BIBLE IN TEN

Matthew 8:26

Saturday, 22 March 2025
 
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:26
 
“And He says to them, ‘Why you are timorous, little-faithed?’ Then having arisen, He reprimanded the winds and the sea. And it was great calm” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, the disciples woke up Jesus and implored Him to save them. Now, His response to them is given, “And He says to them, ‘Why you are timorous, little-faithed?’”
 
Notice how Jesus addresses the disciples first. They are terrified for their lives, thinking that their doom is at hand. However, Jesus addresses them before taking action. It was a way of alerting them to the fact He was more concerned about their learning than He was about what was going on around Him.
 
It was also a way of solidifying the moment in their minds because they would be more likely to remember what took place. His response is one that directly challenges their faith. They had seen Jesus’ miracles, several notable ones recorded just prior to stepping into the boat, and yet they didn’t understand the power of His capabilities.
 
In His statement is a new word, deilos. It is an adjective that, according to HELPS Word Studies, means dreadful, as in “a person who loses their ‘moral gumption (fortitude)’ that is needed to follow the Lord.”
 
One of the disciples had asked to bury his dead father. However, no other such note of hesitancy is recorded. They willingly followed Him. But when times got tough, they cried out, completely lacking the faith necessary to accept the situation.
 
Their only hope left was that Jesus could do something. Well, they were at least right about that because it next says, “Then having arisen, He admonished the winds and the sea.”
 
Here is another new word, epitimaó, generally translated as rebuke. Its meaning extends beyond that, though. It comes from epi, upon, and timaó, to prize or fix a value upon. By implication, it then means to honor or revere. At times, it is used to describe the thought of strictly warning someone.
 
Therefore, the word admonished is sufficient to signify the intent in any such situation. In this case, the winds and the sea were raging around them. Jesus admonished them openly, “And it was great calm.”
 
By the spoken word, just as in the case of the healing of the centurion’s son, the winds subsided, and the sea quit from raging. Where they lacked the necessary faith in Jesus’ ability – an ability they had just seen demonstrated – He was fully capable of accomplishing what was necessary for the situation at hand.
 
Life application: How often believers seem incapable of accepting the power and capability of the Lord. One thing is certain for each of us: we all will die. And yet, Christians often cling to this life as if it is the most important thing we possess. However, we have been told that what we have now is inconsequential in comparison to what lies ahead.
Instead of moaning about what our sicknesses may lead to, we should accept them as a part of the human condition and admit that whatever it is that is afflicting us may, happily, lead us to our next state, releasing us from the bonds of this corruptible existence.
 
This is not to say that we need to rejoice in the pains that accompany them. Being miserable, wracked with pain, incapacitated, and so forth is never enjoyable. But while in such a state, we should be all the more willing to anticipate freedom from it.
 
Let us not get so caught up in clinging to this life that we, in turn, lack faith in the promise of that which lies ahead. Being fearful for this life is shown to be a demonstration of just that, lacking faith. Remember this. There is a difference between not liking the current situation and being fearful of what it will lead to.
 
A good way to think of this is to remember that in good times or in bad, the Lord has your back. Trust this at all times.
 
Lord God, help us to be faithful people, accepting that You have us completely under Your care despite the trials and afflictions we may face. In the end, and no matter what situation we find ourselves in, we are Yours because of Jesus. Help us to have this thought deeply imbued in us at all times. Amen.

Matthew 8:25

Friday, 21 March 2025
 
Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” Matthew 8:25
 
“And His disciples having come to Him, they aroused Him saying, ‘Lord, You save us! We perish!’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus was sleeping in the boat as it crossed the sea despite the storm that raged around them. Matthew next records, “And His disciples having come to Him, they aroused Him.”
 
It is evident that the men, whether after a few minutes or an extended struggle, realized they had no other option but to wake the Lord. As noted in the previous commentary, a storm like this can arise quickly and in a very short amount of time the waters can go from a tranquil calm to a terrifying tempest.
 
Quite a bit is often read into these words. People think it is as if the disciples understood they could come to Jesus and suddenly be delivered from their peril. In just two verses, that will be proven an incorrect analysis. They were certainly not thinking, “If we wake up Jesus, He will get up and calm the sea.”
 
Rather, they were concerned about the right now of the situation. The waves were swamping the boat, and they needed another hand to help bail it out, row, or whatever they, as experienced shipmen, directed.
 
But more, they may also have thought, like the mariners with Jonah, that He would petition the Lord for deliverance –
 
“So the captain came to him, and said to him, ‘What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.’” Jonah 1:6
 
They had seen the miracles and knew Jesus had a direct and intimate relationship with God. Therefore, His prayer to them would have been heard. It seems this, too, may have been on their minds. Therefore, Matthew records that they were “saying, ‘Lord, You save us! We perish!’”
 
The word translated as save, sózó, carries various significations. It can mean to save from peril, to heal from a disease, to rescue from physical or spiritual disaster, etc. One instance in Acts has a similar taste to what is seen here in Matthew –
 
“And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, ‘Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.’ 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.” Acts 27:30-32
 
This account in Acts does not refer to salvation from sin, healing, etc. Rather, Paul is telling them that their lives will be lost in the storm if they don’t take the appropriate action. The disciples are asking for the same thing. Thus, whether through prayer to the Father or bailing out the water, they need Jesus’ ability in the matter to get them through the ordeal.
 
