Mark and Luke, but as usual Matthew’s account is shorter but contains a unique reference to the girl being raised (from the dead), whereas the other Gospels say she “got up.” Matthew also refers to flute players. Regarding the woman with the haemorrhage, the story emphasises faith as does the raising of the girl. The text informs us that even when the synagogue ruler knew that his daughter was dead, he still implored Jesus to accompany him to his home and lay His hand (singular) on his daughter. Healing is conveyed through His hand, whereas the woman is healed by her touching Jesus’ garment. Due to her defilement, she was ostracised from the community – hence her secret action in touching the hem/tassel on Jesus’ cloak and then His action to show her secret healing to the eyes of the public. Jesus’ healing was conveyed, not through His hand but from His body through His clothing as the woman touched His cloak (cf., Acts 19:12). To touch the hem, she would have had to kneel down on the ground and reach out her hand in faith for her healing.

Returning to the story of the dead girl, - we read that Jesus proceeded to the house and dismissed the crowd, the professional mourners, and the flute players before He raised the girl. This demand for privacy was in contrast to Jesus making the woman appear in public. Jesus now operates in the privacy of the home so that when the girl is raised, she is not overwhelmed with people she does not know. Her death was described by Jesus as “sleep” because her death is not permanent (cf., the case of Lazarus (Jn.11:11). Jesus then takes her hand and raises her from her death bed. News of the girl’s resurrection no doubt spread rapidly in the regions around. b). two blind men (9:27-31), no healings of blind eyes are recorded in the OT or in the NT beyond the Gospels, but in the ministry of Jesus there are more blind people healed than any other category. There are several references to the healing of the blind in the OT (Ex.4:11; Ps.146:8; having messianic significance, Isa.29:18; 35:5; 42:7). Matthew has a similar story in 20:29-34; in both cases the blind cry out, “Have mercy on us, son of David,” and in both cases Jesus touches their eyes, and they were healed. However, the location was different, and it is clear that Matthew understood them to be different events. The title, Son of David is a messianic title and used for the first time in the Gospel as a form of address (1:1). Jesus was on His way to the house, with the blind men following and when He was in the house, He asks them if they believe, whether they have faith. They reply immediately, with a definite affirmative, “Yes, Lord!” They had seen none of Jesus’ miracles, but they believed the reports they had heard.

Again, Jesus heals with a touch, attributing their miracle healing to their faith, - “their eyes were opened” and so they get their first sight of Jesus. They then made Him known throughout the entire region. c). a dumb demoniac (9:32-34), see also (Lk.11:14-15), on this occasion Matthew does not abbreviate the account. The man was dumb, and the demon had been forcibly cast out, demons violently resist being exorcised, and they do not readily leave the person they possess. Now the released person speaks to the astonishment of those who brought him exclaiming that their nation had never seen anything like this before, but the Pharisees had their own explanation, - what Jesus had done was through the power of satan who was the ruler of the demons. They had obviously sensed the presence of evil when this powerful demon

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5 Derrick Harrison

28/07/2021

Matthew (8 -10)

was cast out by Jesus. Attributing the power of Jesus to demonic power is surely, the unforgiveable blasphemy which Jesus warned about (12:28-32). When people attribute the works of the Holy Spirit to the activity of satan are they committing the unforgiveable sin?

5. SECOND DICOURSE: Instructions for Mission (9:36-10:42) Before Jesus sends out His chosen disciples/apostles on mission He gives them clear instructions about how they are to conduct mission. The first discourse section, known as the Sermon on the Mount was Jesus’ teaching for new disciples who are now to engage in mission according to Jesus’ instructions. a). the workers and the harvest (9:35-38), the Gospels present to us Jesus who daily engages with human need and ministers with authority and immeasurable power, - delivering, cleansing, healing, discerning, encouraging and instructing those to whom He ministers. Matthew’s summary verse describes how Jesus engages in mission, before He instructs and sends out His disciples, “Then Jesus went around (imperfect continuous tense) all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them” (9:35-36a; see also 4:23).

Jesus was moved/motivated by compassion (v36; 14:14; 15:32; 20:34), but it was by faith in the power of God that every sick person was healed.

