Throughout his gospel account, Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah. Building upon the foundation of fulfilled prophecy, Jesus' identity is authenticated by miraculous signs. As we examine Matthew chapter eight, let's consider the compassion and grace Jesus demonstrates.
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12/7/2011 completed
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Matthew 8:1-26 Matthew 8:1-26 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Throughout his gospel account, Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah. Building upon the foundation of fulfilled prophecy, Jesus' identity is authenticated by miraculous signs. As we examine Matthew chapter eight, let's consider the compassion and grace Jesus demonstrates. |
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From its opening genealogy through its careful record of Old Testament prophecies fulfilled, Matthew's gospel forms a bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament. In this in-depth study by Pastor Skip Heitzig we'll consider Jesus' ancestry, birth, public ministry, death, and resurrection, and we'll gain a clearer understanding of Jesus as both Messiah and King.
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Greek terms: παῖς; pais - servant or son; θαύμασαν; ethaumasen- marveled
Figures referenced: Caesar Augustus; Charles Spurgeon
Cross references: Leviticus 14; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 25; Isaiah 35:5-10; Isaiah 40:3; Isaiah 53:4-5; Isaiah 65; Matthew 1:23; Matthew 4:17; Matthew 4:23; Matthew 5:1; Matthew 8:1; Matthew 11:20-23; Matthew 26:39; Mark 4:35; John 10:38; 1 Corinthians 11:24; 1 Corinthians 11:29-30; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Galatians 3:28; James 4:2; 1 Peter 2:24
Turn in your Bible tonight to the Gospel of Matthew chapter 8. Let's pray together. Lord, we do know that you are a rewarder of those who diligently seek you. As we're gathered here tonight, Lord, you know the condition of our hearts. You know why we're here. You know what level of interest we hold and you know what we need more than we do. We do want to learn. We do want to analyze. We do want to synthesize the story and the thoughts but Lord we want to apply. The truths that change lives, I pray would change our lives. Thank you that you are committed to our growth and thank you that we can gather as a spiritual family and get into the word verse by verse, line upon line from one end to the other. So bless this time, in Jesus' name. Amen.
We'll you know that Matthew has been presenting Jesus Christ as messiah, that's his trust. And he laid the foundation of that presentation in the first seven chapters of his book. He begins by giving us the means by which Jesus holds the legal authority to that title and thus Matthew gives us the genealogy of Christ, son of Abraham, son of David and follows the genealogical lineage down the line. Then he gives us his birth, showing to us that when Jesus was born he fulfilled scripture. Fulfilling the prediction of Isaiah wrote in chapter 7, "A virgin will conceive and bring forth a child. You will call his name Emmanuel, God with us."
Then like any king who would have somebody announcing his coming, a forerunner, Matthew gives to us John the Baptist. Fulfilling Isaiah chapter 40, "A voice crying in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight paths for his coming", then to give us the moral qualifications, he presents Jesus at his baptism followed by Jesus at his temptation. And then Matthew in chapter 5 and 6 and 7, uniquely gives to us the information Jesus gave at the Sermon on the Mount. Now we have the king giving the instructions of the kingdom, the kingdom values, the kingdom ethics. This is what life is like when Jesus reins as king in the lives of those who follow him.
In chapter 8, we now have the demonstration of Jesus as the messiah, as Doctor Collin said, he's going to prove it. He's going to do miracle after miracle after miracle. So, in chapters 8 and 9, we have a listing of 10 miracles. Now, chapter 8 opens up, "When He had come down from the mountain." Do you remember how chapter 5 began? It said that, "When Jesus saw the multitude that it gather, He went up to a mountain and when he was seated His disciples came to Him and He opened his mouth and He taught them saying, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit'," et cetera and the Sermon on the Mount begins. Now it's over, Jesus comes off the mountain and 10 miracles followed.
Now, I can't help, but want to compare the 10 Commandments given by Moses on Mount Sinai with the 10 miracles given by Jesus after he leaves this mountain. And I wonder if Matthew who wrote for a Jewish audience didn't perhaps also have this mind, can't prove it, but it's interesting. The law cannot change a person, it can give you the standard, but now we have Jesus after that great announcement of the kingdom instruction giving life changing proof of who he is. Irrefutable evidence, Jesus is showing them and in one place he will say, if you don't believe for the things that I say, at least believe because of the sake of the works that I do themselves they testify of who I am.
