Several titles for today’s study in Matthew. Verses 1-4 Jesus heals a leper. Verses 5-13 A centurion’s servant is healed. Verses 14-17 Peter’s mother in-law is healed. Verses 18-22 Some test of discipleship. Verses 23-27 Jesus quiets a storm. Verses 28-34 The Gergesene demoniacs. Matthew 8 and verse 1 reads.
Mat.8:1] When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
[2] And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
There is a law that says none can come near a leper, and a leper cannot come near any people. This leper knew Jesus could heal him, don’t overlook he worshiped him, then asked if he would.
Mat.8:3] And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
No man can touch a leper. As Jesus put his hand forth, the man was healed.
Mat.8:4] And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
Jesus instructs him to go immediately to the priest. Let’s go to Deuteronomy 24 and verse 8 reads.
Deu.24:8] Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.
Now let’s go to Leviticus where we will see the priest has some work to do now. This will be a testimony that the Messiah has come. Leviticus 14 and verse 1 reads.
Lev.14:1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[2] This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest:
[3] And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper;
[4] Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:
[5] And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:
[6] As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:
[7] And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.
[8] And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.
[9] But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.
[10] And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil.
Jesus became our High Passover, the Passover Lamb, doing away with the blood ordinances. I should say that he became the blood ordinances, once and for all time. It is now an abomination for blood to be let after he was crucified. Back to Matthew 8 and verse 5 reads.
Mat.8:5] And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
We see in Luke 7:3 that this centurion sent elders of the Jews to Jesus, and in Luke 7:5 they told Jesus that this centurion loved the nation and built them a synagogue. Proving this man was a believer. Let’s go to Matthew 27, after Jesus died on the cross, this centurion said this in verse 54 and it reads.
Mat.27:54] Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
This proclamation and repentance are all that one needs to be baptized. Back to Matthew 8 and verse 6 reads.
Mat.8:6] And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
[7] And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
[8] The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
He said just speak and he will be healed, great faith. Let’s go to Psalms 107 and verse 20 reads.
Psa.107:20] He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Back to Matthew 8 and verse 9 reads.
Mat.8:9] For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
[10] When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
[11] And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Prophesied in many places, God spoke to Abram before his name was changed to Abraham in Genesis 12 and verse 3 reads.
Gen.12:3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
And in Isaiah 2, verse 2 reads.
Isa.2:2] And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
Don’t overlook “In the last days” meaning at the seventh trump.
Isa.2:3] And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
And now let’s go to Ephesians 3 and verse 6 reads.
Eph.3:6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
After his crucifixion we all have salvation, both Israel and the Gentiles. But you must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Back to Matthew 8 and verse 12 reads.
Mat.8:12] But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
We see them written of in 2Peter 2 and verse 17 reads.
2Pet.2:17] These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
[18] For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
Those who believe will escape from them. Let’s go to Jude and verse 13 reads.
Jude 13] Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
It is written for our admonition on who the end times are come. 1Cor.10:11. Back to Matthew 8 and verse 13 reads.
Mat.8:13] And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
[14] And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.
[15] And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
We see here that Peter was married. After she was healed, she served him immediately.
Mat.8:16] When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
Notice those that were sick and those who were possessed are two different groups. Many teach that some who are sick have a demon, not true. Know the differences, stop giving our brothers and sisters a hard time. a person who is sick is not possessed.
Mat.8:17] That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
Spoken by Isaiah the prophet in Isa.53 and verse 4 reads.
Isa.53:4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
He suffered on the cross not for his sins, but for ours.
Isa.53:5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Let’s go to 1Peter 2 and verse 24 reads.
1Pet.2:24] Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
[25] For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Seek the LORD and he will open the door. Did not Jesus say he would leave the 99 sheep and go after the one who strayed. No greater love than that of the Father. Back to Matthew 8 and verse 18 reads.
Mat.8:18] Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
We have a break in time here. Jesus did leave before the next verse could come to pass, as Luke 9:56-57 explains.
Mat.8:19] And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Jesus is in a different village from before they sailed. But this man cannot follow Jesus because he is a Kenite, as indicated by the next verse.
Mat.8:20] And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
These foxes should remind you of the foxes that knock off the blossoms in the Song of Solomon 2 and verse 15 reads.
SOS.2;15] Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
These foxes are the Kenites. They knock off the blossoms from the vines. Let’s go to Lamentations 5 and verse 18 reads.
Lam.5:18] Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.
Now let’s go to Ezekiel 13 and verse 4 reads.
Eze.13:4] O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
[5] Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.
The false prophets (false teachers) in these end times are Kenites also, as said here with “To stand in the battle in the Day of the LORD.” Back to Matthew 8 and verse 21 reads.
Mat.8:21] And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
[22] But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
This man’s father wasn’t dead yet, but in the slow process of dying. Jesus told him let those that don’t follow me, which are spiritually dead, bury him, and follow me. Does not say here that he followed him or not, but let it be for your understanding that we follow Jesus as his disciples.
Mat.8:23] 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.
They were with the LORD and feared the sea. As if when with the LORD they would have reason to fear? I want you to think about this today, do you fear the world? Is not Christ within you, and the Father also? Fear nothing that can happen to the flesh when we live in the Spirit. Let’s go to Psalms 65 and verse 5 reads.
Psa.65:5] By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
[6] Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
[7] Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
[8] They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
Now let’s go to Psalms 89 and verse 8 reads.
Psa.89:8] O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?
[9] Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
And again, we find in Psalms 107 and verse 28 reads.
Psa.107:28] Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
[29] He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
It has been written in the scriptures, by the prophet king David, these things are promised of by the LORD. This is why Jesus would say “You of little faith”, haven’t you read? Back to Matthew 8 and verse 27 reads.
Mat.8:27] But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
Apparently, they hadn’t read the scriptures very well. Now before we get into these next few verses, some claim a controversy. They say it is written here in Matthew that we have two people possessed, and in others one person possessed. Let’s read this next verse very carefully first.
Mat.8:28] 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.
Let’s now go to Mark 5 and verse 2 reads.
Mark 5:2] And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
A man with an unclean spirit are two, and Matthew saw both. In Mark he continues speaking of just the man and defines him as just one man. But that he had many spirits. Back to Matthew 8, and pay attention to whom is being spoken about, verse 29 reads.
Mat.8:29] 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?
Here, the evil spirits are speaking to Jesus, not the man who is possessed. There is never controversy in God’s Word, study to show thyself approved. Notice they ask if Jesus is here to torment them before the time, meaning before the seventh trump.
Mat.8:30] And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
In the land of the Gergesenes is our hint that these people are not of Israel. They keep swine, an abomination to our LORD, and not a clean meat. Let’s look at this word Gergesenes G1086 and means; a Gergesene (that is Girgashite) or one of the aborigines of Palestine. Gergesenes = “a stranger drawing near”. They are Gentiles. Back to Matthew 8 and verse 31 reads.
Mat.8:31] 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.
It seems that the swine are smarter than most people, they would rather kill themselves before having evil spirits possess them. But why would Jesus allow the evil spirits to remain on the earth? Remember they asked before our time, Jesus gives his children power over all evil spirits, in the name of Jesus Christ we can send them back to the Father at any time. Let’s go to Luke 10 and verse 19 reads.
Luke 10:19] Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
[20] Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Back to Matthew 8 and verse 33 reads.
Mat.8:33] 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.
They did not care for the man that was cleansed, but only for their pigs. In another gospel, the man asked if he could follow Jesus. Jesus told him to stay there and preach to them that the Son of God had come, a Savior to all the world. I imagine this man served the LORD very well. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible