BIBLE IN TEN

Matthew 9:4

Thursday, 3 April 2025
 
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? Matthew 9:4
 
“And Jesus, having seen their thoughts, He said, ‘So why do you think evil in your hearts?’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus was accused of blaspheming because He told the paralytic his sins were forgiven. Matthew continues with, “And Jesus, having seen their thoughts.”
 
There is a slight difference in manuscripts in these words. Some say having known while others say having seen. Either way, the intent is the same, He is aware of their thoughts, either seeing them, which is then transferred to knowing, or He knows them, which equates to mental perception.
 
The greater question that could be asked would be, “Is this referring to each person’s stream of thoughts, or is it the single thought of all the people He is addressing?” The first option would be a clear indication of deity. In the second option, one could argue that He picked up on the one thought they all had, that of His supposed blasphemy.
 
Whichever way is intended, there is nothing in the conversation to indicate anyone said anything to Him, and yet He was able to see/know what they were thinking. As such, the writer of the narrative intends for us to see that Jesus is reading their thoughts, even if someone wanted to argue otherwise.
 
Of the three accounts of this event, Mark gives the clearest sense of Christ’s understanding by saying, “But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, ‘Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?’” Mark 2:8.
 
As for the word that is used, which is translated as “thought,” it is the Greek word enthumésis, a thought, reflection, deliberation, etc. It is introduced here. It is derived from the verb enthumeomai, which is also used in the second clause of this verse.
 
Understanding that the gospel writers really intend for us to see Jesus’ ability to read the thoughts of others, even if some might argue against this, it next says, “He said, ‘So why do you think evil in your hearts?’”
 
Jesus’ response clearly asks us to see that He has read their hearts. Of course, one could argue that this is a result of a proclamation made out loud that is then transferred to the location where the proclamation originated from.
 
In other words, if John and Mark were to say in front of Tom, “Tom is only doing this to impress Janet,” Tom might respond by saying, “What kind of evil are you thinking?” That is a possible understanding of such a response by Jesus here.
 
However, taking all three gospels together, and especially considering Mark’s works, as noted above, concerning Jesus perceiving in His spirit what they reasoned within themselves, it is evident the writers intend for us to see them in the light of Jesus’ ability to read the hearts and minds.
 
Life application: There is, at times, set intent in the Bible that is revealed in various ways. However, there is always someone who will argue against what the Bible is actually revealing. A good example of this is about who the term “sons of God” is referring to in Genesis 6. The surrounding narrative, and the way Genesis is structured in presented ideas, clearly indicates that the term is referring to the godly line of Adam through Seth. They are set in contrast to the ungodly line of Cain.
 
This is the set intent that the Bible is conveying to the reader. However, it is an unpopular view because it seems to lack any sensational value. Sensation is... well, it is sensational. And people like that. It is a process we call ear-tickling. However, if thought through, the fact that God is leading us in His word to Jesus through the godly line makes the matter highly sensational if one is looking for Jesus.
 
The purpose of the Bible isn’t just to tell us about giants that stomped around on the earth before the flood. That would be a distraction to the narrative. And yet, people devote an inordinate amount of time to this one thought. If you don’t believe that, go to YouTube and type in a question about the Nephilim or the sons of God as detailed in Genesis 6.
 
The number of videos is incredible and it is being added to daily. What a distraction from God’s intent! The Bible, instead, is revealing the generations of those who lead to the coming Messiah. This is why there are generations of Ishmael that are later set in contrast to the line of Isaac, and there are the generations of Esau later set in contrast to the line of Jacob.
 
In the case of Matthew 9:4, the set intent is to reveal a trait about Jesus that transcends the ability of other people. This is true with His healing, both in the presence of others and when they are not around. It is true in His ability to calm the seas and raise the dead. Jesus is a Man, but He is also God.
 
The writers of the gospel are setting forth their intent. We are to look at that intent, process it, and see the marvel of God in Christ working out His plan of redemption in the Person of Jesus. Keep your eyes on Jesus as you read from Genesis to Revelation. If you do this, your ears will be tickled in the most perfect way, the way that God intends.
 
Lord God, how exciting it is to see Jesus on each page of Your word as we continue through it. Focusing on the devil, demons, Mary, the church apart from Christ, etc., are not healthy ways of evaluating Scripture. Jesus is the focus. Help us to follow the directive You have set forth – “Fixing our eyes on Jesus!” Yes, help us to keep this proper focus. Amen.

Matthew 9:3

Wednesday, 2 April 2025
 
And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”
 
“And, you behold! Some of the scribes, they said to themselves, ‘This, He blasphemes’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus saw the faith of those who brought the paralytic who was lying on a bed. Because of how they came to Him, He said, “You embolden child! Your sins, they are forgiven you.” Now, Matthew continues with, “And, you behold! Some of the scribes.”
 
Luke provides the background for these words –
 
“Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem.” Luke 5:17
 
These men had heard about Jesus and had come to see what was going on. Whether those from Jerusalem and Judea knew of Him from His time there, or whether word had come about Him and they went to see Him isn’t known, but they were clearly there with the intent of ascertaining what He was doing. Having heard Jesus’ words to the man, “they said to themselves.”
 
One might question if this means they spoke to one another or if they spoke in their minds to themselves. The answer is found in Mark and Luke. Mark said they were “reasoning in their hearts,” something Jesus confirmed by asking, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?” (Mark 2:8). Luke confirms this, essentially saying the same things.
 
This demonstrates a power and ability that is ascribed to God alone, such as –
 
“I, the Lord, search the heart,I test the mind,Even to give every man according to his ways,According to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:10
 
This sentiment is found several times in the Old Testament. It is a capability only the Lord God possesses. And yet, the way the gospel writers have presented the matter, they confirm that Jesus is fully capable of this. It is a thought later confirmed in Revelation –
 
“I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.” Revelation 2:23
 
Understanding this ability of Jesus, who is God, it next says, “This, He blasphemes.”
 
Saying “This,” appears to be a contemptuous way of speaking of Jesus. That then leads to the thought of Him blaspheming, which is a new word in Scripture. The Greek is blasphémeó, a verb originally signifying to speak evil of, slander, or revile. In the case of God, however, Bengel rightly states –
 
“Blasphemy is committed when (1.) things unworthy of God are attributed to Him; (2.) things worthy of God are denied to Him; (3.) when the incommunicable attributes of God are attributed to others.”
 
Jesus is claiming an ability and a prerogative that belongs to God alone. That is noted, for example in Isaiah 43:25 –
 
“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake;And I will not remember your sins.”
 
It is true that there are times when one person will say to another something like, “Please forgive me of my sin.” However, that is referring to a matter between the two, not the forgiveness of transgressions against God that can only be forgiven by Him. What Jesus is doing is placing Himself between God and the sinner in a manner similar to the role of the priest.
 
However, a priest in Israel only performed a function that allowed sin to be forgiven according to the law set forth by the Lord. He was not the one who provided the forgiveness, only the means by which it was secured for the person. Jesus is actively saying that He forgives the man of sins against God, something only God can do. Of this, Kubel says the following –
 
“No passage of the Old Testament affirms that the Messiah himself will forgive sins. Thus Jesus ascribes to himself what even the highest Old Testament prophecies of the Messianic time had reserved to God; e.g. Jeremiah 31:34; Isaiah 43:25.”
 
This is correct. In Isaiah 53, it notes that Jesus would be the One to bear the sins of the people, but it was not fully understood that this meant both in the forgiving of them actively, such as in this case in Matthew, as well as bearing them in the manner which the animals under the Old covenant were supposed to do, meaning in a substitutionary manner.
 
Jesus provided both types of forgiveness before God, meaning He is equal to the Father.
 
Life application: The words of this short verse are filled with hints of the deity of Jesus. He is capable of reading the hearts and minds of the people, something that is ascribed to God in the Old Testament. He holds the approval to forgive sin. Again, it is an authority that belongs to God alone in the Old Testament.
 
And yet, these things are shown to be capabilities that belong to Jesus in the New. And it is not just during His earthly ministry to Israel that it is so. Rather, since His resurrection, He is the One to judge sin, wield the full power of God – having all authority in heaven and on earth, and He is the One who reads the hearts and minds of the people of the world.
 
The Bible leaves no doubt as to the nature of Jesus Christ. To deny these fundamental truths concerning Him is to deny what is clearly presented in the word. If the Bible is the word of God, then to deny what it clearly presents concerning Jesus is blasphemy against God.
 
Lord God, help us to understand the nature of Jesus intimately. May we pursue the knowledge of Him with every fiber of our being. We ask Your help in this because we know that in knowing Him, we will know You. Be with us in our pursuit of the wonderful Lord Jesus! Amen.

Matthew 9:2

Tuesday, 1 April 2025
 
Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” Matthew 9:2
 
“And, you behold, they presented Him a paralytic having been cast upon a bed. And Jesus, having seen their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘You embolden child! Your sins, they are forgiven you’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, it noted that Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city, meaning Capernaum. Now, Matthew continues with, “And, you behold, they presented Him a paralytic.”
 
This is now the third time the word has been used. In verse 4:24, it noted that He healed paralytics. In Matthew 8, the servant of the centurion was noted as a paralytic. So, it would seem this was just another paralytic out of many. But it is how the matter is approached that makes this account different. As for the paralytic, it says of him, “having been cast upon a bed.”
 
The word kline, translated as bed, is introduced here. It signifies a bed or table. Strong’s notes that the word is used to describe a bed for sickness, sleep, sitting, or eating.
 
As for the words, there still appears to be nothing unusual in the account. If someone is paralyzed, they would be immobilized, usually on a bed. Today, we have wheelchairs and the like, but at this time in history, a person in such a state would be confined to the home or carried on a litter. Next, Matthew notes, “And Jesus, having seen their faith.”
 
This is where the words in Matthew jump over events that are recorded in Mark and Luke. Without understanding the context, it seems odd to go from a guy on a bed to “having seen their faith.” Anyone in such a state who wanted to be healed would naturally be brought in.
 
In Mark 2, it says –
 
“And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.” Mark 2:1-4
 
It is this extraordinary effort that brings Jesus to His words about their faith. When they could not approach Him due to the thronging crowd, they came up with an innovative way of dealing with things.
 
Their actions demonstrated that they truly believed that Jesus could heal the man. Otherwise, they would not have bothered, figuring they would look foolish for putting in so much effort just to return home disappointed. Because of their actions, which were based on their faith in Jesus’ capabilities, “He said to the paralytic, ‘You embolden child! Your sins, they are forgiven you.’”
 
Rather than performing a physical healing, as one would expect with a person who has come to be healed, Jesus deals with a more important issue, the man’s sin. These words set off a firestorm among some of those who are there with Jesus. That will be seen in the verses ahead.
 
Life application: If you go to churches where healing is the focus, the physical aspect of the healing takes priority. It is as if a Hollywood presentation is going on when the supposed faith healer may run around on stage, laying hands on people, pushing them backwards with gasps and fainting, and people jump to their feet as if victoriously healed of whatever malady they supposedly possessed.
 
Benny Hinn used to take off his coat and swing it at people, as if he had the power to heal them by slapping them with it. All of the false faith healing in the world does nothing to deal with the issue of sin. And it is sin that keeps one from God. It would be better to be forgiven of one’s sins and to lay on one’s bed for an entire life as a paralytic than to be denied entrance into heaven because the gospel was not properly shared with him.
 
We should keep the main purpose of Jesus’ work in mind at all times. He came to save humanity from sin. Without that, the rest just doesn’t matter. What ultimately happens to us in this temporary, futile, fallen world makes no difference without Jesus and His cleansing us from our sin.
 
Heavenly Father, thank You that we are forgiven from our sins because of what Jesus has done for us. Without that, we are just specks of matter, formed together for a breath in the stream of time, destined to perish and return to nothingness. But we know that is not true. We were created by You and we must return to You through Jesus. Thank You for Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 9:1

Monday, 31 March 2025
 
So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Matthew 9:1
 
“And having entered the boat, He through-crossed, and He came into His own city” (CG).
 
The previous verse ended Chapter 8 as it completed the account of the two demon-possessed men. Now, with Jesus and His disciples having been asked to depart from the region, it next says, “And having entered the boat.”
 
They had come from Capernaum to this area, having passed over from there. Now departed, it says, “He through-crossed.”
 
This is a new word, diaperaó, coming from dia, through, and peran, which signifies beyond, over, the other side, etc. Thus, it signifies to cross entirely, from one side to the other. To keep the words in line with the Greek, through-crossed gets the point across. In their through-crossing, it next says, “and He came into His own city.”
 
Another new word is seen, idios. It signifies that which pertains to self, such as one’s own, or something private or separate, etc. In this case, it is referring to Jesus’ city, Capernaum, where He had set as the base for His ministry.
 
Life application: The trip from Capernaum to the Gergesenes and back was short but filled with action. The seas raged, the disciples feared, Jesus calmed the sea, and the disciples marveled, wondering what kind of Man Jesus was.
 
From there they landed on the shore, met with the demon-possessed men, and Jesus ejected the demons from them into pigs, bringing the men to a right state. From there, they departed and went right back to Capernaum.
 
The Bible is highlighting Jesus, His actions, and His work. We should pay heed to what we are seeing. A storm arose and He calmed it. A spiritual storm arose in the men, and Jesus calmed it.
 
We are being shown the nature of the Man that the disciples couldn’t seem to grasp, even though they were right there with Him watching the things He did. He commanded a person to be healed who wasn’t even in His presence. He also healed a leper by touching Him. Rather than becoming unclean, He remained clean and the leper was cleansed.
 
Jesus thereby demonstrated that He was greater than the law even though He submitted to the law. As the law was given by God to Israel through Moses, we are being shown the true nature of the Man. If you are struggling with the idea of Jesus’ deity, you are struggling against the word of God.
 
God, through His word, is conveying to us information about what He has done in and through the Person of Jesus. Don’t fret about this matter! Accept it by faith. Jesus Christ is the God/Man. When we pray to God through Jesus, we have all the power in the universe hearing our prayers. He will respond accordingly. Trust that it is so.
 
Heavenly Father, we thank You for what You have done for us in sending Jesus. Help us in our times of lacking trust. Help us in our weak faith. Strengthen us through Your word so that we can always feel confident as we walk in this world, awaiting the day when we will be brought near to You forever. Amen.

Matthew 8:34

Sunday, 30 March 2025
 
And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region. Matthew 8:34
 
“And, you behold! All the city, it went out to the Jesus meeting. And having seen Him, they begged that He might depart from their borders” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Matthew noted that those who had kept the pigs went into the city and conveyed all the details of what happened to the demon-possessed men. He next continues with, “And, you behold! All the city.”
 
Like every car slowing down on the highway to see an accident, people are attracted to interesting events that enter into the normal daily activities of life. With news of what had happened, the people gathered together to participate in the matter which had been told to them.
 
Saying “all the city,” however, is a superlative that means “a great portion of the city.” As seen elsewhere, not every “every” means every and not all “alls” mean all. Despite that, the majority of the people would have been curious about the events and willing to take time off from whatever they were doing to check things out. And so, the population of the city, “it went out to the Jesus meeting.”
 
Almost all translations make this a verb, such as, “they went out to meet Jesus.” However, it is a new noun, hupantésis. It signifies an encounter or a meeting. They had been told what He had done and they formed together intent on a meeting with Him. Next, it says, “And having seen Him, they begged that He might depart from their borders.”
 
Matthew’s account doesn’t fill in the details like Mark and Luke do. Mark 5 says –
 
“Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. 17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.” Mark 5:15-17
 
The comments of scholars concerning why they asked Jesus to depart are all over the place –
 
“It was characteristic of the wild, half-heathen population that they were led to look on the Prophet who had wrought so great a work as a Destroyer rather than a Saviour.” Ellicott
 
“The motive for the request was fear lest a greater disaster should follow.” Meyer
 
“These Gerasenes, vexed at the loss of wealth, felt, like the demoniacs, that there was nothing in common between themselves and Jesus, but, unlike them, showed no consciousness of sin. Without this he could do nothing for them, so he granted their request.” Pulpit Commentary
 
Albert Barnes says –
 
This shows:
 
That the design of Satan is to prejudice people against the Saviour, and even to make what Christ does an occasion why they should desire him to leave them.
 
