Bible Commentaries
Matthew 8

Verses 1-4

Mat 8:1-4

Section VI.
A Series of Miracles, Matthew 8:1 to Matthew 9:35

J.W. McGarvey

A Leper Cleansed, Matthew 8:1-4.

(Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16)

1. great multitudes.—The great multitudes that now followed Jesus are mentioned not only to show his popularity at this time, but also to emphasize the fact that the miracles about to be described were performed in the presence of many witnesses.

2. and worshiped him.—The Greek word rendered worship (προσκυνέω) is used both for the mere obeisance paid to a man of superior rank, and the supreme homage paid to God. Here it is used in the lower sense; for the leper, being a Jew, and having no adequate conception of the divinity of Jesus, would not pay to him the homage due to God.

if thou wilt.—Convinced by the previous miracles which he had either witnessed or heard of, that Jesus could make him clean, the only question in the man’s mind was, Will he do it? hence the words, "If thou wilt, thou canst."

3. and touched him.—The touch of a leper rendered a person legally unclean, and put him to the inconvenience of a legal cleansing. That Jesus touched this man in healing him was therefore an additional proof of his compassion.

4. tell no man.—This is the first mention of a prohibition which we will meet with frequently as we proceed with Matthew’s narrative. It is accounted for by the necessity of guarding against such undue excitement among the people as might have provoked an interference from the military authorities, and such as would have rendered the people incapable of calm thought in reference to the teachings of Jesus. (Comp. Mark 1:45.) Sometimes, as occasion required, he reversed his course, and commanded men to go and tell what he had done for them. (See Mark 5:19-20.)

For other remarks on this miracle, see the parallel in Mark 1:44.

The Man With Leprosy - Matthew 8:1-4

Open It

1. How do you think you would react if you were disabled in an automobile accident?

2. Why are people afraid of AIDS?

3. What illnesses are people often afraid of?

Explore It

4. Where did Jesus go after He finished the Sermon on the Mount? (Matthew 8:1)

5. What happened when Jesus came down from the mountain? (Matthew 8:1)

6. What was Jesus’ audience like? (Matthew 8:1)

7. What was distinctive about the man who came and blocked Jesus’ path? (Matthew 8:2)

8. What did the kneeling man say to Christ? (Matthew 8:2)

9. What daring deed did Christ do for the man with leprosy? (Matthew 8:3)

10. What compassionate words did Christ say? (Matthew 8:3)

11. What happened when Christ finished speaking? (Matthew 8:3)

12. How long did this healing process take? (Matthew 8:3)

13. What strange instructions did Jesus give the man whom He healed? (Matthew 8:4)

14. For what reasons did Jesus want the man to show his healed body to the priests? (Matthew 8:4)

Get It

15. If you had an incurable disease, where would you turn for support?

16. How does this story about Christ encourage you?

17. How does the example of Christ challenge you?

18. Why do you think Christ told the healed man to "show but not tell"?

19. How is Christ’s healing of this man with leprosy similar to the manner in which He forgives us?

20. What is the benefit of personal testimony about God’s deeds?

21. Who are often treated like modern-day lepers?

22. How can we follow Christ’s example in our behavior toward modern-day lepers?

23. What sort of attitude must we have when we come to God for help?

24. What story of God’s acts on your behalf could you use as a testimony to others?

Apply It

25. What sick or suffering person can you visit or talk to this week?

26. Whom could you encourage this week with a testimony of something God has done for you?

Verses 5-13

Mat 8:5-13

Healing a Centurion’s Servant,

Matthew 8:5-13. (Luke 8:1-10)

J.W. McGarvey

5. a centurion.—An officer of the Roman army, called a centurion from centum, a hundred, because he commanded one hundred men. This centurion was a foreigner (Matthew 8:10), and was probably connected with a garrison which kept the town of Capernaum.

8. I am not worthy.—The centurion knew that it was considered unlawful for a Jew to go into the house of a Gentile, and that this was on account of the sanctity which they desired to maintain. Whatever he may have thought of this as regards the Pharisees, he attributed to Jesus so high a degree of sanctity that he thought the doctrine certainly true in reference to him.

