Study Tip:
Put difficult passages into your own words.
It helps you understand and retain longer.
Put difficult passages into your own words.
It helps you understand and retain longer.
The Gospel According to St. Matthew
The King James Bible
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). |
To review Mark's account of Jesus calming the storm see Mark 4:36-41. To read Luke's account see Luke 8:22-25. The story of the pigs can also be found in Mark 5:1-20 and Luke 8:26-39.
New Living Translation
Matthew 8:23-9:8
Jesus Calms the Storm
23 Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples.
24 Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"
26 Jesus responded, "Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!" Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.
27 The disciples were amazed. "Who is this man?" they asked. "Even the winds and waves obey him!"
Jesus Heals Two Demon-Possessed Men
28 When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They lived in a cemetery and were so violent that no one could go through that area.
29 They began screaming at him, "Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God's appointed time?"
30 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance.
31 So the demons begged, "If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs."
32 "All right, go!" Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.
33 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them alone.
Matthew 9:1- 8
Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
1 Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town.
2 Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven."
3 But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, "That's blasphemy! Does he think he's God?"
4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?
5 Is it easier to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Stand up and walk'?
6 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!"
7 And the man jumped up and went home!
8 Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Today's question:
1. Does having faith mean Christians will never be afraid? (8:26)
1. Does having faith mean Christians will never be afraid? (8:26)
Let me know if you have questions. I'll do my best to answer them.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. Knowing God is present in their lives helps keep fear from controlling Christians, but Jesus didn't say that believers will never know fear. However, Christ does teach us that God is greater than anything we will face in life and that He's in control.
1. Knowing God is present in their lives helps keep fear from controlling Christians, but Jesus didn't say that believers will never know fear. However, Christ does teach us that God is greater than anything we will face in life and that He's in control.
Application thought for the day:
Each life has its storms.
How can the story of Jesus calming the sea be applied to the storms in your life?
Each life has its storms.
How can the story of Jesus calming the sea be applied to the storms in your life?
Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible". All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2020 evolke
© 2020 evolke