Life application: The commentary above is not intended to dismiss the nature and capabilities of Jesus. But we are looking back on an account of men being swamped in a boat, knowing that He is the Lord God incarnate. These men did not know this. They were about to die and needed Jesus to assist in their deliverance.
 
It is important to not take our later knowledge of a matter and insert it into what is being said. The prophets of old received the word of God and wrote it down accordingly, but they had no idea what was being conveyed to and through them. Peter explains this –
 
“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.” 1 Peter 1:10-12
 
Likewise, the apostles had to go through the ministry of Jesus, experiencing each step of it to incrementally learn His nature and ability. Even as they stood at the cross, they were still without understanding. And even after the resurrection, and having been told what happened, one of them still couldn’t believe it –
 
“Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’So he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ 27 Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” John 20:24-28
 
The understanding of Thomas only came after all of these things took place, including an actual, physical encounter with the risen Lord. Such accounts are all we need to see that we should not insert our knowledge of who Jesus is into what the apostles knew as they struggled in the ship as it passed across the Sea of Galilee.
 
Lord God, we are so grateful that we now have a full understanding of who Jesus is. We don’t have to struggle with the truth that is revealed in Your word. We know that You, O God, came in the form of a Man, having united with Your creation to return us back to Yourself. How great You are, our Lord and our God! Amen.
 

Matthew 8:24

Thursday, 20 March 2025
 
And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Matthew 8:24
 
“And, you behold! A great gale, it arose in the sea, so too the boat being swamped under the waves, and Himself, He slept” (CG).
 
The previous verse said that Jesus got into the boat while the other disciples followed Him. Next, Matthew records, “And, you behold! A great gale.”
 
The widest spot of the Sea of Galilee is about 8 miles. As they were going from Capernaum to the country of the Gergesenes, this would have extended the trip quite a bit, it being further south from Capernaum.
 
As such, and depending on whether they rowed or hoisted sail, the trip would be several hours at a minimum. For example, for one to row 10 miles, it would take from 1.5 to 3 hours, but the longer time would be assumed for normal traveling.
 
At some point, a seismos, a gale, arose. The word signifies a commotion either in the air or the ground. It is most generally translated as an earthquake. In this instance, it is referring to a gale coming downward from the higher mountainous areas and disturbing the sea.
 
Despite its small size, the shape and depth of the Sea of Galilee can produce enormous waves very quickly during such a wind event. The winds off the Mediterranean come heavily upon the land. When they reach the Arbel Pass, they are squished between the mountains, gaining speed.
 
From there, the winds rush down upon the lower sea and lift its surface. Such an event can arise in mere minutes, going from a calm and tranquil state to raging waters agitated as if by an underground tremor.
 
To see such an event actually occurring there, one can go to YouTube and search “Monster Storm at the Sea of Galilee where Jesus Walked.” This is to be found on the Sergio and Rhoda in Israel channel. Get ready for big fun and adventure where they highlight footage from just such a storm. Understanding this, Matthew next records concerning this seismos, “it arose in the sea, so too the boat being swamped.”
 
There are a couple of new words. The first is hóste. It is a word derived from hós (as, like, since, etc.), and te (and, also, etc.). Together, they form a word that connects a cause to a necessary effect. Thus, “so too” gets the point across.
 
The next word is kaluptó, to be swamped. The word is akin to krupto, to cover up or conceal. Thus, it gives the sense of covering. As this is a boat on the sea, it means the waters are covering the ship. They were being swamped, “under the waves.”
 
The word, kuma, wave, is also new, coming from kuo, to swell (as when bearing a child). Thus, it is a billow or wave. Such a situation, even to the most experienced of seamen, would be terrifying. They would be completely at the mercy of the elements as they were tossed about. Despite this, it next says of Jesus, “and Himself, He slept.”
 
Another new word is seen, katheudó, to sleep. Despite the raging of the seas, Jesus was getting much-needed sleep after all of the time He had spent tending to the people. He was in a carefree state despite the raging of the waters.
 
Life application: On Sunday, 25 January 1736, while traveling to America on a ship, John Wesley had a similar event happen. There was a terrifying and dangerous storm swirling around them. Despite this, his journal records these words –
 
“At seven I went to the Germans. I had long before observed the great seriousness of their behaviour. Of their humility they had given a continual proof, by performing those servile offices for the other passengers, which none of the English would undertake; for which they desired, and would receive no pay, saying, ‘“it was good for their proud hearts,’ and ‘their loving Saviour had done more for them.’ And every day had given them occasion of showing a meekness which no injury could move. If they were pushed, struck, or thrown down, they rose again and went away; but no complaint was found in their mouth. There was now an opportunity of trying whether they were delivered from the Spirit of fear, as well as from that of pride, anger, and revenge. In the midst of the psalm wherewith their service began, the sea broke over, split the main-sail in pieces, covered the ship, and poured in between the decks, as if the great deep had already swallowed us up. A terrible screaming began among the English. The Germans calmly sung on. I asked one of them afterwards, ‘Was you not afraid?’ He answered, ‘I thank God, no.’ I asked, ‘But were not your women and children afraid?’ He replied, mildly, ‘No; our women and children are not afraid to die.’
From them I went to their crying, trembling neighbours, and pointed out to them the difference in the hour of trial, between him that feareth God, and him that feareth him not. At twelve the wind fell. This was the most glorious day which I have hitherto seen.”
 