The power of avarice. These people preferred their property to the Saviour. They loved it so much that they were blind to the evidence of the miracle, and to the good he had done to the miserable people whom he had healed.
 
Meyer is the only one who is close. Mark and Luke both say they were afraid. All the other commentary is nonsense. If the demon-possessed men were so powerful that they could scare people so badly that they wouldn’t even pass by that way, and if Jesus was able to cast out the demons that made the men so powerful, then Jesus obviously possessed power that was greater than the demons.
 
Further, by casting them into the pigs, it demonstrated that He had control over the demons to cause this to occur. He not only could cast out demons, but He could direct them once cast out. If He could do these things, what more could He do? This caused them to fear. Without further information to go on, everything else is speculation and presupposition.
 
Life application: Luke 5 says –
 
“But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.’ 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’” Luke 5:5-8
 
When Peter saw the miracle of Jesus, He asked Him to depart. His explanation was that he was a sinful man. Peter understood the position and power of Jesus and he measured his sin against what he saw and it affected him.
 
The people in the city saw the capability and power of Jesus, and it affected them. When we read the Bible, we should see the glory, power, authority, and capability of God and it should affect us. If we are left unaffected by the law when we read the law, we are not grasping the magnitude of our sin before God.
 
When we read about the cross of Jesus, we should understand our precarious state before God without a suitable Substitute to cover our sins. We should appreciate the grace that is displayed in what occurred there. We should feel the love of God for us as we contemplate the length He went to in order to restore us to Himself.
 
The Bible is a book that asks us to interact with the events in our hearts and minds, considering the majesty of what God has done for the people of the world.
 
Heavenly Father, how can we not be moved when we read the pages of the Bible. Each book is set forth to instruct us concerning our relationship with You. Help us to consider this as we enter into its pages each day. Amen.
 

Matthew 8:33

Saturday, 29 March 2025
 
Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. Matthew 8:33
 
“And those feeding [the pigs], they fled. And having gone into the city, they reported all – even the ‘of those demon-possessings’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus gave direction to the demons to go into the sounder of pigs. Having done so, they went into them and the entire sounder dashed down the precipice and perished in the water. Having seen this, it now says, “And those feeding [the pigs], they fled.”
 
There were people tending to the pigs as they went about rooting and eating whatever they found. When the pigs went berserk and headed over the cliff, the men were probably aghast. From the surrounding words, it appears that they heard the exchange between Jesus and the demon-possessed men. Therefore, it next says, “And having gone into the city, they reported all.”
 
Unless they had been aware of what happened between Jesus and the demon-possessed men, these words would not apply. Therefore, even if the pigs were off in the distance, as indicated in verse 30, the men tending to them were nearer. It may be that they too were at a distance, but when they heard the commotion of the demon-possessed men, they drew near as people tend to do when something like that comes about.
 
In whatever way they knew what transpired, they went and told those in the city everything, “even the ‘of those demon-possessings.’”
 
The brevity of the wording in the Greek means that words must be inferred. The intent is, “even the matter concerning those who were demon possessed.” Whether they knew of the healing of the man, or if they just saw the pigs go ballistic and jump over the cliff and then ran away terrified at that time, they at least knew that there was an encounter between Jesus and the two men.
 
This is what they conveyed to the people in the city. In Mark’s account, it says of the people in the city, “Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine.” Mark 5:15, 16
 
Therefore, it appears they were not sure about the healing of the man until they came back with the people of the city. Either way, the ejecting of the demons took place according to the word of the Lord.
 
Life application: Jesus, even during the time of His earthly ministry, had power over the spiritual world of Satan and his demons. They feared Him and knew who He was at the time. Since the completion of His work, the world has steadily followed the path that Scripture laid out two thousand years ago.
 
The life and Person of Jesus is there in the pages of Scripture for any and all to see and believe. It is the only way to overcome the dark forces of this world, including our own wicked hearts. And yet, how many of us are willing to share this life-changing message with others?
 
Unless someone just chances upon a website, video, or Bible, without us opening our mouths and speaking, there will not be any way for others to come to a saving knowledge of Him.
 
The people of the city were told of the exciting events that happened that day when Jesus cast out the demons. What Jesus has done for us is way more exciting than that. Let us tell others! We need to get the word about Him out. May we do so to the glory of God.
 
Lord God, help us to faithfully use our time in getting the word about Jesus out to others. We have received the good news. How can we keep it to ourselves? Give us the desire, the opportunity, and the wisdom to do what we should be doing in this regard. Amen.

Matthew 8:32

Friday, 28 March 2025
 
And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water. Matthew 8:32
 
 
 
“And He said to them, ‘You withdraw!’ And having gone out, they went into the sounder of pigs. And, you behold! They dashed, all the sounder of pigs, down the precipice into the sea, and they died in the waters” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, the demon possessed men begged Jesus to be cast out into the sounder of swine. Now, Matthew continues with, “And He said to them, ‘You withdraw!’”
 
The command is given without any further words, implying that their request, as stated, has been granted. They must leave the men and they are to go into the sounder of swine. With that, it next says, “And having gone out, they went into the sounder of pigs.”
 
There is a clear distinction between the men and the demons now. They have left the men and they have entered the pigs. It is at this moment that he is free of the demon possession. That would give the men eyewitness evidence that they were truly freed from the demons when the next events take place. Of those events, Matthew excitedly pens, “And, you behold! They dashed, all the sounder of pigs.”
 