Matthew 10 b). the mission of the twelve (10:1-42), none of the other Gospels have any parallel to this chapter. Jesus concludes by speaking about persecution (vv17-18), continuing teaching which He began in His teaching on the Mount (5:10-12; Lk.6:23). No doubt Jesus had in His mind the future mission of the church in the apostolic period. Matthew has recorded the call of 5 disciples to follow Him, but this is the first time He singles out 12 men (apostles) to be with Him (later He sends out 70 men on mission). c). the commissioning of the twelve (10:1-4), “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease” (v1). d). instructions for the twelve (10:5-15), I.

II.

III.

“Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (vv5-6). The sphere of their labours: on this occasion they are to confine their labours to Galilee, to their own people Israel, later their mission will be vastly extended beyond Israel (28:29). Matthew does not record how they actually engaged in ministry.

“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (v7; cf.4:17). The present imperative tense means that they are to continually engage in preaching from town to town, just as their Master was doing.

“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” (v8). They had seen Jesus doing these miracles and now they were to do the same. The command of Jesus assumes that they went forth with His authority and power which was invested in His name. The second part of this verse explains this, there are 2 aorist’s here. “You received” points back to what God has given them, “give” points forward to their future act of giving. They have been “freely given” by God through the generosity of His grace and so they are to give out of the generosity which they have received from God. We can put it this way, “gift-wise” you have

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6 Derrick Harrison

28/07/2021

Matthew (8 -10)

IV.

V.

received, “gift-wise” give. Spiritual gifts, such as healing, function in the context of ministry, these gifts are not endowments or resident in us, they function by grace and so all God’s children are called and commissioned to freely receive the grace-gifts of God as we are faced with the needs of men and women. Because they are given and operate by grace this means that all things are possible and success does not depend on us, but our accessibility to the moment by moment receiving from Him. “Provide neither gold, nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food” (10:9-10). Jesus is now applying what He said earlier to His disciples about trusting Father for their daily needs (6:25-32). Recall how He spoke about Father providing food and clothing for the birds. This simple trust in Father is extended to trust in strangers to provide for you! This is indeed, radical teaching for those who are engaged in the work of the Lord. Without money, food, sufficient clothing and so on, the worker is going to be extremely vulnerable. He is worthy of his food, but who is going to provide him with food? It will have to be the people of the town where the servants of the Lord are preaching and healing. On this occasion the townspeople are fellow-Jews, but what about Samaritan’s, Gentiles and Roman’s, – and later Muslim townspeople? Jesus is making His servants vulnerable and dependant on the kindness and generosity of those they are seeking to reach. As these people observe and listen to the preaching, they will quickly see that these messengers have no material things to bring to them, they are not even provided for themselves! What a way to start mission! But what incredible wisdom on the part of Jesus!

“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you” (10:11-13). The messenger, who has been commanded not to make provision for himself is therefore looking for some kind, responsible person who will open their home to provide hospitality for the 12 preachers who are ministering among them. They are to inquire about lodging and to “look for someone who is willing to welcome you.” Having found such a place of residence the worker must remain in this home for the duration of his mission and bless the family. Note how the mission has become home based, this is where hearts will be won and where people will be healed, and this is where the church will first begin. The hospitable family who opens their heart to welcome them may also open their hearts to the message they preach. The gospel will always bring about division, those who receive and those who reject. The disciples are to bless those who respond by believing and those who reject the gospel are to be rejected by the apostles. These principles of mission are being followed today, even in Muslim countries; families open their homes to provide for those who come among them to preach the kingdom of God.

e). Persecution and preaching the gospel (10:16-42), Jesus concludes His instructions with a strong warning about persecution among hostile men. Jesus will of course encounter this in greater intensity, leading eventually to His crucifixion. His instructions to His 12 apostles, extends beyond the immediate situation to the future persecution of the apostolic period and beyond, even to our own day. Jesus concluded His beatitudes with a warning of persecution, and He returns to the theme of persecution in His final discourse in ch.24-25.

New Life Radio – Talk No 42

7 Derrick Harrison

28/07/2021