The main point of this entry is that when you have the hope of eternal life because of Christ, there should be no true fear of death. It is coming to all of us, whether we like it or not. But in Christ, His people will be raised to eternal life. Death, schmeath. No fear here! We belong to Jesus.
 
Lord God, whether we live for You or not, our days are set and numbered. You know them all. For those who know You, why should we be concerned about the things that hem us in and cause commotion? Troubles are sure to come, but they are temporary and will pass away into the eternal joy You have promised Your people. Thank You for the reassurance we can possess if we just trust in You. Amen.

Matthew 8:23

Wednesday, 19 March 2025
 
Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. Matthew 8:23
 
“And He, having in-stepped into the boat, His disciples, they followed Him” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus instructed the hesitant disciple to follow Him and let the dead bury their own dead. With that, the journey the scribe (verse 19) wanted to join and the disciple (verse 21) wanted to be excused from begins with the words, “And He, having in-stepped into the boat.”
 
A new word, embainó, is found here. It is a compound word coming from en, in, and basis, a step. By implication, it refers to a foot, such as in Acts 3:7 –
 
“And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.”
 
Translating this as in-step is a direct and literal translation, even if it is a bit clunky. Being a ship, a normal English translation would be that “He boarded the ship.” As for His in-stepping, it next says that “His disciples, they followed Him.”
 
Notice that it says nothing of the disciple of the previous verses having turned back or remained on the shore. It would be an argument from silence to say this didn’t happen, but it is of note that any such detail is left out. Rather, we are left to hopefully assume the best, thinking he got on board with Jesus, both literally and figuratively.
 
Life application: Jesus, the Lord God incarnate, has come. He faithfully completed every task set before Him by the Father. He tirelessly spent His time – days, months, and years – pursuing the will of God and expending Himself for the joy that lay ahead after His fulfillment of the Law of Moses.
 
This fulfillment, however, included the torturous events leading Him to the cross as well as the cross itself. And yet, knowing that lay ahead, He continued on. As it says in Luke –
 
“Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.”
 
From the beginning of His ministry to the very last moments of His life ebbing away on the cross, Jesus sought the will of His Father. He has set the example for His followers. Each interaction with one of His disciples or apostles is recorded to give us information that we can use to come to our own decision concerning following Jesus.
 
Will we get on board with Jesus’ agenda of spreading the gospel to the world. Or will we spend our time, money, and abilities satisfying ourselves? This doesn’t mean we cannot tend to ourselves, live comfortable lives, and enjoy the many blessings of life in His presence. But is our time first and foremost spent with the main focus of pleasing Him?
 
Are we contemplating Him and considering how we can better ourselves as Christians while being willing to learn His word and get it out to others? Is “I’m going to church every Sunday” enough for you? Or are you living out a Christ-centered life throughout the week?
 
Consider this, and be willing to include Jesus in everything you do. Be like Him in that you are seeking the will of the Father at all times. May it be so.
 
Lord God, there is no better way of spending our days than getting closer to You in our minds and actions. Jesus sought Your will at all times. May we be willing to emulate Him, abandoning that which is of no eternal use and focusing our souls on pursuing that which is eternal. May it be so to Your glory. Amen.

Matthew 8:22

Tuesday, 18 March 2025
 
But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” Matthew 8:22
 
“And Jesus, He said to him, ‘You follow Me, and you leave the dead to inter the dead of themselves” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus was approached by one of His disciples who said, “Lord, You permit me first to go and inter my father.” In response to this, Matthew next records, “And Jesus, He said to him, ‘You follow Me.”
 
The word translated as “follow” is imperative. Jesus is instructing him that he is to forget the notion of staying around waiting to inter his father. It is a way of having the person decide upon his priorities right then and there and not to waffle in the direction he will take.
 
It is unlikely that Jesus would tell this disciple that he couldn’t bury his father if he was already dead. Nor would it be likely that Jesus would tell him he couldn’t depart to bury his father if the news about his death was brought to him as they traveled.
 
This isn’t the point of what Jesus is conveying to him. He is speaking of priorities. In this case, it is the priority of either waiting around for his father to die or to accompany Jesus and the others in the ministry. Understanding this, it next says, “and you leave the dead to inter the dead of themselves.”
 
It is obvious that Jesus is using the word dead in two different senses. Those who are literally dead can’t bury anything. Various uses of the word dead that are not literal are seen, such as he is a dead man, he is a dead dog, for all my father’s house were but dead, I am like a dead man, dead to sin, dead because of sin, etc.
 
In this case, the dead refer to those who are spiritually dead and not seeking a remedy to that. For example, Leviticus 18:5 says, “You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.” The words speak of living, not dying. They do not mean “living well,” “living prosperously,” etc. They refer to continued existence.
 
Jesus has already shown what the true demands of God are. The bar is far above the law itself, but the promise of the law is given, and if someone was to do just the things of the law, it would mean continued life. As nobody had ever accomplished this, death continued to rule in all men.
 
Like Haman and his ten sons (a picture of the Law and the Ten Commandments which issue from it), the law stood against the people. But Jesus has already told the people, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
 
His promise of the fulfillment of the law means that He will live. Although the disciples didn’t yet understand the ministry of Jesus, they are being instructed that His ministry is the way to find life from this body of death which man is born into. Those who do not participate or accept His ministry are the dead being referred to. They were born into spiritual death, and they will remain in that state. Let them deal with the dead.
 