The verb hormaó, is introduced. It signifies to rush or set in motion. In this case, it is used reflexively. The pigs dashed themselves. As such, it is their action that is being described, even if it is the demons causing it.
 
This is no different than saying that the men who were demon possessed troubled those who attempted to pass by. The demons were the efficient cause, but it is still the men who are the material cause. As for the actions which make it evident to them that they are completely free of the demons and that they will not be returning, it next says that the pigs dashed “down the precipice.”
 
It is another new word, krémnos. It will be used only three times. The other two are in the comparable passages in Mark and Luke. Strong’s says it signifies an overhanging. Vincent’s Word Studies disagrees and says –
 
“Much better the steep (Rev.). Not an overhanging precipice, but a steep, almost perpendicular declivity, between the base of which and the water was a narrow margin of ground, in which there was not room for the swine to recover from their headlong rush. Dr. Thomson (‘Land and Book’) says: ‘Farther south the plain becomes so broad that the herd might have recovered and recoiled from the lake.’ The article localizes the steep as in the vicinity of the pasture.”
 
Either way, it is evident that the swine were heading in a bad way without pig parachutes (pigachutes?) to save them. They went down the precipice and “into the sea.”
 
This means the Sea of Galilee. The area where this is located is a very steep drop and there would have been no way to avoid plunging into the waters. Upon arrival there, Mathew finishes the thought with, “and they died in the waters.”
 
This is now a third new word, apothnéskó. It comes from two words, apo, away from and thnéskó, to die. It thus intensifies the thought of dying. They, in essence, died away. Scholars argue as to the purpose of this scene, trying to determine why the events occurred as they did.
 
Further, the question arises as to how Jesus could send the demons into someone else’s property, allowing it to be destroyed. As for that, it wasn’t Jesus who destroyed the pigs. The demons did. The purpose of this is merely speculation, but if being demon possessed is enough to drive a human crazy, how much more a pig with a brain about the size of an orange.
 
For all we know, the pigs went absolutely bonkers and followed one another right off the edge. What would become of the demons enclosed in dead pig bodies isn’t stated. Were they freed to go do more demon stuff around the area? Were they consigned to a demon-prison when the death occurred? The narrative doesn’t say, and surely outside of Hollywood movies, there is probably no record of a demon named Legion infecting other people.
 
The main thing to know is that the demons were ejected and the men would have seen the results of the ejection. Seeing how it affects an entire sounder of pigs, they would have every reason to be thankful, to not feel responsible for their past actions, and to want to serve the Lord with every fiber of their being.
 
Life application: It appears that demons can still possess people today. We see people that are so seemingly possessed that it seems to be the only explanation. It could be chemical imbalances or other things as well, but if we suppose it could also be demon possession, we should attempt to share the gospel with such a person anyway. If it is a demon, and the person accepts Christ, it would logically follow that the person will be free from the demon.
 
Christ is here to save people. If He saves them, the demon no longer has power to rule in that person’s life. This doesn’t mean demons cannot afflict people. If they are out there, it is their job to make the lives of humans miserable. If they can do that while possessing someone else, we shouldn’t suppose they won’t attempt to do so.
 
Ephesians 6 gives instructions on how to deal with spiritual battles. Take time to read up on that chapter and remember what we should be doing to remain strong in the Lord as we continue our walk in this life.
 
We are so grateful to You, O God, for being with us as we walk in this world. This is especially true when we follow You, apply Your word to our lives, and remain close in our hearts and minds to You through prayer and fellowship with others. Thank You for Your glorious presence among us and in us. Amen.

Matthew 8:31

Thursday, 27 March 2025
 
So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.” Matthew 8:31
 
“And the demons, they invoked Him, saying, ‘If You eject us, You permit us to go into the sounder, the pigs’” (CG).
 
The previous verse noted the sounder of pigs that was feeding in the distance. Now, Matthew continues with, “And the demons, they invoked Him.”
 
The words are straightforward and continue the same understanding previously displayed, which is that Jesus has total authority over them. It is the same word, parakaleó, used already three times in Matthew which has been translated twice as comforted. In Matthew 8:5 and here, it is active rather than passive. Therefore, it signifies to invoke.
 
They are looking for a type of comfort by invoking Jesus to withhold His hand of judgment until the set time. In this state of begging Him, they were “saying, ‘If You eject us, You permit us to go into the sounder, the pigs.’”
 
In Mark’s account, it says Jesus was invoked to not send them out of the country. In Luke’s account, it says Jesus was invoked to not send them into the abyss. Each account is focusing on what the writer thought was the key point for his gospel. There is no contradiction then.
 
Rather, the conversation may have been something like this:
 
Jesus: “What is your name?”
Demon guy: “Legion.”
Legion: “Please don’t send us out of the country.”
Jesus: “Eventually you will have to go.”
Legion: “Yes, but please don’t send us to the abyss. It isn’t the set time.”
Jesus: “You must leave this man.”Legion: “We accept that. Instead of sending us to the abyss, please permit us to go into the sounder of pigs.”
Of course, this is speculation, but a simple example like this shows how each of the gospel narratives could be true at the same time. Matthew, being a Jew, focused on the unclean pigs. Mark, being told the matter from Peter, focused on the demons not wanting to be removed from the surrounding country. But with Jesus there, how could they continue in the country? Luke, being a Gentile doctor, focused on the final destination for their condition, the abyss.
 
