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Matthew 8:23-9:8
Jesus calms the sea 23And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! 28And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? 30And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. 31So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 32And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. 33And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. 34And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts. Matthew 9:1-8 Jesus forgives and heals 1And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. 3And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7And he arose, and departed to his house. 8But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. |
Margin notes:
"He was entered into a ship." (8:23) - Probably a fishing boat. In Jesus' time, there were hundreds of fishing boats on the Sea of Galilee. The New Testament is filled with stories of Jesus on a ship, and most Bible scholars believe it is always the same vessel made available to Jesus by a long forgotten fisherman. When not being used by Christ, the owner probably went back to fishing. "Tempest in the sea." (8:24) - Means. "Storm on the Sea of Galilee." "We perish." (8:25) - "We will die." "Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea." (8:26) - As stated in Psalm 65:6-7, 89:9 and 107:29. "The men marvelled." (8:27) - People were frequently astonished by Jesus (Matthew 7:28; 13:54; Mark 10:24; Luke 2:47; 4:32) or marveled at Him (Matthew 9:8; John 7:15). Why? Read John 7:46. "What manner of man is this." (8:27) - "What kind of man is this." "Country of Gergesenes." (8:28) - Located southeast of the Sea of Galilee. Also called the "country of Gadarenes" (Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26) because its capital was Gadara. Gadara was part of Decapolis and populated mostly by Gentiles. "Devils." (8:28) - Demons are fallen angels allied with Satan. You'll notice in verse 8:29 and Mark 1:24 that demons know full well who Jesus is and they believe in God (James 2:19). The Bible tells us their fate is eternal damnation (Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6; Revelation 12:7-9). "What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God." (8:29) - Even demons know who Jesus is (Mark 1:24, 1:34; 3:11; 5:7; Luke 8:27-28). They also believe in God (James 2:19). "Before the time." (8:29) - The two devils are referring to the end of the world when Satan and his demons will be thrown in a lake of fire (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:14). Notice that demons know God's plan. "Herd of many swine." (8:30) - Jews considered pigs unclean and wouldn't own them. However, the area was also home to a large number of Gentiles, one probably owned this herd. "The devils besought him." (8:31) - "The devils begged Him." "Suffer us to go away into the herd of swine." (8:31) - "Allow us to enter into the herd of pigs." "Depart out of their coasts." (8:34) - "Leave their area." "Passed over." (9:1) - "Crossed over." "His own city." (9:1) - Refers to the city of Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee. "Man sick of the palsy." (9:2) - A paralytic. "Jesus knowing their thoughts." (9:4) - More proof of Jesus' divine nature. See also Luke 5:22 and 6:8. "For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?" (9:5) - Jesus is asking the scribes, "what is easier, to say your sins are forgiven or to make a paralyzed man walk." Anyone can say "your sins are forgiven." But who besides Christ can heal the diseased? "Arise, take up thy bed." (9:6) - Jesus healed the lame other times, too (Mark 2:11; John 5:8). |