Matthew
8:23-9:8
Lesson 15
8:23-9:8
Lesson 15
Matthew 8:23-9:8
Jesus calms the sea 23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And 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. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! 28 And 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. 29 And, 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? 30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. 31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 32 And 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. 33 And 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. 34 And, 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 1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2 And, 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. 3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 But 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. 7 And he arose, and departed to his house. 8 But 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) - This was 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 boat's owner probably returned 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) - Compare this miracle to Psalm 65:6-7, 89:9 and 107:29. "The men marvelled." (8:27) - People were constantly astonished by Jesus (Matthew 7:28; 13:54; Mark 10:24; Luke 2:47; 4:32) and 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 mainly by Gentiles. "Devils." (8:28) - Devils and demons are fallen angels allied with Satan. "What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God." (8:29) - Even demons know Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 1:24, 1:34; 3:11; 5:7; Luke 8:27-28). Isn't it strange that many people deny Christ, yet devils recognize Him? Devils also believe in God (James 2:19). The Bible tells us that their fate is eternal damnation (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6; Revelation 12:7-9). "Before the time." (8:29) - The 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 one. However, this area was also home to a large number of Gentiles, one of whom probably owned this parcel of pigs. "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 Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee. "Man sick of the palsy." (9:2) - The man was a paralytic. Because this man was disabled, he was not able to work or feed himself. He was reduced to begging in the street. Also, the society in which he lived believed he was being punished by God and looked down on him. "Thy sins be forgiven thee." (9:2) - By forgiving the man's sins, Jesus is claiming to be God. "Jesus knowing their thoughts." (9:4) - Jesus knows our thoughts - more proof of His 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 make a paralyzed person walk." Anyone can say, "your sins are forgiven." How do we know that they are? But who besides Christ can heal the diseased? "The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins." (9:6) - "Jesus has the authority on earth to forgive sins." The "Son of man" is the Messiah who's coming was prophesized by Daniel 500 years before the birth of Christ (Daniel 7:13-14). Jesus is telling the crowd that he is the Annointed One. The Pharisees knew Daniel's prophecy and exactly what Jesus meant. "Arise, take up thy bed." (9:6) - This was not the only time Jesus miraculously healed the lame (Mark 2:11; John 5:8). "They marvelled and glorified God." (9:8) - "They were awestruck and Glorified God." |