9. under authority.—There is peculiar force in the expression under authority. If the centurion, who was under authority to his superior officers, could still say to those under him, "Go," and "Come," much more could Jesus, who appeared to be under no authority, command the powers of life and death to go and come at his bidding. The man reasoned well.

10. so great faith.—The greatness of his faith was shown partly in his belief that Jesus could heal the servant by a word without going into the house; but chiefly in his lofty conception of the dignity of Jesus as compared with himself. Men of no faith regard Jesus and his religion as unworthy of them; faith reverses the scales of judgment, and the greater one’s faith in Jesus, the less his comparative estimate of himself—he goes down as Jesus goes up.

he marveled.—Jesus had all the feelings which are common to men, and consequently he was capable, like other men, of being astonished. If this seems to conflict with any theory concerning his nature, we should remember that it is one of the facts to be considered in forming our theory. The cause of astonishment was not merely the greatness of the man’s faith, but that it was such faith as he had not found, "no, not in Israel." That an Israelite, educated under the law and the prophets, and prepared for the Lord by the preaching of John, should have ready faith in Jesus, was to be expected; but this man, with the greatest faith yet exhibited, was a Gentile, reared in hereditary heathenism. The remark of Jesus was a severe rebuke to the Jews. We may observe, incidentally, that the surprise of Jesus is inconsistent with the theory that he had himself, by a direct operation of the Spirit, wrought this great faith in the centurion; if he had he could not have marveled.

11. from the east and west.—This verse contains a prediction of the conversion of the Gentiles, and was very naturally suggested by the great faith of the Gentile centurion.

12. children of the kingdom.—The Jews were "children of the kingdom" in the sense that they were children and heirs of those to whom the kingdom was originally promised. To them it was first offered, and it was because they rejected it that they were to be "cast out into outer darkness." No doubt this prediction of Jesus was quite unwelcome to his hearers.

outer darkness.—The kingdom of heaven in which many Gentiles were to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (verse 11), must be the kingdom in its final state of glory; for these patriarchs lived too soon to sit down in the earthly kingdom. The outer darkness, then, which is contrasted with it, and into which those are to be cast out who are not admitted into the kingdom, must represent the final punishment of the wicked. Weeping and gnashing of teeth are expressive of sorrow and of anguish.

13. as thou hast believed.—The centurion believed that Jesus could heal his servant by speaking the word without going into the house, and as he believed it came to pass; he returned into the house and found the servant well.

The Faith of the Centurion - Matthew 8:5-13

Open It

1. Who is the most amazing person you’ve ever met?

2. For whom would you not hesitate to give blood or otherwise help recover from a severe illness?

3. What did your mother do for you when you got sick as a child?

Explore It

4. Where did the incident described in this passage take place? (Matthew 8:5)

5. Who approached Jesus and asked for help? (Matthew 8:5)

6. What did the centurion tell Jesus? (Matthew 8:6)

7. What did Jesus promise the soldier? (Matthew 8:7)

8. What humble, surprising suggestion did the man make? (Matthew 8:8)

9. What rationale did the centurion have for making his request? (Matthew 8:9)

10. What effect did the soldier’s words have on Jesus? (Matthew 8:10)

11. According to Jesus, how many Israelites had as much faith as the centurion? (Matthew 8:10)

12. What insight did Jesus give about the guest list of the kingdom of heaven? (Matthew 8:11)

13. What eternal destiny did Jesus suggest awaited many in His audience? (Matthew 8:12)

15. What instructions did Jesus give the centurion? (Matthew 8:13)

16. What happened to the centurion’s servant? (Matthew 8:13)

Get It

17. How should you respond when friends or relatives have needs?

18. How does Jesus’ ready willingness to help the centurion’s servant encourage you?

19. What keeps you from having the faith that God can do anything?

20. How can we have greater faith in God?

21. Why are we so often filled with doubt?

22. What assurance do you have that you will be at the great heavenly feast Jesus mentioned in this passage?

Apply It

23. For what person who is sick or in trouble can you intercede today?

24. What can you do every day this week to build your faith in God?

25. For what promise of Jesus will you trust God and expect Him to work this week?

Verses 14-17

Mat 8:14-17

Cures at Peter’s House, Matthew 8:14-17.