Life application: Stories from Israel’s history were selected to give us insights into the greater work of Christ. These started in Genesis, and they continue throughout all of the historical books. When you read about the burial of Sarah, the hanging of the king of Ai, or the acceptance of Ruth into the line of Judah and which led to David through her marriage to Boaz, you are reading typological representations of things that would occur because of Jesus and His ministry.
 
Many of these stories anticipate Jesus directly. Others detail what would come about because of His work. David slaying Goliath is given to show us the work of Christ against the great foe of the people of God. Samson and the events of his life, likewise, were selected to be used in this manner.
 
Time and time again, God is showing us that it is law stands against us. It is what got man into trouble when he was in Eden. It is what kept Israel from life because of the impossibility for any of them to fulfill it. But the remedy is Jesus. He alone fulfilled the law. In His fulfillment of it, He introduced a New Covenant.
 
Without coming to Christ, the law which brought death to Adam stands against us. The Law of Moses only made things more difficult for the people of Israel. But Jesus stepped in and took the burden off the people. Follow Jesus. He is the Life leading to life.
 
Lord God, for all our days, may we remember the reason Jesus came. He told Israel, and through that, He is telling us. We need grace, not law. Help us to not get called back into a failed system of working to please You. Rather, help us to trust in Your great deeds, accomplished through Jesus, to carry us back to Yourself. With this, surely You are pleased. Amen.

Matthew 8:21

Monday, 17 March 2025
 
Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Matthew 8:21
 
“And another – of His disciples – said to Him, ‘Lord, You permit me first to go and inter my father’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus told the scribe that the Son of Man has nowhere to recline His head. Next, He is again approached. Matthew records that, beginning with, “And another – of His disciples.”
 
The word translated as another, héteros, signifies another, but distinct in kind. This is in contrast to the Greek word állos which signifies another of the same kind. In other words, this appears to confirm that the scribe of the previous verse was not a disciple.
 
Rather, he was just an opportunist looking to ingratiate himself to Jesus in order to somehow profit off of His ministry. Of this person now, it says that he “said to Him, ‘Lord, You permit me first.’”
 
The word epitrepó, to permit, is introduced here. It literally means “to upon turn.” In other words, it is an expression to be used in a figurative sense to mean permit, yield, allow, etc.
 
If one thinks of a wheel turning, one might say, “As the wheel turns, I want to do this.” It would indicate an interval of time being permitted for him to do the requested thing. In this case, this upon turning is “to go and inter my father.”
 
Another new word is used, thaptó, to inter. Saying “bury” is something that we generally do, and so it is what we think of. However, it says in translations of 1 Corinthians 15:4, using this same word, that Jesus was buried. That is technically not correct. He was entombed or interred.
 
This was a common form of disposing of a body in Israel. It would be placed in a tomb, allowed to decay, and then the bones would be collected and placed in an ossuary. This can be seen in the passage about Lazarus –
 
“Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, ‘Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.’40 Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?’ 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.’ 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Loose him, and let him go.’” John 11:38-44
 
This is also why it was pointed out that no one had been laid in the tomb where Jesus was interred before –
 
“This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.” Luke 23:52, 53
 
The tombs were reused after the bones had been removed and placed in an ossuary. The disciple is saying to Jesus that he would follow Him, but he first had to tend to his father’s internment. The probable meaning is that his father was old and would need to be buried upon his death. He was asking for a chance to see him off before following him.
 
What precipitated this was that Jesus was going to go to the other side of the sea with His disciples. Not knowing how long this would be, based on what He said to the scribe, he didn’t want to abandon his father at the time of his passing.
 
The reason this is the likely scenario is that when a person died, the culture insisted on an immediate internment. A delay of twenty-four or fewer hours would not call for such a response. Rather, the unknown date of an elderly person’s passing could ostensibly go on for years.
 
Life application: In 1965, a lawyer named André-François Raffray signed a contract to buy the house of Jeanne Calment. At the time Jeanne was 90. André-François figured it wouldn’t be long until she punched her ticket, and so he agreed to pay 2500 francs a month until she died. This is about $500 in today’s dollars.
 
Raffray didn’t expect her to live to be 123 years old. In fact, he died in 1995 at 77 while Jeanne Calment, the seemingly Everlasting Bunny, was still a spry 120. She lived three more years while Raffray’s family continued to pay her the monthly agreed upon amount.
 
In all, the over-eager Raffray (and his family after him) paid Jeanne Calment a total of 918,000 francs. This was nearly double the amount that the apartment was worth.
 
Remembering this lesson, we need to not get ourselves into things without any set end to them lest we lose our shirts in the process. Eternity is forever. Be set in where you will go when you go. Invest in Jesus, the only true guarantee of eternal life in the presence of God. Do it today!
 
O God, we invest in a lot of things in this life. Many of them turn out to be bad decisions filled with loss. But even when they are successes, they will eventually fade away. Nothing is sure except that we are set to die and then face the judgment. May our judgment for salvation wisely be settled now by calling on Jesus! Amen.
 

Matthew 8:20

Sunday, 16 March 2025
 
And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Matthew 8:20
 
“And, Jesus, He says to him, ‘The foxes, they have burrows, and the birds of the sky encampings, and the Son of Man, He has not where the head He might recline’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus was approached by a scribe who told Him he would follow Him wherever He went. In response to that, it next says, “And, Jesus, He says to him, ‘The foxes, they have burrows.”
 