Something else, since Matthew is presenting Jesus as the messiah and one of the themes struck the book is the kingdom and the king and the kingdom of God and the kingdom ethics. In chapters 8 and 9 with these 10 miracles, we have a foretaste of the coming kingdom age, when Jesus will rule upon the earth in that kingdom age for a thousand years. I'll just read a little pericope out of the Book of Isaiah chapter 35, "Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer and the tongue of the dumb shall sing." Isaiah goes on to describe the geological changes that will take place upon the earth, that's the kingdom age.
Christ gives us a foretaste of what life is going to be like when he comes back, there's a recreation, you might say of the present earth before it's destroyed a thousand years later bringing in a new heaven and a new earth, but in that kingdom age, what life is going to be like, Matthew gives us some insight. Now, it says, "When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him and behold a leper, he's first on the list of those who are healed." But if you remember back a few chapters, Matthew gives us sort of like a little outline of the life of Jesus and the ministry back in chapter 4, if you go back there, verse 23. It says in chapter Matthew 4:23, "Jesus went about all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people."
That's what Jesus did. That sort of summed up his ministry, preaching, teaching and healing. In chapter 4 verse 17, we see him preaching. "Repent," he said, "for the kingdom of God is at hand." He went preaching. He went teaching in the synagogues, but in chapter 5, 6 and 7, beyond the synagogues with the Sermon on the Mount, and he went about healing and the healing is seen in the next two chapters. Now something about Matthew, if you compare Matthew's account with the other gospel accounts, you discover that Matthew is not writing chronologically, but he's writing thematically. He's giving to us the authority of Jesus as the messianic king. This is Jesus proving that he is the messiah by his miracles.
And so, miraculous works and also miraculous works filled with compassion, that's the theme that Matthew was following, showing that the King, Jesus, is who he claimed that he was. Now back to chapter 8 and we just finished one verse, "When He have come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him and behold, a leper came and worshipped Him saying, 'Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean'. Jesus put out his hand and touched him saying, 'I am willing. Be cleansed immediately'. His leprosy was cleansed and Jesus said to him, 'See, that you tell no one, but go your way and show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded as a testimony to them'."
This man had leprosy and he knew that Jesus was able to heal him. He just wasn't sure if Jesus was willing. So he said, "Lord, if you will." Leprosy was a loathsome disease and there were two basic types, one, a general skin disease, sort of what you and I called full-blown leprosy and then, number two, that kind full-blown leprosy.
Because there were so many skin diseases and it was unsure where the skin disease was going to lead, it was all classified under leprosy. So that if a spot showed up on your skin, it would have to be examined by a priest. You would be isolated for a period of time, the spot would be reexamined. If it were just a mild skin infection or an aberration, you'd be allowed back into the society, but if it was the second kind your life would change forever. The second kind came from bacteria known as microbacterium leprae. It's been classified as Hansen's disease, named up for a Dr. Hansen, who discovered what it was. It's highly treatable today. In fact, the last known case of this kind of leprosy was seen in the Cook Islands back in 1986, I believe, 1996 excuse me.
So it still has a modern counterpart, but it is for the most part been eradicated. It was progressive, so that if a spot showed up on your skin eventually the peripheral nerves of your appendages would be affected. You'd lose feeling in your fingers, in your toes, in your skin and so the lesion could spread. Could either way parts of your flesh and you would never feel it. Because you would lack the ability to feel, you could be near a fire, you could do damage to it, cut it, you wouldn't feel it. If you contracted that kind of leprosy, you would be shunned from society, severe social implications.
Number one, you were kicked out of town. You were outside the camp. If somebody was approaching you and you were within 300 feet of them and they were coming downwind from you, you'd have to shout out to them, "Unclean!" Unclean, in other words, don't come any closer at your own risk, because leprosy was an airborne disease. If you were within 150 feet and the wind is blowing against you, as the leper you're upwind from it. Hundred and fifty feet, you have to shout out, "Unclean!" So you were ostracized, you have no human contact. You lose all contact with your family, if you're married, you don't kiss your wife anymore. You don't hug your children anymore. You're kept outside of the camp, complete and total isolation.
Now, you could go to synagogue if that synagogue had a little room called the a little holding room for those infected with leprosy, but again they would kind of appear through the grate, they weren't able to really participate. This loathsome disease that was so isolating and so horrifying, it was a living death, slow, painful, eventually painless, because you lose feeling, but painful socially kind of a death. An outcast from society sees Jesus, Lord, if you're willing. You can make me clean. Jesus put out his hand and touched him. Now just think of that for a moment. This leper had not felt a clean human hand and who knows how long, nobody was allowed to touch him. It was unlawful and some commentators bring this up that one sends Jesus broke the law, because he touched the leper.