(Mark 1:29-34; Luke 4:38-41)

J.W. McGarvey

14. Peter’s house,—Peter’s home was originally in Bethsaida, which was a suburb of Capernaum, and it may still have been there at this time. (See John 1:45, and note on Mark 1:29.)

his wife’s mother.—The text shows that Peter was a married man and keeping house, and that his mother-in-law was living with him. His brother Andrew also lived in the same house. What provision was made for his family when he left all to follow Jesus, we are not informed; but at a late period of apostolic history, he was still "leading about a sister wife." (1 Corinthians 9:5.)

15. the fever left her.—The fever was so high that the patient was prostrated and bedfast; yet at the touch of Jesus "she arose and ministered to them," being instantly restored to both health and strength. It was impossible for the witnesses to doubt that the cure was miraculous.

16. When the even was come.—See note on Mark 1:32.

possessed with devils.—Properly, with demons. There is only one devil, and he is never designated in the Greek by the word (δαιμων) here translated devils. This term was applied by the Greeks to their inferior deities, some of whom were the offspring of the gods, and some the deified spirits of dead men. On this account Paul says that "The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice unto demons and not to God." (1 Corinthians 10:20.) He also said to the Athenians, "I perceive that you are (δεισιδαιμονεστέρους) very much given to demon-worship." (Acts 17:22.) Some of the same Athenians had just concluded that Paul was himself a proclaimer of foreign demons (ξένων δαιμονιων), because he spoke of Jesus and the resurrection—that is, of Jesus as one who had died and risen again. (Acts 17:18.) Governed by the same conception, Festus, when he learned that the dispute between Paul and the Jews was about "one Jesus who was dead and whom Paul affirmed to be alive," concluded that it was a question about their (δεισιδαιμονίας) demon-worship. (Acts 25:19.) In the Jewish usage of the term it is applied exclusively to the departed spirits of wicked men. (See Josephus, Wars, B. VIII. ch. vi. § 3.) This usage was adopted by Jesus and the apostles, and consequently all that is said of demons in the New Testament agrees with it. In what way these wicked spirits gained possession of men; under what condition of mind or body a person was exposed to the possession; what degree of natural consciousness was still retained by the demoniac; and at what periods of history this strange phenomenon began and ended, are questions which remain as yet unanswered. That the phenomenon was, however, as it is represented on the sacred page, an actual possession of a person’s faculties and powers by a foreign spirit, and not the mere effect of disease superstitiously regarded an demon-possession, is proved by the manner in which Jesus dealt with the demons, and by the superior intelligence which the demons displayed. (See the notes on Matthew 27:18; Mark 5:15-18; Mark 7:32.) Similar diseases of the body, and mental aberrations similar to those produced by the demons, occurred then from natural causes, as they occur now; but all such examples are distinguished from demon-possession by the absence of marks of intelligence and will in the causes of the affliction.

17. took our infirmities.—Took away our infirmities and "bore our sicknesses," by healing them. The connection (Matthew 8:16) shows that this is the meaning. This is not a literal quotation from Isaiah (Isaiah 53:4), but it expresses, without exhausting the prophet’s meaning. The prophet referred, not merely to the cure of bodily and mental diseases by Jesus, but also and chiefly to the final sufferings of Jesus by which our spiritual maladies may be healed.

