Matthew - Week 23

Confronting Jesus 

READ 

Matthew 8:29 

29 They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?” 

The two demon-possessed men who had come out of the tombs yelled this at Jesus. Notice they knew He was the Son of God. They also knew they had an appointed time when they would be tortured. This reveals how much the devil and his demons know, but their knowledge only condemns them.  

REFLECT 

Does this help you to understand that knowledge alone is not enough even if it is accurate knowledge? 

RESPOND 

With a Christian friend read James 2:19-20 to see that even demons believe there is one God. Compare this with John 3:16-18 that tells it is necessary to believe in Jesus to have salvation.  

A Herd of Pigs 

READ 

Matthew 8:30-31 

30 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. 31 So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.” 

It seems demons do not want to be disembodied. If they were to be cast out of the two men, they wanted to go into the herd of pigs. They did not question the ability of Jesus to perform such a miracle even though the religious leaders of the time questioned it. Mark 5:13 says there were about 2,000 pigs in the herd. Many farms today do not have such large herds of swine. 

REFLECT 

Demonic activity should not be taken lightly. Some parts of the world see this more often than others. 

RESPOND 

Some demons who followed Satan when he was cast out of heaven have been confined. This is seen in 2 Peter 2:4. Those not confined are free to be the devil’s representatives, as seen in this account in Matthew.  

Demons Cast Out 

READ 

Matthew 8:32 

32 “All right, go!” Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water. 

The Bible does not comment about the cost to the one who owned the animals. Matthew presented this miracle to reveal Jesus had power over the spirit world, which the Pharisees doubted and the Sadducees denied. There are those today who doubt and deny this also, but this is to doubt and deny God’s Word and the testimony of eyewitnesses.  

REFLECT 

Do you doubt or deny the ability of Jesus to perform a miracle? Perhaps the greatest one that can be seen today is the miracle of a changed life.  

RESPOND 

The works Jesus did proved He was the Son of God and the predicted Messiah. See His words in John 10:37-38. 

Jesus Cast Out 

READ 

Matthew 8:33-34 

33 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them alone. 

There was good news and bad news. The good news was those caring for the pigs ran to town and told everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men. The bad news was they wanted Jesus to leave them alone. They rejected what He could offer for forgiveness of sin and eternal life. 

REFLECT 

Because of trusting in Jesus, do your spiritual possessions mean more to you than any earthly possession? 

RESPOND 

With a friend, consider Jesus’ words recorded in Mark 8:35-37. 

The Paralyzed Man 

READ 

Matthew 9:1-2 

1 Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. 2 Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” 

Jesus went back to Capernaum on the west bank of the Sea of Galilee. No matter where He went there were people in physical need. His desire, however, was to use what He could for physical needs to give opportunity to tell what He could do for spiritual needs. The healing of the paralyzed man gave Him opportunity to encourage him and forgive his sins. What would the onlookers think? 

REFLECT 

Although you are concerned about physical matters, do you realize the spiritual ones are much greater? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about physical needs, then focus on what is said in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.