Well, when Jesus touched the leper they were immediately healed, so he didn't break the law. I said I'm willing and he reached out and touched him and he said, "I'm willing, be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Something I want you to note, the leper knew that Jesus could do it. He wasn't sure if Jesus wanted to do it. So he said, "If you're willing."
I've been rebuked before by people from certain faith churches, faith movement churches that have told me, "Listen, when you ask God for something, you always ask in faith. You never ask him, 'Lord, if it's your will'." You say, "I know it is your will and because it is your will, heal me. I'm a child of the king and in all authority almost I demand you to heal me." I think that's a wrong approach and I have no problems saying, if it's your will. Because I never presumed to know God's will. Sometimes, the Lord may allow me to suffer physically, because he wants to work something deeper inside of me than just I have faith for this healing alone.
You want proof of that, call the apostle. He had a thorn in the flesh, a better word to be at stake some painful loathsome disease. Some people think an eye disease. He said, "For this thing, I besought the Lord three times that he would take it away." But the Lord finally said, "My grace is enough. It's all you need. My grace is sufficient for you. So you know Paul, then he said, 'Therefore, I will glory in my infirmity. I thank God for it. It's a gift'." So I have no problems saying, "Lord, if it's your will," because frankly I don't always know God's will. I don't pretend to know God's will, even Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He said, "Lord, Father, if it's Your will let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not My will, but Yours be done."
So I take my cues from Jesus and I think it's always safe in good theology and good practice to always entrust your desire into the sovereign care of God. And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one." Now, I imagined that when Jesus reached out his hand toward the leper and touched him, the whole crowd went -- they gasp, like oh no. Because no one was an airborne disease and he was awfully close to Jesus. Jesus was showing them that the very people that were considered the outcasts were not an outcast and he would touch. And then he says, I didn't finish the sentence, Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one, but go your way and show yourself to the priest and offer the gift the Moses commanded as a testimony to them."
And I find this interesting, let me explain myself. In Leviticus chapter 14, chapter tells the love for the leper when he is a leper, you stay away from people. You're isolated, but chapter in14, it says, "This is the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing." I find it interesting that the Law of Moses anticipated the possible miraculous healing of leprosy. Although, though it's there, here's the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing. There really was no record of anyone historically being cleansed miraculously, except in the days of Elijah the prophet, when a man by the name of Naaman, a Syrian was cleansed of his leprosy, but it's there in the laws. They've got to say, I'm anticipating it. Here's the law of the lepers, so Jesus says, according to the Leviticus law in chapter 14, a sacrifice has to be made.
The leper would take two birds, kill one over running water. Take the live bird and some hyssop and some cider wood and would dump the live bird in the blood. The blood with the hyssop would be sprinkled upon the leper and the other bird would be set free. That was the law. Jesus said, "Go do that." Why? He said don't tell anyone for this reason, I believe, number one, if this guy goes out and broadcast it everywhere that he was healed of leprosy especially those who know him, Jesus already has crowds following him. It's hard for him to be mobile from place to place. He's going to unattract an even larger crowd of people who only want to be healed. They're seeking him for the wrong motivation, the wrong reason.
Number two, he's going to get a lot more flack in opposition. There's a whole growing group of people that despised Jesus and are opposed to him. If this guy gets that word out that animosity is only going to grow. Now, both of those things happened, because this guy did not keep it to himself.
He went out and broadcast it to everybody, can you blame him? If you were healed miraculously, somebody said now, "Don't tell anybody," be awfully hard to keep it quiet. So I don't really fault him for that except Jesus told him not to, so I do and I don't. So Jesus said go and make the appropriate sacrifice, go to the priest. Now this would alert the priest about something going on. Here's a leper who goes to a priest and say, "Hey, I've had leprosy and my friends going to attest to it, my family can attest to it, but I was miraculously cured and according to the law," Leviticus 14, "here's the sacrifice I am to bring." A red flag would go up in the minds and in the hearts of the priest, right? Because Jesus is basically sending to the priest his business card, his calling card saying someone with messianic credentials has arrived. It's on the move. It's on the scene.
And if you were smart, you'd check it out and take note of them. So make the sacrifice and go to the priest and when Jesus had entered Capernaum, here's now a second miracle he gives, a centurion came to him, pleading with him. Capernaum, if you have a map at the back of your Bible and you can turn to it quickly, you'll see the Capernaum is on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It's a cool spot. First time I saw Capernaum I thought, I get it. I'd want to make this place my headquarters, too. It's right on the shore of a beautiful lake. It's got for the most part ideal weather in December it can get a little bit hot, but they were used to it. It's just gorgeous.