In these words, the alópéx is introduced. It is a burrowing animal and is figuratively used when speaking of a cunning person. The main typological idea of a fox in the Old Testament is one who trips others up. In the New Testament, the fox will only be seen again in a comparable passage in Luke 9:58 and one more time when speaking of Herod in Luke 13:32.
 
The reason for Jesus’ words is not yet apparent, but His words concerning the fox tell us that they have phóleos, burrows, where they can go. It is another new word found only here and in Luke 9:58 under the same context. It signifies a lair for animals in the form of a hole, thus a burrow. In such a place, foxes can secret themselves away. Jesus next continues with, “and the birds of the sky encampings.”
 
This is a third new word, kataskénósis, it is derived from kata, down against, and skénoó, a tent or tabernacle. As such, it literally means an encamping. It is also found only here and in Luke 9:58. Birds, like foxes, have a place to go where they can dwell with their own. However, the verse continues with, “and the Son of Man, He has not where the head He might recline.”
 
This is a fourth new word, klinó. It is a primary verb meaning to slant or slope. As such, and because He is referring to a place to settle in, the word recline exactly fits the thought. When the day of labor is ended, a person reclines to eat and then further reclines to sleep.
 
The meaning is that, unlike the very basic necessities for the animals and birds, meaning a place to be with their own and to settle themselves for the needs of life, Jesus was without them. Instead, He was an itinerant traveler, not knowing where He would find rest from day to day.
 
This is also the first of thirty times in Matthew that the term Son of Man will be used when referring to Jesus. In total, it will be used about one hundred times in the New Testament. It refers to His human nature, having been born of a woman. Elsewhere, which began in Matthew 4:3, He is called the Son of God. This refers to His deity, having been conceived of God the Holy Spirit.
 
The point of Jesus’ words to this man is that He knew the scribe had not understood the purpose and goal of the ministry. Rather, he saw the crowds, figured he could gain from being with Jesus, and said he, too, would follow. Jesus knew what the scribe thought he would gain and spoke His words in a manner that would reveal His understanding of the man’s intent. There was no room for opportunists in a ministry that had no rooms booked for the night.
 
Life application: In Genesis 1, it says that God created everything to reproduce after its own kind. Apples produce more apples. Cows produce more cows. People produce more people. It is a fact that was set at the beginning, and it continues to be a fact today. To understand what God in Christ has done, a simple rule of interpretation based on Genesis 1 reveals the truth of the matter –
 
Jesus was born of a human female. Human females reproduce more humans. Jesus is a human. Thus, He is a Son of man, fully human.
 
Jesus was conceived of God’s Holy Spirit indicating that God is the Father of Jesus. As the Child bears the nature of the Father, Jesus is the Son of God.
 
The point of Genesis 1 telling us about the reproduction of all kinds continuing as the same kind is something we all understand, but the reason for telling this truth is to alert us to the fact in a purposeful way. It is also true that ice floats and that hydrogen explodes, but there is no need to tell us these things. They have no bearing on what is being detailed in Scripture.
 
But when we are given the truth about the nature of all living things, we should ask, “Why did God tell us this? We know it is true, so why bother?” The answer is that in proper theology, one plus one will always equal two. The doctrine of aberrant cults will quite often claim Jesus was not really a human or Jesus was not really God. But the pattern was set and it is without exception.
 
This is what God in Christ has done. To teach anything else about the nature of Jesus Christ than being fully God and fully human is heretical. It will lead to a false gospel, and it will lead to condemnation for those who fail to accept what God has done. Be careful to learn how to add. One plus one equals two.
 
O God, You have done it! You united with Your creation, coming in the Person of Jesus to restore us to You. Salvation is of the Lord. We give You all praise, honor, and glory for what You have done. Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen.

Matthew 8:19

Saturday, 15 March 2025
 
Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” Matthew 8:19
 
“And having come, one scribe, he said to Him, ‘I will follow You wherever, if You may go’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus saw many crowds around Him and commanded that He and the disciples depart to the other side. Having said that, Matthew next records, “And having come, one scribe.”
 
Nothing is said of who this is. It simply notes that he is one of the scribes. It is surmised, and likely so, that this person saw Jesus’ miracles and was impressed enough to follow Him. But the reasoning behind the decision appears to be for personal gain. It was just noted that there were “many crowds.”
 
Crowds consist of people. Many crowds mean lots of people. Where lots of people gather, money is usually abundant, even among the poor. Like with selling insurance, a little from each quickly adds to a big bank account. It is the rule of multiplication.
 
Jesus, on the other hand, wasn’t there for “many crowds.” Instead, He was there to accomplish the will of the Father, regardless of the gain He could receive. The scribes were already in a position to have wealth. He says nothing of giving up his current status. Instead, it next says that “he said to Him, ‘I will follow You wherever, if You may go.’”
 
Jesus is set to go to the other side. The scribe may have assumed He was going to increase the number of people he could encounter over there, thus increasing his possible income as well. This is all speculation, but Jesus’ answer to him in the coming verse appears to suggest it is a correct line of reasoning.
 
Life application: In the church today, like in the church throughout history, there is often the idea of gathering wealth through multiplication. It is normal for a pastor or preacher to want to increase the size and scope of his ministry. This should be expected because he is putting forth a message that he, hopefully, believes is true and is worth getting out to the masses.
 
