March through Matthew in a Month

Matthew 8

We continue our march through Matthew’s Gospel. Just one chapter a day--28 chapters--with points to ponder, background information and personal application. Pray God strengthens our faith on this spiritual journey in His Holy Word.

A Special Prayer in response to troubling current events: 

+ Dear God, As we hear the news of attacks and threats of war and rumors of war in Iran and the Middle East and Ukraine, we ask for Your Divine help and mercy and peace. Grant wisdom to our leaders. Grant courage and protection to those who serve in our military. Grant us firm faith in You as we witness the reality of human divisions, sin and evil on earth. We pray for our enemies asking You to transform human hatred with the love of Christ. As we experience the effects of sin and satan on earth, give us firm faith in our Savior Jesus, Who is the Prince of Peace, and the only true source of hope and help for all humanity. We pray for Your Divine protection, peace, mercy, and help in the Name of Christ, Amen. +       

Some Points to Ponder as we read Matthew 8:

1. We marvel at the miracles of Jesus as we read Matthew 8!

The Gospel of Mathew records 20 specific miracles of Jesus. Jesus also performed many other unrecorded miracles (see Matthew 8:16 & John 20:30).

2. Who is Jesus? In Matthew 8:27, after Jesus stilled a great storm on the sea, His disciples asked: “What sort of man is this, that even the wind and waves obey him?” As we read Matthew, we also ask, marvel, and ponder who Jesus is. 

3. In Matthew 8 Jesus demonstrates that He has power over sickness, nature and demonic forces of evil. One of the primary purposes of the miracles of Jesus is to show that He fulfills prophecy. After Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law of her fever and performed other miracles, Matthew 8:17 quotes Isaiah 53:3, “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

The many mighty miracles of Jesus also show He has ushered in God’s reign or Kingdom on earth. We note the fact that every person Jesus healed during His Ministry on earth one day died in the future. Being healed is not God’s greatest miracle; forgiveness of sins and salvation are the greatest miracles Christ earned and freely gives us through faith. Jesus’ many miracles demonstrate He has power over all the enemies of our body, mind, and spirit. Christ’s miracles over sickness, death, nature and evil give us a preview of His eternal victory and the perfection that awaits believers at the end of time. Christ’s miracles anticipate what we hear in Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

4. When Jesus healed a Roman Centurians’s sick servant from afar, He demonstrated the power of His Word. The Lutheran Study Bible comments on Mt. 8:5-13, Jesus’ words possess power and authority. The centurian believes this, and his faith is not in vain. Jesus’words still possess power and authority. Water, joined to the Word of Jesus in Holy Baptism, washes away sin. Bread and wine, joined to the Word of Jesus in Holy Communion, is His body and blood for the forgiveness of sin, life, and salvation. What marvels God can do! We sinners rejoice at these miracles of grace. PRAYER: Lord Jesus, grant me full confidence in the power of Your Word. Amen. (p.1594) 

5. In Matthew 8:18-22 Jesus emphasizes the cost of discipleship. Jesus had no earthly home or place to lay His head. Being a disciple of Christ calls for a radical commitment to follow Him. > The Lutheran Study Bible comments on these verses prompt us to ask:

What kind of a disciple am I? When we evaluate our lives as Jesus’ disciples, we must confess that we often fail in our words and actions. Though we fall short, our Savior did not. He went all the way to the cross for us and grants us sincere repentance, faith, and life. PRAYER: Lord Jesus, make me a better disciple and more faithful witness. Amen. (p.1595)  

APPLICATION--Ask: What miracle(s) of Jesus have I experienced recently? We see the miracle of life every time we see an ultrasound showing us a tiny growing human being in the womb--an amazing miracle! God also miraculously heals our bodies from colds, the flu, other illnesses and after surgeries and injuries! We experience a mystery and miracle each time we receive Christ’s true body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine in Holy Communion (Matthew 26). We also personally experience (and then share) the miracles of Christ’s love and forgiveness with one another daily. What miracles of Jesus would you add?

Yes, Christ’s miracles are ever present in our lives!

We now read Matthew 8…    

Matthew 8 (ESV)

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

8:1 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

The Faith of a Centurion

5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

Jesus Heals Many

14 And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. 16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

The Cost of Following Jesus

18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

Jesus Calms a Storm

23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Jesus Heals Two Men with Demons

28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. 33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

+Prayer+ Dear Jesus, thank You for the miracles of Your presence, love, forgiveness, and salvation You give us daily. Help us to marvel at Your ongoing miracles in our lives. Amen.

Pastor Scott Schmieding

Senior Pastor

Immanuel Lutheran Church and School

115 S. Sixth Street

Saint Charles, MO 63301

636.946.2656