Matthew 8 Commentary
Yes, you have invited Jesus into your life, but is there room for him? Foxes and birds have taken up the entire space in your heart. And it isn’t an occasional visit but a real nest, a home! Verses 18 to 20.
Let the dead bury the dead. He didn’t say the living cannot bury the dead! The man in question needed to understand and appreciate the need for life. Standing right next to him was life – the LORD Jesus Christ. If death was important to him, life should have been even more important! Verses 21 and 22.
It should melt the saint’s heart that the LORD Jesus is willing to heal! So touching! Verses 1 to 4.
The man with leprosy knew he didn’t deserve the generosity of the LORD Jesus Christ. We can see it in the humility of his request. The military commander shows his humility by insisting that the LORD Jesus didn’t have to go to his home. Both are driven by a strong faith in the generosity and power of the LORD Jesus Christ. Both receive healing.
Faith flows with humility. The willingness of the LORD is always put forward. The saint always understands his or her position. But isn’t my own faith on trial against the faith of the military commander? A belief that prayer only works when there is contact or a presence may belittle the infinitely expansive authority and power of heaven. Nevertheless, the LORD Jesus Christ accepts faith, regardless of its size!
When men give you a gift, they have probably remembered a sermon on giving or they have felt like doing a good act to someone they care for. Regardless, they have obeyed the LORD and the LORD has provided for you. What about the winds and the waves? Can they remember, feel, or hear? When elements of nature obey the LORD Jesus Christ, then we know we have something special!
This is a chapter of requests; see how the LORD responds.
The man with leprosy is healed following a humble request – coming from a man who probably feels he is underserving of the LORD’s generosity. The military commander receives healing for his servant on account of his audacious faith. The teacher of the law doesn’t have enough space in his heart for Jesus; therefore, his request to follow Jesus derails. Another man shipwrecks his chances with his poor priorities—not valuing life above death and not holding on to a gem of greatest value once he finds it.
The disciples cry out in fear, and their request doesn’t exactly have the humility of the man with leprosy or the faith of the military commander. Nevertheless, they show faith, albeit little, by asking, albeit rudely, that the LORD Jesus saves them. Even little faith works, but not exactly the stuff the LORD commends!
Lastly, the two demon-possessed men have made a special request to the LORD Jesus Christ. They seek a new home. And a herd of pigs is that new home! Someone’s money project—a livelihood! They get their wish! The LORD Jesus Christ has shown us how destructive demons can be. They run you down a steep path to your death. The demons had reduced the two men’s lives to a death-like status. This is what men are like when demons reside in them—dead like pigs. What a powerful teaching aid!
Then we have the last request of the chapter. “They pleaded with Him to leave their region”. Will the world decide against Jesus because of pigs, income, projects, the economy, or a perceived loss of business? What is the cost of salvation? A herd of pigs? Care for a dying man?
Great faith by the man with leprosy, equally great faith by the military commander, little faith by the disciples, doubt and double-mindedness by the teacher of the law, the shocking concerns of a caregiver, and now zero faith by an entire town! There are several varied responses to the presence of Jesus in our world. Have your pick.
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