However, a ministry can get quickly derailed from that original purpose by receiving exactly what it was looking for. By increasing in size, there is also a need for more space to meet. In making more space, which costs more money, there is then the need to make more in order to pay for the things it has taken on in the form of liabilities.
 
And so, more people are needed to help pay those incurred liabilities. As such, a ministry expands, gets a certain number of people to give, sees the money coming in, and then wants to expand again. One way this has been handled, which then takes the pressure off the local church, is to form denominations.
 
The RCC, for example, keeps the original structure of instruction but now places all the liabilities (and ultimate profits) under one main umbrella. That main body can now control the direction of all other churches under it. As more money is needed, it begins to assimilate aberrant teachings into it because it needs to keep the revenue stream going.
 
This is known as syncretism, the uniting of different beliefs, cultures, schools of thought, etc., as if each belief is acceptable within the larger umbrella. This is the RCC in a nutshell. It has innumerable false teachings at various levels and in various cultures that may not flow up or over, but they keep the local churches happy.
 
Sometimes, these aberrant teachings get an audience, and the entire church begins to accept them into their religious thinking. Having happy and content worshippers, regardless of the truth, is profitable. Therefore, a general state of apostasy begins to take over.
 
It has been seen in innumerable denominations over the past centuries. Today’s major denominations have doctrines that are completely at odds with the original teachings that established them. And the reason for this is almost always the same, money. Compromising for the sake of money, along with fame and power, is a hallmark of churches that expand too much or too quickly.
 
Be on guard concerning where you go and who you listen to. Subtle changes concerning doctrine within churches or denominations may not seem to be a big deal, but within a span of time, the people in the pews have been stewed into a state of complacency that they didn’t even realize had come about.
 
Only the wise will look around and say, “Things have changed, we need to move out of here before we are stewed along with everyone else.” How do you think abortion has become acceptable within so many denominations? What about homosexuality?
 
These denominations would never have tolerated such things when they started. But now, they permeate almost all churches within their scope of authority. In some cases, every single church has bowed the knee to such terrible changes in doctrine.
 
Glorious God Almighty, help us to be set in our doctrine early on. And we know that will not take place unless we are aware of what is proper. And we cannot do that unless we know Your word. Therefore, O God, give us the hunger, desire, and time necessary to know Your precious word. Amen.

Matthew 8:18

Friday, 14 March 2025
 
And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. Matthew 8:18
 
“And Jesus, having seen many crowds around Him, He ordered to depart to the other side” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus and His actions were shown by Matthew to be the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the healing of the people. With that thought complete, he next records, “And Jesus, having seen many crowds around Him.”
 
Some later manuscripts have the words in the singular, “And Jesus, having seen a great crowd around Him” (BLB). Either way, the thought is understood. He and His disciples were hemmed in by the thronging masses. They had worked tirelessly, but as noted by the words, the crowds continued to come. Therefore, it next says, “He ordered to depart to the other side.”
 
Here the word, keleuó, to urge on, is introduced. Strong’s defines its meaning as “to incite by word.” Thus, it gives the sense of commanding, ordering, bidding, instructing, encouraging, etc. Anything that will impel others to get up and accomplish a task is what is suggested.
 
They are currently located in Capernaum. It is in the very northwest area of the Sea of Galilee. From there, Jesus is instructing them to go to the eastern shore of the sea. One gets the sense that they need a break, as hinted by the statement about the many crowds.
 
Jesus and His disciples need to redirect things, and so taking a boat will hopefully provide them with the needed separation from those who are currently surrounding them. To walk would allow the crowds to follow them without providing any separation and relief.
 
Life application: Although it doesn’t explicitly say that Jesus needed rest, it can be deduced from the words concerning the crowds. During the trip, many things will come about, however, that are necessary inclusions in His life to fill up the narrative concerning His messiahship.
 
Once the trip across the sea is complete, Luke 8:40 says, “So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.” The crowds were there when they departed, and they anticipated His return.
 
It is not unlike our current state. Jesus fulfilled His messianic ministry, died in fulfillment of the law, and rose again, and then He finished His time here and ascended to heaven. We have been assured He will return for us. Are we eagerly awaiting that day?
 
The crowds anticipated His coming, knowing He would return. If we can fix our minds on the fact that Jesus is also returning, many of the things that disturb us from day to day will not matter, or they will find their proper place.
 
There were surely people left sick and troubled with various afflictions in the many crowds, but they knew Jesus would return and they would have their chance to find relief. In the church, there are all kinds of afflictions, griefs, troubles, and personal disasters. But Jesus is coming!
 
Don’t lose sight of the great and enduring promise we possess. This life is temporary, and it is woe-filled. For some, there are greater woes than others. But for each of us, there should be the eager anticipation that our day of uniting with the Lord will come. So be of good cheer as we wait for it.
 
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
 
Glorious God, we have lots of troubles in this life. They are sufficient to fill our days with greater hope that the promises of Jesus’ return will end them and that we will be in Your presence forever. We know the time is set, but if we can speed it along with our pleas, then we will gladly do so! Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen.
 