Jesus Heals Many - Matthew 8:14-17

Open It

1. What kind of patient are you (squeamish, brave, stoic, etc.)?

2. For what disease do you wish there were a cure right now?

3. What is the most amazing story of physical healing you have ever heard?

Explore It

4. What kind of building was Jesus in when the incidents of this passage took place? (Matthew 8:14)

5. Who owned the building? (Matthew 8:14)

6. Who was bedridden and sick with a fever? (Matthew 8:14)

7. What does the identity of the sick woman reveal about Peter’s personal life? (Matthew 8:14)

8. What did Jesus do to the sick woman? (Matthew 8:15)

9. What happened when Jesus touched the woman’s hand? (Matthew 8:15)

10. What did the woman immediately begin to do? (Matthew 8:15)

11. What kinds of people were brought to Jesus that evening? (Matthew 8:16)

12. What did Jesus do for the people who were brought to Him? (Matthew 8:16)

13. What procedure or technique did Jesus use to help the people who were brought to Him? (Matthew 8:16)

14. How were these events significant in Jewish history? (Matthew 8:17)

Get It

15. How patient are you with sick family members?

16. How would you handle living with an ill in-law?

17. How do we typically show appreciation for all the ways God has blessed our lives?

18. How would you rate yourself as a servant?

19. What are some ways we can assist those who are ill?

20. What ill or suffering people do you know?

21. How can you help those with needs?

Apply It

22. What will you do for someone who is sick or hurting this month?

23. Who in your family can you touch today with the love of Christ?

24. In what ways can you help a hurting family member this week?

Verses 18-22

Mat 8:18-22

Jesus and the Scribe

Matthew 8:18-22

18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him.—Matthew does not follow any chronological order. When Jesus saw the great multitude, he gave "commandment to depart unto the other side"; he was on the west side of the Sea of Galilee, but now he gives commandment to go to the east side. It seems that the multitude was too great and he withdrew from it; it was an easy method of escape by going to the east side. The miracles of Jesus had greatly impressed the people; they were astonished more at his miracles than they were at his teachings. The excitement of the hour attracted so many that it was impossible to handle such a multitude and do them good; again Jesus’ work could be done more in private than in the midst of an excited multitude. By withdrawing from the multitude, he would have only those present who sought him.

19, 20 And there came a scribe, and said unto him.—"A scribe" was one who copied the law; he was one who was supposed to know the law since he had copied it. There was a class of teachers of the law known as "the scribes"; so one of them either followed Jesus across the Sea of Galilee or came to him after he crossed "unto the other side." Matthew records the interview with this scribe as though most of Jesus’ followers were men of private station and men of humble life, but here was one of the teachers, a Rabbi, who had come to him. He expressed a noble desire; he said, "I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest." Disciples usually accompanied their teacher; they followed their teacher about and learned from him. Their teaching then was not in houses as are our schools today; the teacher frequently strolled through the country and his disciples "followed him." Some think that this scribe was influenced by a prospect of temporal advantage in Jesus’ kingdom; he had witnessed the wonderful miracles that Jesus wrought, and perhaps was attracted more by these than anything else;hence Jesus tested his motives.

Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests.—This was a severe test to the faith of this scribe; the foxes have their dens and the birds have their nests, that is, a place of shelter; "nests" as used here does not mean the place where the birds brood, but a place to roost under some shelter. While the foxes and birds have their homes or places of rest, "the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." That is, Jesus had no place on earth that he could recline his head and call it "his own"; this implied that he had no secure or fixed place of abode; Jesus uses here the title "Son of man"; he frequently referred to himself by this title. It recognized his human birth, and his human nature;. but it also implied that he had a dignity exclusively his own. He is the distinguished Son of man to whom there can be no second of like rank; he became the Son of man by being truly the Son of God. Jesus here suggested to this scribe that to follow him entailed many hardships and much suffering. We are not told whether this scribe successfully stood the test; some suggest that his motives were impure and therefore he turned back from following Jesus.

21, 22 And another of the disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.—Some think that this man was one of the twelve; they think that it was James or John and that Zebedee was the father who was to be buried; but this is a mere guess as there is nothing in the context to indicate who this disciple was. Luke does not call him a disciple; he was a disciple only in a large sense of the word, as the scribe may have been. At any rate, he asked that he might be permitted to go and bury his father before following Jesus. It was considered a sacred filial duty to take care of aged parents and to bury them; but the language "first to go and bury my father" intimates, as does the next verse, that the burying was now to be done; whereas Jesus was just leaving that region, and if the disciple accompanied him he could not perform that service, so think some that this is its meaning. It is suggested by some that there is a play on the word "dead"; that the man who was to be buried was physically dead, but those who were to bury him were dead in another sense. At least, Jesus teaches that one must not let anything come between him and following Jesus. We see here extremes meeting in Jesus; he is merciful and sympathetic toward those who are afflicted and at the same time he commands with the authority of an autocrat when he says, "Follow me," and let nothing interfere with your following me. Some observe that this was a critical time of decision for this disciple; he was in actual danger of burying himself while burying his father. Luke records the case of a third who volunteered to accompany Jesus. (Luke 9:61-62.)