Matthew, above all else, knew pigs were unclean and remembered that these demons would accept being in unclean animals. This would have had all the more impact on him after the law was fulfilled and annulled. He would then come to understand how the Holy Spirit could even descend on unclean Gentiles.
 
We are being schooled in the workings of God in Christ, and how He is able to make something clean out of something unclean and how He can bring near those who were far away.
 
Life application: The words of Matthew are perfectly in line with the words in Mark and Luke. What seems contradictory at first fits harmoniously with what could be when thought through. John, as he completed his gospel, said –
 
“And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen” (John 21:25).
 
As this is so, John is giving a reason for the brevity of the gospels. Matthew could have meticulously recorded every single word of every conversation that occurred in the presence of the Lord. And Matthew’s gospel would go on and on. It would be a giant, cumbersome, and difficult book to get through.
 
This would be the case with each gospel. But then each gospel would be identical to the other and they would be superfluous. However, each is an acceptable length to allow an understanding of what God in Christ has done so that we can then accept, by faith, that they are sufficiently presented in order to harmoniously weave together with the other gospels without being burdensomely long.
 
The things that were not necessary to know have been omitted entirely from the four gospels, such as conversations around the dinner table with Lazarus, Martha, and Mary.
 
Though such accounts may be interesting, they have no bearing on Jesus’ work and fulfillment of the law. Hence, they are not included in the word. What we have is fully sufficient to allow us, by faith, to accept what God has done in the stream of redemptive history. Therefore, let us have faith and believe.
 
Lord God, may we be people of faith by accepting Your word for what it is, a reliable and accurate account of what You have done in and through Jesus to restore us to Yourself. Thank You for this precious word that tells us of our wonderful Savior, Jesus! Amen.

Matthew 8:30

Wednesday, 26 March 2025
 
Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. Matthew 8:30
 
“And it is, far from them, a sounder of many pigs feeding” (CG).
 
 
In the previous verse, the demon-possessed men called out to Jesus, acknowledging Him as the Son of God and asking if He had come before the set torment time. Matthew now continues with, “And it is, far from them.”
 
Here is a new word, makran. It signifies a distance, meaning something far away. Paul uses it in Ephesians 2 when speaking of Gentiles once being far off from God but who are now brought near to Him through Christ.
 
Returning to the words of Matthew, he next says what was far off, a sounder.” This is another new word, agelé. It signifies a drove, as in a herd or flock. The appropriate name for a herd of pigs in English is a sounder. Matthew specifically tells us it is pigs with the next words. It is a herd “of many pigs feeding.”
 
A third new word is introduced, boskó. The word signifies to pasture. By extension, it includes foddering, grazing (when used reflexively), feeding, keeping, etc. The number of them, according to Mark’s narrative, was about two thousand swine.
 
As for there being swine there, nothing is said of who owned them. The dietary restrictions of the law forbade the Jews from eating pigs, but nothing is said about owning them. Jews owned horses and donkeys, animals that could not be eaten. People single out the pig as if it couldn’t be touched, something completely false.
 
If Jews owned them, they could hire foreigners to take care of processing them for selling to the Romans. Or these pigs could have been owned by Gentiles. It is unreasonable to somehow equate the fact that there are lots of pigs to some type of violation of the law. If that were the case, then owning horses would be exactly the same type of violation.
 
Life application: To this day, the pig is singled out as almost an unspeakable animal by many, even by Christians. The thought of touching one sends terror shivers down the backs of people as if they will get some type of supercharged penalty at the judgment for doing so.
 
So ridiculous is this that having pictures of them is offensive to some. Muslims have this same attitude. But many Jews or legalistic Christians, who wouldn’t think of having a pig around, own dogs. The Bible is replete with Jews riding horses and donkeys. In fact, the greatest Jew of all is said to have ridden a donkey –
 
“Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:15 ‘Fear not, daughter of Zion;Behold, your King is coming,Sitting on a donkey’s colt.’” John 12:14,15
 
How can it be that people don’t understand what God is telling us in Scripture? This is so much the case that even normal Christian commentators make wholly erroneous statements about events like this one recorded in Matthew.
 
Meyer’s NT Commentary says, “Seeing the Jews were forbidden (Lightfoot) to keep swine, as being unclean animals, the herd must either have been the property of Gentile owners, or been the subject of Jewish trade.”
 
Benson says, “a herd of many swine — Which it was not lawful for the Jews to keep much less to eat.”
 
Bengel says, “The owners of the swine were either heathens dwelling among the Jews, or Jews greedy of gain.”
 
There is no hint of such accusations in Scripture. Again, if keeping pigs was against the precepts of the law, it would be true with the horse, mule, and donkey as well.
 
Saying that the Jews who would do this were “greedy of gain” is preposterous. Rather, it would demonstrate their business acumen, just as if they were raising and selling donkeys.
 
Be careful about what you believe in commentaries. Once you have learned and accepted something, it is much harder to unlearn or admit you were wrong.
 
God was giving Israel information about what He would do in Christ when He gave the dietary restrictions to Israel. Now, with the law annulled in Christ, it is unthinkable that professing Christians continue to impose upon themselves precepts that they were never bound to in the first place.
 