Matthew 8:17

Thursday, 13 March 2025
 
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“He Himself took our infirmitiesAnd bore our sicknesses.” Matthew 8:17
 
“That it might be fulfilled, the ‘having been spoken’ through Isaiah the prophet, saying, ‘Himself, our infirmities – He took, and these diseases – He bore’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, the people came to Jesus in the evening time. At that time, it says that He cast out the spirits and healed all who were brought to Him. Now Matthew states of this, “That it might be fulfilled.”
 
Matthew again ties the events of Jesus’ ministry to the words of prophecy. He is clearly and unambiguously saying by this that Jesus is the anticipated Messiah of Israel. Understanding that, he next records, “the ‘having been spoken’ through Isaiah the prophet.”
 
In other words, the Lord is said to be the ultimate Giver of the oracles of God. He spoke through His prophets, Isaiah in this case. This is a confirmation of the words of Peter –
 
“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:19-21
 
Isaiah didn’t just write things that happened to come true, as if anyone could have fulfilled them in some aspect at some point in time. Rather, the words are breathed out by God the Holy Spirit through chosen prophets. From that point, they anticipated a particular moment when they would be fulfilled. Each prophecy has its own time and aspect of fulfillment.
 
In saying that Jesus is the One to fulfill these words of Isaiah, Matthew is thus saying that He is the Messiah promised by God. Understanding this, Matthew records his next words, “saying, ‘Himself, our infirmities – He took, and these diseases – He bore.’”
 
It is a quote from the Hebrew manuscript of Isaiah 53 –
 
“He is despised, and left of men, A man of pains, and acquainted with sickness, And as one hiding the face from us, He is despised, and we esteemed him not.4 Surely our sicknesses he hath borne, And our pains -- he hath carried them, And we -- we have esteemed him plagued, Smitten of God, and afflicted.” Isaiah 53:3, 4 (YLT)
 
Of this healing, the Pulpit Commentary says –
 
“He did not perform miracles by magic (as is commonly asserted of him in the Talmud; cf. Laible, 'Jesus Christ in Talmud,' p. 44: Berlin, 1891),nor by the power of God exerted as it were externally on his behalf, nor by his own inherent Divine power, but by himself bearing the sicknesses that he removed. He wrought his miracles at his own expense, and that expense the greatest. The thought is far-reaching, and implies both that he bore the ultimate cause of sickness, the sin of the world (John 1:29), and also that each miracle of healing meant for him a fresh realization of what bearing the sin of the world included. In other words, the passage in Isaiah, as interpreted by St. Matthew, refers, not only to the Passion as such, but also to Christ's suffering an earnest and a foretaste of it at each miracle.”
 
Jesus was willing to take on not only the sin of the world but also to taste the consequences of it with each healing. He understood the effects of sin in an absolute sense by the time He went to the cross to eradicate it forever for those who would come to Him by faith for healing.
 
Life application: Consider what God has done. He united with humanity in the womb of a virgin. He was born under the Law of Moses, the law that He had given to Israel. He felt the pains of walking long distances, losing family members through death, experiencing hunger and tiredness, etc. He also came to understand the effect of sin on humanity: demon-possessings, broken bones, illnesses, plagues of leprosy, fevers, etc.
 
Each of these would be intimately understood by Him before He went to the cross so that when He went, He would know that His atoning death would bring those who believed in Him to a point of spiritual perfection through sinlessness that they would, at the time of regeneration, allow them to be like Him. He knew this would come about so that when He went to the cross, Hebrews 12 says –
 
“...who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
 
Having experienced the temptations of things the world of sin offers, which includes the consequences of sin in humanity, He willingly accepted the cross, and He looked past the shameful trial He would endure. Instead, He looked to the joy that lay on the other side of the ordeal and prevailed over this world. God did this for each of us so that the joy set before Him includes each person redeemed through His atoning sacrifice. Thank God for Jesus Christ.
 
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:1, 2
 
Lord God, what can we say? You have done it all, and we are the recipients of the greatness of it. Forever and ever, we shall hail Your exalted name through our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, O God, great things You have done. Amen.

Matthew 8:16

Wednesday, 12 March 2025
 
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, Matthew 8:16
 
“And having become evening, they presented to Him many demon-possessings, and He ejected the spirits – a word. And all those being sickly, He healed” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus touched the hand of Peter’s mother and her fever left her. From there, she arose and served them. Now, the ongoing narrative of events continues with, “And having become evening.”
 
The word opsios, evening, is introduced here. It signifies late, afternoon, or nightfall, meaning evening. The context will provide an understanding of the proper meaning.
 
In this case, the reason for these words isn’t stated here in Matthew, but it becomes clear in Mark’s parallel account. In Mark 1:21, it notes that it was the Sabbath. In Mark 1:29-31, Jesus healed Peter’s mother. Only then in Mark 1:32 does it say, “At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.”
 
The same is true in Luke’s gospel where the sequence of events is confirmed to be on the Sabbath. In his narrative, the account now begins with, “When the sun was setting.” The reason for this is that the new day in Israel begins at evening. Once the sun is setting, the new day begins. So, to avoid any hint of breaking the Sabbath, the people brought their sick to Him only at this time. As it next says, “they presented to Him many demon-possessings.”
 
It is the same word found in Matthew 4:24, daimonizomai. It is a present participle, thus, “demon-possessings.” These people were brought forward, “and He ejected the spirits – a word.”
 