Verses 18-27

Mat 8:18-27

Stilling the Tempest, Matthew 8:18-27.

(Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25; Luke 9:57-62.)

J.W. McGarvey

18. saw great multitudes.—When the multitudes about Jesus became too great he withdrew from them for the same reason which led him to forbid certain persons to speak of his cures. (Comp. Matthew 8:4.) To cross the lake was an easy method of escape, and it was frequently adopted.

19, 20. I will follow thee.—The scribe who proposed this was a disciple (comp. Matthew 8:21), but not one of those whom Jesus had commanded to forsake all and follow him. He seems to have desired to go as a guest, but Jesus gently declines his company by telling him that, unlike the beasts and the birds, he has no place of shelter, and can not, therefore, entertain his friends. We thus incidentally learn that Jesus was now without a home, and that for food and lodging he was dependent on the hospitality of the people. We find him frequently eating by invitation in the houses of his enemies, but sleeping in those of his friends.

21, 22. another of the disciples.—This man was doubtless one of the twelve, and it has been conjectured with a good degree of probability that he was James or John, Zebedee being the father who was to be buried. Comp. Matthew 20:20, where Salome is called "the mother of Zebedee’s children," instead of Zebedee’s wife, implying that Zebedee was no longer living. In the answer of Jesus there is a play on the term dead. It was a man physically dead who was to be buried: but those who were to bury him were dead in another sense, in a sense in which the disciple was not dead; that is, they were dead to Jesus. Under ordinary circumstances it is proper for a disciple not only to assist in paying respect to the dead, but to be foremost in it; but the call on this disciple came into direct conflict with the command of Jesus, "Follow me;" and he was taught that even the most solemn and tender duties of social life must give way to a command of Jesus. The case is an extreme one, and on this account the lesson it teaches has greater emphasis. It should be noted, as partly illustrative of the case, that to assist at a funeral made a man unclean, and that not less than seven days were requisite for his purification. This would require a considerable delay on the part of the disciple. (See Numbers 19:11-22.)

We have in this incident a striking exhibition of the extremes which met in Jesus. Here is authority as exacting as that of an eastern autocrat, combined with poverty as extreme as that of an eastern beggar. The poverty is confessed without a blush, and the authority is asserted without an apology. In any other than the Son of God these two extremes could not have met without the most ludicrous absurdity.

23, 24. he was asleep.—The deep sleep into which Jesus fell during the short voyage, a sleep so profound that the noise of the terrific storm and the rolling of the vessel failed to awake him, is accounted for by the fatigue and the nervous exhaustion consequent on his preaching to the great multitude. He was the only one asleep on the vessel.

25, 26. O ye of little faith.—The terror of the disciples would have been excusable but for the presence of Jesus. With him in the vessel it argued weakness of faith, because the many miracles which he had wrought should have convinced them that he had power over the winds and the waves. Notice, here, that fear and faith stand in opposition to each other.

27. the men marveled.—Their astonishment when Jesus calmed the tempest by his word is another evidence of weak faith. Had they realized the fullness of his divine power, they would have been surprised at nothing he did. It is well, however, that he adapted himself to the weakness of human faith, by working so great a variety of miracles as to leave even the weakest disciple no room to doubt that with him all things are possible.