Jesus' headquarter in Capernaum for his three and a half year ministry. He was from Nazareth, but he headquartered in Capernaum. Now, here's something to keep in mind about Capernaum, because you're going to read about it through the gospels. In Capernaum, there were more miracles that Jesus performed than any other place. That is why in a few chapters, he's going to pronounce a curse on Capernaum, in fact all the cities around Galilee. It says, "Then Jesus began to upbraid those cities in which he had done his miraculous works. He said, 'Woe unto you, Chorazin'," which is just a little bit south of Capernaum, "Woe unto you, Bythsaida," which is just a little bit north of Capernaum, then he said, "Woe unto you Capernaum for you have been exalted to heaven, you will be cast down to hell for if the mighty works that had been done in you were done in Sidon, she would've repented long ago in sack cloth and ashes and it will be more tolerable than the judgment for Sidon."
Interesting that Dr. Collins is digging Sidon then it will be for Capernaum in the Day of Judgment. They had the proof, the messiah live there, spoke there, work there miraculously and they saw, but for the most part they did not believe. So Jesus enter Capernaum, verse 5, "And a centurion came to him, pleading with him, saying 'Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.' Jesus said to him, 'I will come and heal him.' The centurion answered and said, 'Lord, I'm not worthy that you should come under my roof, but only speak a word and my servant will be healed.'"
A centurion was an officer in the Roman army. He oversaw 100 men, hence, the name centurion, a century. A centurion was regarded as the backbone of the Roman Empire. Now, this guy had a servant, a slave. Something I just to keep in the back of your mind as a side note, every time there's a reference in the New Testament to a centurion, he's always seen in favorable light, positive light, as a man of great and noble character and most of them were. And this guy in particular is very interesting, because he exhibits incredible faith, incredible insight into the character and nature of Jesus.
But he has a servant. Now, what does a Roman soldier especially a centurion care about a slave? The great philosopher Aristotle said, "A slave is simply a tool to work with, just as a tool as an inanimate slave." So everybody in college goes, "Oh, Aristotle man, he was so cool." Well that's what he thought about people. A slave is just an item, disposed as you will, but here is the centurion who evidently loves his slave and the word servant that he used is -- here is the Greek word "Pais" which is sometimes translated servant, sometime translated child. It could refer to a son or Saidon son, but evidently he has the kind of relationship with this servant and he loves him very much and he's compassionate toward that he is seeking Jesus.
So Jesus says, "I will come and heal him," the centurion answers, "Lord, I'm not worthy that you should come under my roof. Only speak a word and my servant will be healed, for I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me and I to this one, 'Go' and he goes into another, 'Come' and he comes. Into my servant do this." And he does it, when Jesus heard it, he marveled. It's a very interesting word, marvel, it's usually a word reserved for the response people have toward Jesus. Jesus did some miracle and people, "Wow!" They marveled at it.
The disciples go marvel when Jesus does a miracle later on, on this chapter. Here is Jesus that says he marveled and he said, "Assuredly, I say to you I have not found such great faith not even in Israel." What's happening here? This centurion says look, I get it. I know authority. I'm a centurion for the Roman Government. I know how this works. And I don't need you to come into my house, because I understand your authority. Now follow carefully, the Roman Emperor, the guy who sat in Rome, the big way, the Caesar. He had total and full authority and he would delegate his authority to different officers including centurions.
Before 30 B.C. there was what's called the Roman Republic that ended about 30 B.C. and after that beginning with Caesar Augustus was the Roman Empire. And when the republic changed to the empire beginning with Caesar Augustus, full authority was given to that one single person who delegated the authority to officers. So that when a centurion representing the emperor would speak, it was the emperor's words that you would either obey or disobey. So if a soldier obeyed the order of a centurion or the servant obeyed his really obeying the word of the emperor, that's how they thought. They got the authority to chain of command.
If somebody disobeys the centurion, he has flatly disobeying Caesar and Rome. So here's the guy who say, I understand authority and I also can see that you Jesus operate under a similar system. You not only are under the authority of your father in heaven. You willed the authority of your father in heaven. So just does my words are the emperor's words, your words are God's words. See how insightful that is. You see why has Jesus marveled and he said, "Man, I haven't seen," and anytime you say the words assuredly I say to you, that's the translation of the Old King Jimmy, verily, verily, I say unto you.
That little phrase is alerting his disciples, he's about to say something really heavy here, really important like. Listen carefully and what he says this, I as the Jewish messiah have not found this kind of insightful faith even among Jewish people. But I find it in this Roman centurion, this gentile, those that are considered outcast from the covenant. So you have in the first miracle Jesus healing an outcast, he's cast out of the camp. Here you have the slave of a gentile, a centurion, he's an outcast, he is outside of the covenant of Israel and Jesus that haven't even found faith like this among the Jewish nation.
