January 30, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Matthew? Here’s today’s reading:
Matthew 8 (NIV)
Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy
1 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”...........Continue Reading
Jesus’s comment that the animals had a place to lay their heads but he had none struck me. They did not offer that but instead asked him to wait while he buried someone. It didn’t address any offer as to where Jesus could find rest and comfort. Confused.
Hey Meg..so good to see you commenting. I don’t think Jesus brings up the point of not having a place to lay His head because He wants someone to address His need. He says this to encourage someone who would follow Him to count the cost associated with it. Following Jesus might mean he won’t have a place to lay his head either. And following Jesus will require us to not be distracted by the things of this world and that is why Jesus responds in this way to the one who wants to go bury his father before following Jesus.
Make sense?
Matthew 8
Matthew 7-8
Jesus shows the people so many miracles through healing and casting out evil spirits. It must have been amazing to see Him do these great things but I never take for granted that we see miracles Christ’s miracles everyday.
Just like in the calming of the storm when the disciples were so afraid….so many time God has done that for me! Calmed my storm and reminded me who is in control of the wind and the waves!
We see Jesus is still teaching a life of obedience to the law. He heals the leper and instructs him to go and make an offering in accordance with the law. He heals the sick and calms the storm. The demons ask Him if He will “torture them before the appointed time?” They know He is on a time schedule.
We see once again, that the Kingdom of Heaven is not the same as the kingdom of God. The kingdom of heaven, refers to the Millennial kingdom that will be set up for the Jews that persevere through the tribulation and are faithful to the Lord and His Christ. Jesus says to the Centurion, “When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” If we believe that the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are the same, then the subjects of the kingdom (either one) can be “thrown outside into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”. Can we be found lacking in faith after already being in the kingdom and then thrown out? This is why it totally makes sense that the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are referring to two different things. The Kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom where our spirit dwells eternally and the Kingdom of Heaven is an earthly kingdom, physical, that will one day be ruled by Christ as a physical king.
This gives a short explanation and verses explaining the Millennial reign of Christ. https://www.gotquestions.org/millennium.html
This chapter does a good job of showing the breadth and nature of Jesus’ power. He first heals someone with leprosy and by doing so shows that He is willing to heal. This is consistent with what He just said that if we ask, God will provide. And once Jesus is willing , the healing is instantaneous. The interaction with the Centurion shows that Jesus’ power does not require personal presence or touch. And what a great connection the Centurion makes between his own authority and Jesus’. Jesus will also heal those closer to Him in relationship as well as complete strangers. His compassion goes out to all and His power is able to handle it. The calming of the storm shows another level of Jesus’ power and that is over creation. The disciples recognize the awesome nature of this miracle asking what kind of man is Jesus that He can do this. And that is after Jesus has done some pretty neat stuff. And lastly Jesus shows power over demons. Now He has cast them out before but here it shows His absolute authority over the demons where they need his permission to go where they want to go. It is interesting that even the pigs themselves realize how evil this possession is and choose jumping off a cliff instead…..
5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
7Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
8The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.