The Cost of Following Jesus - Matthew 8:18-22

Open It

1. What excuses do people give for neglecting common responsibilities?

2. What are the pros and cons of travelling all the time—always living out of a suitcase?

3. Why do only a few people follow Christ for a lifetime?

Explore It

4. What observation prompted Jesus to cross to the other side of the lake? (Matthew 8:18)

5. What orders did Jesus give? (Matthew 8:18)

6. What did the teacher of the law call Jesus? (Matthew 8:19)

7. What did the teacher of the law claim he would do? (Matthew 8:19)

8. Who approached Jesus? (Matthew 8:19-20)

9. What did Jesus tell the teacher of the law he would have to do without? (Matthew 8:20)

10. What animals did Jesus say were more secure than He? Why? (Matthew 8:20)

11. Who offered to follow Jesus? (Matthew 8:21)

12. What did one of Jesus’ disciples request? (Matthew 8:21)

13. What command did Jesus give to the disciple that offered to follow Him under certain conditions? (Matthew 8:22)

14. How did Jesus handle the disciple’s request? (Matthew 8:22)

Get It

15. Why do we value popularity?

16. What are some places you would not want to go under any conditions?

17. Why do we value home ownership?

18. What are the pros and cons of putting down roots and getting settled into a community?

19. In what ways might a family (parents, siblings, or children) get in the way of following Jesus?

20. In what ways can our love for Christ cost us?

Apply It

21. How can you model commitment to Christ for your children this week?

22. What can you do this week to encourage a Christian who has made sacrifices to follow Christ?

Verses 23-27

Mat 8:23-27

Jesus Calms the Storm at Sea

Matthew 8:23-27

23-27 And when he was entered into a boat, his disciples followed him.—The boat into which he entered was either the boat that had carried him and his disciples to the other side or another boat which was waiting to carry him away. The scene and miracle which is here related is also narrated by Mark (Mark 4:35-41), and by Luke (Luke 8:22-25); Mark gives a fuller account than Matthew, and Luke’s account of it is briefer than Matthew’s. Mark connects this miracle chronologically with what had just been recorded before. After a long weary day of varied labors Jesus, followed by his disciples, "entered into a boat"; some think that is possibly belonged to Peter or the sons of Zebedee.

And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea.—The Greek indicates an "earthquake"; such a commotion of the elements described here corresponds to an earthquake. Mark and Luke call it a furious storm, a hurricane, the Sea of Galilee is subject to sudden and violent storms. The violent tempests are accounted for by the fact that the Sea of Galilee is about six hundred feet lower than the ocean; the vast and naked plateaus which surround it have ravines and deep gorges converging into the sea; these act like gigantic funnels to draw down the cold wind from the mountains and thus disturb the sea. Jesus soon fell asleep in the boat after it left the shore. The waves of the water were higher than usual as they are described as covering the boat. Matthew brings into wide contrast the tempestuous sea with its wild waves raging around and over the boat and the perfect calmness and serenity of Jesus while asleep. Upon one occasion when David was in great danger he said, "I laid me down and slept; I awaked for Jehovah sustaineth me." (Psalms 3:5.) The disciples of Jesus learned the lesson of perfect trust in God, for years later Peter, expecting any moment to be brought out for execution, slept in his dungeon so sweetly that the angel had to smite him on the side to awake him. (Acts 12:6-7.)

And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Save, Lord; we perish.—In their distress and anxiety for themselves and for Jesus they cry unto Jesus loud enough to wake him from the peaceful slumber into which he had fallen. Mark records their cry as "Teacher, carest thou not that we perish?" and Luke is still more concise in recording their earnest appeal to Jesus for help; his statement is, "Master, master, we perish." It is likely that all of these forms of speech and expressions were used; some would use one expression snd some another. Matthew records the expression used by some of the disciples, while Mark and Luke record expressions used by others.

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?—The disciples were with Jesus; why cannot they trust him? "0 ye of little faith" is the mild yet firm rebuke that Jesus gave them. They had seen that day many manifestations of his power, and yet they were afraid of a storm with Jesus in the boat. They had some faith, but their faith was not strong enough; the miracle which followed was to strengthen their faith in him as their Messiah. Jesus first rebuked his disciples, and then "rebuked the winds and the sea"; the result was "a great calm" immediately came upon the waters. Mark quotes the words of Jesus, "Peace, be still"; the wind ceased; the Greek indicates that it "grew weary, tired, and sank into a restful calm." Another meaning of the Greek word as used by Mark is that he "muzzled" the sea like an ox and it became calm. The effect on his disciples was that they "marvelled"; they asked each other, "What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?" The terrific storm had been brought so suddenly to a calm at the command of Jesus that they were astonished at the wind and the sea obeying him. Jesus had power over the material world as well as over the spiritual world; his power had been manifested over the spiritual realm by casting out demons; it was now manifested by his commanding the tempest and the mighty waters. The inconceivable wonder of arresting a hurricane was a new revelation of Jesus’ power even to his disciples, and their faith was strengthened in him.