And then verse 11, "And I say to you, that many will come from the east and from the west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness, there will weeping and gnashing of teeth."
You know typically when you think of being in heaven you think of seeing Jesus of course and Saint Paul, and Peter, and John and I think what else some really cool to hang out with Paul like have lunch for a 100 years. Kind of get filled in on a missionary journey what a cool guy that will be year you know especially Jesus but even Peter you know. It's like Peter, "Man you got a lot of jokes told about you by a lot of people for couple thousand years but man it's great to meet you buddy."
But Jesus describes heaven a little bit differently for the Jewish audience. To the Jewish audience he portrays Abraham, Isaac, Jacob the patriarchs, it's going to be fun to sit down with Abraham, spend two or 3000 years with them. Find out what life was like for him at the decisions that he made, walking with God by faith, being an old guy trust him that he is going to have a baby that whole episode of his life. It was believed by the Jews at that time of Jesus that in the coming kingdom age, they the Jews .will sit down with the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the gentiles will be cast out or on the outside of that camp in heaven.
It was that belief simple because in the book of Isaiah, it says there will be a feast. If you are taking notes right down these two chapters and look them up later on in your own research them your own Isaiah chapter 25 and Isaiah chapter 65, which are predictions of the coming kingdom age. It talks about a great feast the God will making, wonderful delicacies that will be eaten and the kind of fellowship that will be enjoyed. But, in those passages it also talks about the gentile nations that will be gathered to the Jewish hold. Unlike with many of the Jews at the time of Jesus were thinking. So when Jesus said this I'm sure his disciples now went -- like this is such a shock, because he is speaking about the coming kingdom age and he has a few truths. Truth number one, many Jewish people who thought they would be there won't be there. Number two, many gentiles of these guys thought wouldn't be there will be there. And number three, the only way to get there is not through your physical genealogy, I'm a son or daughter of Abraham but by trust and faith in Jesus Christ like this centurion who trusted the authority and nature of Christ.
It's an incredible truth, it's an incredible statement. And notice, "and there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." In the original language in Greek there are two definite articles one before weeping and one before gnashing. It literally reads, "There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth." Those definite articles are put there for the sake of emphasis to emphasize the kind of horror that hell will be. The internal punishment of hell will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way as you have believed so let it be done for you" and his servant was healed that hour.
Let me caution you, when you read that verse and Jesus said, "As you have believed, let it be done for you." Some people like to make this a blanket statement, and say "That if you have enough faith, you can accomplish anything." You can't doubt, you must believe and as you believe according the amount of your faith anything can be done. Now Jesus is simply saying to this centurion who demonstrated this kind of deep and insightful faith in Christ in proportion to what you have expected, you will receive what you have expected to receive. That's what you expect to receive, that's what you're going to receive.
But to make faith rather than God the issue, that's what the faith movement will do.
The faith movement the church that are involved and it will say, "If you have enough faith you can have anything you want." So they're making faith the force that unlocks the promise instead of a sobering God and goes, "Umm, not really, I'm not going to do it." But I claim it", don't care, not going to have it. "But I claim it in Jesus name" I don't care you can talk southern all day long, it's not going to happen, because God a sovereign. And if we start thinking we can in our own human short sidedness presume to know the rule of God and situations are claiming and demanding this, it would be stupid, it would be nuts if God would allow us to have that kind of power. So it's not a blanket statement.
We do approach God with faith and the Lord may say, "Yes, I am willing" like he did to the leper. But he might say like he said to Paul, "Nope, my grace is enough." Something deeper I want to work in your life, I know what I'm doing. But to this man his request was granted and a servant was healed in that same hour. Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house and Peter was living in Capernaum. He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever. I kind of like the idea that Peter had such a good relationship with his in-laws that his mother in-law was at his house, respect for age was very important in that day and age. And some men today they go, "Oh my goodness, if my mother-in-law moved into my house, it turns form an in-law to an outlaw like in a week."
Maybe she lost her husband and Peter brought her to his home and she had a fever. Now in those days often times a fever was look at as the disease it self rather than being symptomatic of some disease, it's just they have a fever. And so he touch her hand and the fever left her and she arouse and she serve them.