Lord God, help us to carefully consider Your word, keeping it in context and not mishandling the precepts You have laid forth in it for us to learn by. Thank You for this word. It tells us about Jesus and what He has done to free us from bondage. Praise You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

Matthew 8:29

Tuesday, 25 March 2025
 
And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” Matthew 8:29
 
“And, you behold! They croaked, saying, ‘What – us and You – Jesus, Son of God. You came here to us before torment time?’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus had arrived on the opposite shore of the Sea of Galilee. Upon arrival, it mentioned that He had met two men possessed by demons who were very fierce. This was so much the case that nobody could pass by their way. However, Jesus is now near them, and the demons recognize Him. This begins to be seen in Matthew’s next words, which say, “And, you behold! They croaked.”
 
This is a new word, krazó. It is an onomatopoetic term for the raven’s cry. There are various sounds a raven is noted for, such as a kraaa, a croak, short repeated shrills, knocking sounds, squeaking, and swooshing of their wings. The easiest way to describe them is a croak. As for what they croaked out, they were “saying, ‘What – us and You – Jesus, Son of God.’”
 
It is a Hebrew form of speaking that is found in the Old Testament, such as in David’s words to some of his men –
 
“And says, the king, ‘What to me and to you, sons Zeruiah? If he will make light, and for Yehovah said to him, “Make light of David,” and who says, “Why done thus?”’” 1 Samuel 16:10 (CG).
 
The demons, therefore, are croaking out a desire to know why Jesus has come and what business He has with them. They seem surprised, but they also note that Jesus is the Son of God, thus acknowledging His deity and that He has every right to be wherever He wants at whatever time He desires.
 
So far in Matthew, Jesus has only been directly called the Son of God by the Traducer in Matthew 4:3 and 4:6. This is now the first time He is called this in front of others. However, chronologically, He was called this earlier, as recorded in John 1 by John the Baptist (John 1:34) and Nathanael (John 1:49).
 
In this same account, as recorded by Luke, Legion calls Him “Son of the Most High God” (Luke 8:28). As is clear, they understood Him to be God incarnate, not just a man who is called a son of God as occurs elsewhere in both testaments. This is all the more certain based on their next words which call out, “You came here to us before torment time?”
 
They use a new word, kairos, which signifies a particular time. Another common word for time in Greek is chronos, which is time that continues to move forward (think of a chronometer), whereas kairos speaks of a particular time such as a season, a set time, an opportune moment, etc.
 
The demons acknowledge that there is a torment time coming when the demons will be punished, and more, they understand that Jesus is the One who will mete out the punishment. This is not something a regular man will be in charge of. The words leave no doubt about their knowledge that Jesus is the incarnate Lord God.
 
Life application: Hebrews 2 says that God has not put the world to come in subjection to angels. Instead, He has given that authority to the Son. If Jesus were an angel (meaning a created being) then it would not be referring to Him. The same logic applies to evaluating this verse in Matthew.
 
God has given authority to the Son to punish both the fallen angels and the humans who fail to come to God through Him. This is seen in Matthew 25:41 –
 
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’”
 
The demons (fallen angels) in Matthew 8 have a place prepared for them, along with the devil. As the judgment of all beings is not granted to angels (meaning created beings), then it logically follows that Jesus is not an angel. However, this is the doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. They claim that Jesus is the archangel Michael.
 
It is true that the same word in both Hebrew and Greek, which is translated as “angel,” can simply mean a messenger, and this is what both John the Baptist and Jesus are called in Malachi 3:1. But context determines the meaning and the context is that the Messenger of Malachi 3:1 is the Lord, Yehovah.
 
Care needs to be taken when evaluating Scripture. Be certain to take all things you are taught with a grain of salt until you have verified them yourself. The deity of Jesus Christ is key to a right relationship with God. Any gospel message that is presented, and which denies this fundamental precept, it is a false gospel. Jesus is the Lord God.
 
Glorious God, thank You for sending Jesus to redeem us from sin. We know that You united with humanity in the Person of Jesus, and we hail You for what You have done. May we never deny the truth that Jesus is our Lord God! Amen.
 

Matthew 8:28

Monday, 24 March 2025
 
When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. Matthew 8:28
 
“And He, having come into the beyond, into the country of the Gergesenes, two demon-possessings, they met Him, coming out from the tombs – exceedingly dangerous – so too, not anyone capacitate to pass through that way” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, the disciples marveled at the capability of Jesus to silence the storm, asking who He could be. Matthew next records, “And He, having come into the beyond.”
 
In other words, they had left Capernaum, sailed across the Sea of Galilee, and had then arrived on the other side, having gone “into the country of the Gergesenes.” Depending on what source text is used, or what book (Matthew, Mark, or Luke) is being evaluated, the area arrived at could be –
 
Gergesenes
Gadarenes
Gerasenes
 
Charles Ellicott notes the following: “Gadara was a city east of the Sea of Galilee, about sixteen miles from Tiberias. ... Gerasa was a city in the Gilead district, twenty miles east of the Jordan, described sometimes as belonging to Cœle-Syria, sometimes to Arabia. ... There was no city named Gergesa, but the name Gergesenes was probably connected with the older Girgashites, one of the Canaanite races that occupied the country before the invasion of Israel (Genesis 10:16; Genesis 15:21; Joshua 3:10; Joshua 24:11; et al.). Apparently, however, from the last passage referred to, they were on the western side of the Jordan. It is, on the whole, more likely that the reading was a mistake, than that the old tribe still remained with its old name; but it is possible that the name of Gerasa may represent an altered form of Girgashim.”
 
Both Matthew’s and Mark’s gospels say that the herd of pigs noted in the account rushed into the sea. Luke says they rushed into a lake (meaning the Sea of Galilee). Therefore, the location now must be on the shore of the sea, not some place 20 miles from the Jordan.
 