Jesus Calms the Storm - Matthew 8:23-27

Open It

1. What is your scariest "bad weather story"?

2. When was the last time you were speechless?

3. Why is it difficult for parents to watch their children go through hard times?

4. What kind of sleeper are you?

Explore It

5. What did Jesus do with His disciples? (Matthew 8:23)

6. Who accompanied Jesus in the boat? (Matthew 8:23)

7. What surprise did the boaters encounter in this scene? (Matthew 8:24)

8. How severe was the weather? (Matthew 8:24)

9. What was Jesus doing during the storm? (Matthew 8:24)

10. What did the disciples do? (Matthew 8:25)

11. What did the disciples say? (Matthew 8:25)

12. How did Jesus reply to the disciples’ expression of fear? (Matthew 8:26)

13. What did Jesus do when the disciples expressed fear? (Matthew 8:26)

14. What was nature’s response to the command of Jesus? (Matthew 8:26)

15. How did the disciples react to this astonishing sequence of events? (Matthew 8:27)

16. What excellent question did the disciples raise? (Matthew 8:27)

Get It

17. Why do you think most people—even nonreligious folks—turn to God when things really fall apart?

18. What nerve-wracking situations have you faced lately?

19. How do you typically react when circumstances get out of control?

20. Why is it necessary for us to go through scary times in life?

21. Why do we panic about the storms swirling around us when the God of the universe lives inside us?

22. How does it make you feel to remember that you have a Savior who is greater than anything this world can throw at you?

23. What amazing acts has God done for you?

Apply It

24. How can you strengthen your faith in God today?

25. This week, what specific ways can you demonstrate your belief that Jesus will see you through the storms in your life?

26. For what amazing acts do you need to thank God today?

Verses 28-34

Mat 8:28-34

Demons Cast Out, Matthew 8:28-34.

(Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-40)

J.W. McGarvey

For comments on this miracle see the notes on Mark 5:1-20, where all the details here given are repeated, and others of importance are added.

Healing of Two Demon-possessed Men - Matthew 8:28-34

Open It

1. What is your favorite farm animal?

2. What effect (if any) do you think violent horror movies have on people?

3. Why are Satan and the occult increasingly popular topics among young people?

Explore It

4. Where did Jesus and the disciples come ashore? (Matthew 8:28)

5. Who met Christ and his men? (Matthew 8:28)

6. What was the spiritual state of the two individuals Jesus met? (Matthew 8:28)

7. Where did the strangers live? (Matthew 8:28)

8. What kind of behavior did the Gadarene men exhibit? (Matthew 8:28)

9. What did the two Gadarene men shout at Jesus? (Matthew 8:29)

10. What was nearby? (Matthew 8:30)

11. Who spoke to Jesus about the nearby herd of pigs? Why? (Matthew 8:30)

12. What request was made of Jesus? Why? (Matthew 8:31)

13. How did Jesus respond to the request that he cast the demons into the herd of pigs? (Matthew 8:32)

14. What happened as soon as Jesus spoke? (Matthew 8:32)

15. How did news of this event reach town? (Matthew 8:33)

16. How did the townspeople react to what happened? (Matthew 8:34)

Get It

17. How do you think you’d react if you encountered a demon-possessed person?

18. How does Christ’s power over Satan encourage and comfort you?

19. What do you think this passage says about the relative worth of a human soul compared to the value of an animal?

20. Why do so many people want nothing to do with Christ?

21. In what areas of your life is Jesus working?

22. What areas of your life do you want Jesus to leave alone?

23. If Jesus is powerful enough to drive out demons, why don’t we see much evidence of His power in our lives?

24. How can we show confidence in Christ’s power?

Apply It

25. What individuals in your town are in the grip of Satan and need your prayers today and every day this week?

26. Into what specific area(s) of your life do you need to invite Jesus to work today?