The first one that we read the Jesus healed was a leper, somebody outside the camp. Second one was the slave of a gentile outside of the covenant, now we have Jesus healing a woman someone who is outside the common value of a patriarchal society, he explained. Two thousand years ago in Israel it was extremely patriarchal, so much so that pious Jews would sometimes pray this prayer daily, "God, I thank you that I am not a slave, a gentile or a woman." In some cases at birth if a boy was born there be a celebration if a girl was born everybody pack up and go home. It was extremely one sided, so that's why I take umbrage with anyone who says, "Well, the Bible and the Jesus and Christianity is so male dominant there's no--." Hey let me tell you something, Jesus is the one that liberated woman. He didn't care what society said was an outcast or you don't touch, or you don't hangout with, he included everyone. And so Paul were right, that in Christ there's neither male, female, simian, bond, or free we're all one in Christ.
And so Matthew was showing us systematically the kind of people that Jesus is reaching out to inherit a woman who has a fever. Now she is healed and as soon as she is healed she gets up, I almost see this is the second miracle because it's one thing to have a fever and have the fever gone, but typically fever leaves a person very weakened. When this fever left her Jesus gave her, her strength back immediately. And this is what I like, with her strength she didn't go, "Jesus thanks a lot man, see you I'm going shopping." She got up and immediately he started what? Serving the Lord.
One of the evidences that you've been touch by the Lord is that somewhere in your Christian journey you're going to say, "I don't want to just receive anymore, I want to give, I want to serve, I want to find my place, I want to find my spot, I want to understand my gift and exercise it."
There is a woman who is saved and change under the ministry of Charles Haddon Spurgeon and she walk to Spurgeon one night and said, "Mr. Spurgeon, Jesus change my life and he will never hear the end of it." I love that, he's never going to hear the end of it. I'm going to thank him and I'm going to serve him because he changed my life. Peter's mother-in-law was changed she immediately got up and served him. Verse 16, "And when evening had come, they brought to him those who are demon poses." Now why when evening had come?
We have to read the other gospel accounts to understand why that's put here. This was the Sabbath and you could only walk three quarters of a mile what is designated as a Sabbath day's journey. So the people who are living further away and there are people all over the region were waiting for the evening to come and they could look out and see the three stars that marked as the end of the Sabbath and technically the beginning of a new day. And so the evening had come that hot diggy dug let's have a Jesus party. So they rounded up all of their sick friends and relatives and he cast out evil sprits with a word and healed all those who were sick.
So imagine after your evening meal in Peter's house, you look outside the window, outside the door and an all side, all for sides it's like pandemonium its crowd swarming around or just news travel fast when you have somebody who can heal people and cast demons out. With this kind of power that news travel fast, people were just waiting for night to come and so they came and they found where Jesus was. Now, it's one thing to be Peter's mother-in-law it's another thing to be Peter but it's quite another thing to be Peter's wife and look outside and see all the rock is going on around your house, she's going "Oh my goodness, Peter what have we gotten ourselves into following this Jesus guy?" Life was up side down. So when evening had come, they brought to him all those who were demon posses and he cast out the evil spirits with a word or the spirits with the world and healed all those who are sick.
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet saying he him self took our infirmities and he bore our sicknesses. Escorting Isaiah chapter 53, now Isaiah chapter 53, you know the story very well, you know the prophecy how Isaiah is predicting the cleansing redemptive ministry of the messiah. Surely he is born on our griefs, he has carried our sorrows, we were bruise for her iniquity or he was bruise for our iniquity. Now the chest highest man of our peace was upon him and by his strips we are healed. Now, Peter in his epistle, I think it's 1 Peter it might be 2 Peter but one of his letters for the end of the New Testament, he quotes the section of Isaiah saying that Jesus has healed us spiritually. He saved us from sin by his redemption.
What I find interesting although most commentators will say, "When Jesus died on the cross his atonement was only to secure our salvation, it has nothing to do with our physical healing." I do find it interesting that Matthew quotes the same section of Isaiah and uses it to refer to physical healing. At the Last Supper when Jesus held up the element, held up the bread, held up the wine, and he said, "Take this and eat it. This is my body which is broken for you." I've always read that and I thought, "What do you mean it's broken for us?" Did the Bible specifically say that not a bone of him will be broken it was a prediction and it was fulfilled. The other guys have their bone's broken Jesus had no bone at all broken. He was one of the requirements in bringing a lamb for sacrifice, for Passover to not break a bone. But Jesus said, "This is my body which is broken for you." Jesus died on the cross, his death secured it salvation, the finish work we don't add anything to it.
But Jesus didn't just go to the cross he was scourged prior to that. A Roman whip, a cat of nine tails with bits of led and glass and stone that lacerated and broke through the skin exposing the muscle, the subcutaneous tissues. A question might be, if Jesus death was an up to secure our salvation why would God the father allow that all of that suffering up into the point of death like the scourging. Now in others many find commentaries on this kind of stuff and lots of debate but, I find that the finest commentary on the Old Testament is the New Testament.
