Matthew - Week 22

No Place to Lay His Head 

READ 

Matthew 8:18-20 

18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” 

Capernaum was on the west side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus instructed His disciples to go to the east side of the lake. A teacher of the Jewish scriptures declared he would follow Jesus wherever He went. Jesus reminded him of the life that would be ahead of him if he did so. Jesus referred to Himself as the “Son of Man,” a title He used often as recorded in Matthew. 

REFLECT 

When you decided to trust in Jesus as Savior, did anyone tell you how difficult life beyond that point might be? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a fellow Christian about life after trusting in Jesus as Savior. Ask if it has been easier. The apostle Paul struggled with the sinful nature after his conversion. Read passages he wrote in Romans 7:18-25 and Galatians 5:16-18. 

Let the Dead Bury Their Dead 

READ 

Matthew 8:21-22 

21 Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.” 

A disciple asked Jesus to let him first bury his father. There is no indication that his father was even ill at this time. That may have been the son’s way of saying he would follow Jesus after his father had passed away. Others in modern times have had to make tough choices about leaving family and doing what they believe Jesus has called them to do.  

REFLECT 

Have you had to make a difficult decision about the responsibilities you have and doing something you think Jesus wants you to do? 

RESPOND 

You and a friend need to read Luke 9:57-62 about what he recorded about this same time in Jesus’ life. Read also what the apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:3-7 about following Jesus. 

A Storm 

READ 

Matthew 8:23-25 

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!” 

A quick storm arising on the Sea of Galilee was not uncommon. Water was coming in the boat and, understandably, the disciples were panicking. By contrast, Jesus was sleeping. They woke Him up and shouted, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown.” At least they had confidence that Jesus could save them if He would just wake up and do so. 

REFLECT 

Do you feel that sometimes you have to shout at Jesus to get His attention for something you need? 

RESPOND 

God has promised to always be with believers wherever they go. For encouragement about this, see what God told Joshua in Joshua 1:6-9. Read what Jesus told believers of the present age in the last verse Matthew recorded (see Matthew 28:20). 

Why Are You Afraid? 

READ 

Matthew 8:26-27 

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!” 

Before He rebuked the wind and waves, Jesus rebuked the disciples. Their actions demonstrated a lack of faith. On the one hand, they seemed to have confidence that He could save them; on the other hand, they were frightened because He was sleeping and not panicking as they were. Jesus acted on their behalf anyway, and calmed the wind and waves. This caused the startled disciples to ask each other, “Who is this man?” They knew Him as a person but not of His sovereignty over the universe He had created. 

REFLECT 

Is it difficult at times for you to trust Jesus for something even though you have the Scriptures telling all He can do? 

RESPOND 

To be reminded of why Jesus should have power over the universe, read John 1:1-5 and Colossians 1:15-17. He is the one holding everything together. All He has to do is let go, and everything would fly apart. 

Demons on the Shore 

READ 

Matthew 8:28 

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 came out of the tombs and were so violent that no one could go through that area. 

Jesus revealed His authority over the natural forces; now Matthew records He was confronted by spiritual forces. Imagine how terrified the people in the area were by these two men who were demon possessed and had come out of the tombs. Everyone was avoiding them. What would Jesus do? 

REFLECT 

Have you ever been confronted by a circumstance or problem so big you wondered how Jesus could possibly resolve it? 

RESPOND 

Some think believers today can be demon possessed. Others believe that although they may be oppressed by demonic forces, a demon could not inhabit the same place the Holy Spirit has in the believer’s body. Romans 8:9 reveals if people do not have the Holy Spirit living in them, they are not believers. 1 John 4:4 says the one who is in believers is greater than he who is in the world. God is in the believer; the devil and demons are not.