Matthew - Week 26

Back to Life 

READ 

Matthew 9:23-26 

23 When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. 24 “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. 25 After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! 26 The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside. 

The leader of a synagogue had asked Jesus to come to his house because his daughter had died. Jesus and His disciples were on the way when a woman touched His robe to be healed. Jesus told her that her faith had made her whole. This passage tells what occurred when he arrived at the home where the daughter was dead. The term “asleep” is often used of believers who have died and He was not understood at first. When He took her by the hand she came to life and stood up.  

REFLECT 

Imagine the amazement in the home when Jesus brought the girl back to life. The entire region learned of this great miracle. 

RESPOND 

For a passage that uses the word “died” for “sleep” read 1 Thessalonians 4:11-14. Some copies of the Bible render verses 13 and 14 as referring to those who are asleep. Other modern translations add the word “died” to bring it into the current understanding. 

Two Blind Men 

READ 

Matthew 9:27-28 

27 After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” 28 They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?” 

“Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.” 

Notice in verse 28 that Jesus was staying in a house. Likely some friends guided the two blind men into the house. They called Jesus the “Son of David,” which indicates they thought He was the promised Messiah. Jesus asked them if they thought He was able to make them see, and they said they did. These two men may have been physically blind but they had excellent spiritual sight. 

REFLECT 

Have you known some who were physically blind but who had excellent spiritual sight? 

RESPOND 

Jesus healed by various means. Sometimes it was by speaking a word or touching someone; at other times He healed at a distance. Read Mark 8:22-26 to see He used a process to heal a blind man’s eyes. 

Because of Your Faith 

READ 

Matthew 9:29-31 

29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” 30 Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, “Don’t tell anyone about this.” 31 But instead, they went out and spread his fame all over the region. 

This time Jesus touched the eyes of the two blind men and their eyes were opened. Jesus told them not to tell anyone about this miracle, but they couldn’t contain the good news and told people all over the region. When the masses knew of Jesus’ healing powers, they followed Him for those benefits rather than the spiritual benefits He came to offer.  

REFLECT 

Even though you can be pleased to know Jesus can heal physical problems, do you realize the spiritual healing He offers is of far greater benefit? 

RESPOND 

Meet with a Christian friend. Spend time praying for the world’s needs and for those who need to trust in Jesus as Savior. Also spend time talking about the assurance you have from the Scriptures about your salvation. Read John 10:28-30 in regard to this. 

Casting Out a Demon 

READ 

Matthew 9:32-34 

32 When they left, a demon-possessed man who couldn’t speak was brought to Jesus. 33 So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!” they exclaimed.  

34 But the Pharisees said, “He can cast out demons because he is empowered by the prince of demons.” 

Jesus was able to cast a demon out a man who was unable to speak. Then the man began to speak. Some saw this as a miracle. The unbelieving Pharisees, however, believed He did it by the “prince of demons.” Unbelievers can always think of some excuse to explain away what others see as a work of God.  

REFLECT 

Have you met some who explain away the creation of the universe by God? They think chance and long ages can explain things. No one was there to observe but God, so His word in Genesis 1:1 is the most reliable about it.  

RESPOND 

Read Luke 16:19-31 to see that if people do not believe the Bible, not even a person rising from the dead will convince them to believe what it says. For proof of this, think about another person named Lazarus—the brother of Mary and Martha—whom Jesus brought back to life in John 11:40-44. Yet John 12:9-11 shows the religious leaders wanted to kill him. Someone rising from the dead did not convince them.  

Sheep Without a Shepherd 

READ 

Matthew 9:35-38 

35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” 

The “Good News of the Kingdom” is that one must be in right relationship with King Jesus in order to enter the kingdom. That is what He told Nicodemus in John 3:5-7. In spite of the throngs who were around Him wanting physical healing, Jesus had compassion on them because “they were confused and helpless.” He urged His disciples to pray that God would send more workers into the fields of lost souls. 

REFLECT 

Are you asking the Lord to send out workers to win the lost to Jesus? Are you one of those workers? You do not need to go to another part of the world; you can tell your friends and loved ones about Jesus. 

RESPOND 

2 Timothy 2:15 tells believers to be workers who do not need to be ashamed. What kind of workers need to be ashamed? Proverbs 10:5 says the one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace. Think of yourself as living in the midst of lost souls who need to hear the salvation message. Are you involved in the harvest or sleeping while the harvest field is all around you?