And though I definitely see this spiritual healing in the atonement of Christ I also see that according to Matthew he quotes the same text referring to physical healing. Now I will grant many of those commentators who will say, "Well for most of us that physical healing probably won't take place until the resurrection of our body in the future." Okay, I can buy that because not everyone is healed, I understand that. But I also know that when Paul was speaking about communion with the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians chapter 11 he said, "Because many of you are not discerning the Lord's body when you take communion many of you are sick and many of you have died.
And so when somebody says, "Would you pray for healing? Would you lay hands on us for healing? Would you annoy us with oil?" I absolutely will do that. And I will bring as much faith as the Lord has put in me to that of event and I will try to find if I see people around the room those I know that have great faith. Leaving it in the hands of God but also knowing that if the Lord will this person could be healed right here right now. I don't want to limit Jesus of Nazareth and so well he healed back then and one day he will heal our bodies in the future true, true but he might want to do it now. He might not but you have not because you--
Participants: Ask.
So let's ask and I've said. And when Jesus saw verse 18 great multitude to vow him, he gave a command to depart to the other side. And we have a text question I want to throw it up because it's launching us into waters were going to get into and I probably won't answer this immediately and fully, but I do want to bring it up because this where were we headed toward to the end of chapter. It says, "Our demons still permitted to posse's people today." I just want to pause just because it's a great question and you're going like, "Well." Yes he is. I believe I have seen those who were demon posses in fact, to my own shigren I will admit that I ones ask spirits to posses my body. Thank God the Lord preserved me from that but I believe that there are some things in this life that you can only attribute to the working of Satan. It's tough to explain Adolf Hitler, it's tough to explain certain death spot, Paul Pot and others who have done things that are just inhuman apart form being open to the notion of demon possession, but those are waters that I said we're getting into so we'll kind of save that.
When Jesus saw a great multitude to bow to him he gave a command to the other side, the other side is the eastern side of -- Capernaum in on the north western side the eastern side. And if you go there today -- well I'm getting ahead of my self. Come with use this coming spring and I will show it to you first hand. Then a certain came and said to him, "Teacher I will follow you wherever you go" it's a great thing to say isn't it? Now Jesus tells his disciples, "Common let's get out of here, get in the boat" and there comes this guy saying, "I want to come, I get into the boat" he's probably got one leg in the boat, Jesus, "Wait a minute." Fox does have holes, birds of the air have nest, but the son of man has no where to lay his head.
That I might sound a little bit harsh because here's a guy going, "I want to come" he's raising his hand "I want to come. I want to signup. I want to be on Jesus team this is cool." Jesus isn't saying, "Don't follow me. Don't come along with me. He's simply saying, "Before you do understand what is going to cause you." I'm an itinerary preacher I travel, I'm traveling. I'm going from place to place. I'm not staying in the house anymore. I'm staying in different places every night. I'm sleeping here, I'm sleeping there and besides that there's lots of crowds all around so that demands on my life are many. If you are signing up to follow me like these disciples are it's going to be a rough life. It's going to tough, there's going to be a lots of demands.
So he's not saying, "Don't follow me, don't come, you can't be my disciple but simply count the cause." Then another of his disciples said to him, again a disciple not an apostle, it's a follower. He's already following him since it says he is a disciple said to him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Now before we get to Jesus answer, just notice that verbal construction. You know sometimes you read a sentence and you go, "Wait a minute that's a self-canceling statement." Verbally that's an oxymoronic statement but sometimes it's just a moronic statement, but sometimes it's an oxymoronic statement. Its self canceling notice, "Lord, let me first" okay now just analyze that. You can't say that. You can't call him Lord with means master and I submit to you, Lord me first, right?
Because if you're living life for you first he is not your Lord, and if he is your Lord it's not you first it's Him first. But here is a disciple saying, "Lord me first" it's about me now, it's about my needs, it's about my wants, Lord me first. Let me first go and burry my father. That's sounds like a legitimate request, guys going to go home, right? Have funeral for his dad, his dad died, right? Look what Jesus said, but he said to him, "Follow me and let the dead bury their own dead." And before you go -- what a mean messiah.
Most scholars believe that this is a figurative way of saying, "Let me first go home and take care of my dad until he dies." He is sick, he has a little bit of time left but basically, I want to follow you, I just want a little time off from following you. I want a little vacation from being a disciple. I really want to get on board with you and do the whole Jesus disciple thing but not right now. First, I got some family things to do. When Jesus said, "Let the dead burry their dead" I think the new living translation nailed it when it translated it, "Let the spiritually dead burry the physically dead."