Despite this, Albert Barnes rightly states, “There is no contradiction, therefore, in the evangelists. He came into the region in which the two cities were situated, and one evangelist mentioned one, and the other another. It shows that the writers had not agreed to impose on the world; for if they had, they would have mentioned the same city; and it shows. also, they were familiar with the country. No men would have written in this manner but those who were acquainted with the facts. Impostors do not mention places or homes if they can avoid it.”
 
As for their arrival, Matthew next says, “two demon-possessings, they met Him.” Another seeming problem arises. Matthew says two but Mark and Luke only note a man in the singular. Again, there is no contradiction. This occurs elsewhere in the gospels where one person is noted here and two there.
 
If there are two, then there is one. Mark and Luke are giving specific focus to one of the men who they encountered. Of these two people possessed with demons, it next says they were “coming out from the tombs.”
 
Here is a new word, mnémeion. Specifically, it means a remembrance, as in a monument. As such, it then provides the thought of a tomb where one is laid and a remembrance is implied. These demon-possessed men were there, and they were “exceedingly dangerous.”
 
Another new word is found here, chalepos. It is found only one more time, in 2 Timothy 3:1, where it speaks of perilous or difficult times. It signifies that which is dangerous, but it can also be applied to the state of a person by saying he is fierce or furious. The context will decide the intent.
 
Of them, it next says, “so too, not anyone capacitate to pass through that way.” The men were so violent that people avoided the area lest they be harmed. In the gospel records of Mark and Luke, the one that they focus on explained that the demons in him were named Legion, signifying many demons possessed him.
 
His violence was so great that Luke records that “he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness” (Luke 8:29).
 
One can see that because of this, while Matthew focused on the fact that there were two of them, the other two narratives wanted to highlight this one man who was an especially terrible case.
 
Life application: With a little bit of mental effort, difficulties between the gospel narratives are seen to be not impossible contradictions. It is good to remember that these are eyewitness accounts. As such, people’s perspectives will naturally be different, and they will focus on different things.
 
Further, the fact is that when two accounts are exceedingly similar, those who want to dismiss the Bible will use that as an excuse, saying they were merely copied from one account to the next.
 
In other words, no matter what God has revealed in His word, there is always someone who is there to tear it apart and challenge it as if it is corrupt. The corruption can be found in their own mirror. They have failed to accept the written word of God for what it is.
 
Lord God, we pray for Your word to be held in the highest esteem among churches who proclaim You. When pastors, preachers, and teachers fail to uphold it for what it is, it can only damage the listeners who are waiting to be instructed by it. May we carefully and contemplatively consider it, and may we expect that from our spiritual leaders as well. Amen.

Matthew 8:27

Sunday, 23 March 2025
 
So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” Matthew 8:27 
 
“And the men, they wondered, saying, ‘What kind, He is – this – that even the winds and the sea, they obey Him?’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus reprimanded the winds and the sea. In doing so, a great calm came about. Now, Matthew continues with, “And the men, they wondered.”
 
The word translated as wonder has already been seen in verse 8:10 when Jesus wondered at the great faith of the centurion. Now, the word is applied to the attitude of the disciples toward Jesus. The word signifies a sense of admiration, but it must have been much more than that in the case of the disciples.
 
They surely admired His power to control the elements through His word, but that is something otherwise unheard of. Because of this, Matthew next notes that they were “saying, ‘What kind, He is – this?’”
 
 A new word is introduced here, potapos. It is a word coming from pote, when or what kind, and pou, where or in what place. Together, they give the sense of “what possible sort?” Today, we might say, “What on earth?” or “Who on earth?”
 
It is a question looking at the broadest scope and conveying the idea of “Out of everywhere and every place, I can’t think of anything comparable!” This was because, as they next say, “that even the winds and the sea, they obey Him?”
 
Searching the sum of their lives’ memories and all of the cumulative things they had been taught or heard over the years of their lives, they were at a complete loss of knowing another instance of such an event taking place.
 
The only time such things ever occurred in all of their knowledge base would be the hand of the Lord effecting such an event as recorded in their Scriptures, such as –
 
“So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows.” Jonah 1:15, 16
 
The disciples would have known this story as well as the other miracles of the Lord, but this did not extend to the power of mere men. And so how could Jesus have effected such a wondrous miracle as He did?
 
Life application: It is again evident in the words of the apostles that they had no idea of the true nature of Jesus’ character. It is true that they would have considered Him the Messiah, but the Messiah was just a man who would be sent to deliver Israel!
 
How could He also be a man who could calm the raging seas? The disciples are being schooled on the nature of Jesus, and yet they continue to fail to understand who He truly is. This continues on today.
 
People read the word, and if they have been told that Jesus is not God, blinders remain firmly fixed over their eyes. It is as if the words their eyes alight on are soaked with water and have turned to blobs of ink, impossible to decipher.
 
It is proper to come to the Bible without presuppositions and to search out what it says by laying aside what we want the word to say or what we have been told it says. Until we have checked out what we have been told, let us be sure to let the Lord speak to us through His word.
 
By doing this, along with prayer for Him to reveal His word to us, we will be allowing Him to speak. This is how it is intended to be when we read His word.
 
Lord God, we pray for Your word to be revealed to us as You intend. Help us to put aside our presuppositions, biases, and desires concerning Your word and instead look for what You intend to convey through what You have spoken as is recorded there. May it be so, O God. Amen.