As with the healing of the servant, Jesus merely spoke a word, and the demons were ejected. There is no hint of argumentation from the demons, and no difficulty with the process where Jesus had to hold some type of ritual or cast holy water on the people. The thought is similar to that of Acts 16 –
 
“Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, ‘These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.’ 18 And this she did for many days.But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And he came out that very hour.” Acts 16:16-18
 
One can see how ridiculous the supposed casting out of demons has become in the Roman Catholic Church and elsewhere as people go through long shows, carrying on with rites, rituals, and formulas to supposedly cast out demons. Today, all that is needed for a person to be rid of demons is for them to accept the gospel. When Jesus moves in, all demons must move out.
 
Next, the narrative says, “And all those being sickly, He healed.” Jesus had a long day of teaching in the synagogue as indicated in the other gospels, and yet, He accommodated those who came by, filling the evening with their needs and desires to be met.
 
Life application: The reason why it says above that when Jesus moves in, all demons must move out, is because there is nothing in the New Testament epistles to explain demon-possessings nor how to cure them. The narratives in the gospels and Acts are not prescriptive for our time. They simply describe what occurred and are recorded for our understanding concerning Jesus’ work and authority, and concerning the establishment of the church under the authority of Christ.
 
As there is nothing directive in nature concerning demon-possessings, it tells us that we do not need to worry about them. If we did, it would mean –
 
That we have a spiritual event in the church that has no response to and, thus,
We have a void in our dealing with matters that otherwise would affect the church and the salvation of those who interact with the church.
 
As this is so, and as God has done everything necessary to bring man to a state of salvation through the completed work of Christ, we can know that receiving Christ is sufficient to overcome any demon. This doesn’t mean that Satan or the demons cannot still afflict believers. The epistles indicate otherwise, but the power of God unto salvation has been realized in any person who has come to Him through Jesus.
These are truths that are evident and certain as detailed in verses of the New Testament epistles. Therefore, all of the hoopla that people display concerning demon-possessings is unnecessary, untrue. It is a distraction from giving a person the gospel and allowing him to choose Jesus and receive the path to salvation.
 
Lord God, help us to always be about the business of sharing Your word. May we make it a point to be bold in our witness for the gospel. If all we can do in our interactions is leave a tract, may we do so, knowing that it may have an eternity-changing effect in the life of another. Give us the heart and desire to do these things, O God. Amen.

Matthew 8:15

Tuesday, 11 March 2025
 
So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. Matthew 8:15
 
“And He touched her hand and it left her, the fever, and she arose and she ministered to them.” (CG).
 
In the previous verse it noted that Jesus saw Peter’s mother-in-law having been cast and fevering. Now, the words immediately turn to the response to this, saying, “And He touched her hand and it left her, the fever.”
 
The word puretos, inflamed, is introduced. In this case, it signifies being feverish. It is derived from pur, fire, and is akin to the verb puressó found in the previous verse. The fact that it says He touched her hand does not reflect a lack of faith on her part as some claim, thus contrasting this miracle to the last where He healed with just a word.
 
Rather, Jesus was going to go to the centurion’s servant and heal him there. However, at the request of the centurion, that didn’t take place. The touching of her hand shows attendant care for her while, at the same time, it demonstrates no timidity in having contact with the sick, just as with the healing of the leper in verse 3.
 
Jesus was able to touch the sick without becoming sick Himself. At the same time, He was able to cure another without ever having seen him or been near him. The contrasting accounts are intended to show us that no matter what situation arose, Jesus was fully capable of attending to it in a caring and complete way. That is seen in the next words, “and she arose and she ministered to them.”
 
There is a change in the tense from aorist to imperfect. She was healed and arose, but then she ministered and continued to minister to Jesus and those with Him. She had no ill effects, no lethargy, etc. She was healed completely and immediately got about tending to the guests.
 
Life application: The healing brought about by Jesus was always complete. In one instance, it came in stages though –
 
“Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.24 And he looked up and said, ‘I see men like trees, walking.’25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. 26 Then He sent him away to his house, saying, ‘Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.’” Mark 8:22-26
 
Jesus’ two-stage healing of this man served its own purpose. The final stage demonstrated that the healing, however, was complete. As for Peter’s mother-in-law, there is nothing later said about her. She may have gotten a fever again in her life or not. But the healing at this time was complete and that is what the narrative focuses on.
 
What Jesus does is never incomplete. The physical manifestations of healing by Him, and later by the apostles in His name, are no different than the spiritual healing that is provided by Jesus.
 
We are not just partially healed from sin where we need to then work to complete the task. Nor are we healed from sin in a manner that secures us from hell but which does not secure us for heaven. In other words, the Roman Catholic doctrine of purgatory.
 
Instead, we are saved (spiritually healed) and immediately seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, as recorded in Ephesians 2:6. If this were not the case, there would be no such doctrine as the rapture where believers are immediately converted from corruptible to incorruptible bodies as noted in 1 Corinthians 15. Regardless of how those verses are interpreted in relation to how the event takes place, the fact that there is an immediate change is indisputable.
 
When we are saved, it is a done deal. The healing is immediate, it is guaranteed, and it is eternal.
 
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10
 
Lord God, not only are we saved by grace and not by any works of our own, but Your word reveals to us that the spiritual change in us is immediate in its effect and eternal in its scope. Thank You that we don’t have to add to our salvation in order to complete or maintain it. You have done it all! Now, may we be obedient to produce good works in response to Your healing. Amen.