In other words there are some tasks that nonbelievers can do as well as believers. And the choice is in between something good and something evil but between something good and something better. You as a follower of Jesus can do lot of things that anybody could do, but there are certain things that only you as a disciple can do, do that. And if something that is a good task, a noble task, interferes with the calling God has in your life then it can never be Lord me first, as you're the Lord you first. I will forego that, I will give that up, I will not do that.
See, so many Christians spend so much time arguing this kind of questions. Well, can I as a Christian do that or are we allow to do this? Or can listen to that music or we can go -- it's like a ridiculous argument, because when you put Jesus as the Lord there's lots of things you just don't do because Jesus is Lord and you don't want to stumble Jesus children. So a disciple can never say, "Me first." Jesus said, "Let the dead burry their dead" what any answer he wanted to hear?
And when Jesus got into a boat and his disciples followed him and suddenly a great tempest arouse on the sea so that the boat was covered with waves but he was asleep. I love this, who sleeps in weather like this?
Jesus. Then his disciples came to him and woke him up saying, "Lord save us we're perishing." But he said to them, "Why are you so fearful? Oh you have little faith." Then he aroused and rebukes the winds and the sea and there was a great calm. The Sea of Galilee is 600 feet below sea level. It's a depression, a geological formation called the "Syro-African Rift" its fresh water but it's below sea level 600 to 700 feet. So this is what happens, when you have a body of water below sea level and the warm air on the Sea of Galilee rises it creates a vacuum. The vacuum is filled when cooler air off the coast the Mediterranean just several miles to the west were rush in from sea level and go down hill and gain speed and get shaft to this narrow little cannons like the Horns of Hattin which is little geographical rock formation. If we were tonight on the Sea of Galilee I can point out and show you the funnel where the wind comes from.
So it's sort of acts like a carburetor when you get air and gas flowing through a tiny little tube of and it shot through there, and it accelerates as it goes and then it gets into the piston of the engine.
So what happens with this kind of a formation? If the Sea of Galilee can be like glass, when you look at and go, "Man, this is like -- if this were the ocean it would be like perfect surf weather just calm, just glassy." And then, almost instantly you can get a storm that will come up on the Sea of Galilee that would capsized a boat, and these guys have been fishing along time, they have seen this kind of squalled but Jesus asleep in the boat? And so they wake them up.
And Jesus rebukes them. Now why does he rebuke them? Well again, we have to compare maybe with another Gospel to get the answer. In another Gospel Jesus tells them, "Let's go over to the other side" they should have listened to him. Because if Jesus tells you, "We're going over to the other side" there is no way you're going under. So he's sleeping he knows they're going to make it. "I said we're going over. Where is your faith?" You have little faith that's where I think the rebuke came in because Jesus made them a promise, "Let's go over to the other side." And if Jesus is in your boat and he tells you you're going over, don't sweat the storm.
Well we're out of time, so more on that next week and the whole demon thing for next time. Actually we're going to have to wait a few weeks because next week we have -- is next week Fernando? Oh yeah next week you don't want to miss, our kids our going to minister to us next week. You're going to hear -- you're going to see the kids have been working on some for a long time. We want to come out and encourage them and be a part of that and have a big celebration next Wednesday night.
Let's pray, Father in heaven we're grateful that we have these Wednesday nights to expound the truce of the word of God to expand our knowledge by explaining the scriptures. Lord truly our fellowship is around the inspired word of God and the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are a textual community. We believe the Bible that you have given is inspired in errant. It's not that we worship it we worship the God who gave it. But we pray Lord that through its precepts and principles it would draw us into deeper relationship with you and as we discover these stories some of us are fresh and some for the first time. I pray Lord that we would be those kinds of people that are inclusive reaching out to the lepers in our society. Those that have been relegated to the sidelines and to be the body of Christ the hands, the feet, the mouth pieces of Jesus. Lord, I pray for everyone who is gathered here tonight that as they live filled with your holy spirit, being ambassadors of you in this community that you would do your work through them. That we would live like Peter's mother-in-law and serve you. So grateful that you change us that we're never going to let you hear the end of it. Thank you Lord. In Jesus name Amen.
Date | Title | Watch | Listen | Notes | Share | Save | Buy | |
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9/7/2011 completed
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Matthew 1:1-18 Matthew 1:1-18 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary As we turn our attention to the New Testament, Pastor Skip explains what transpired during the 400 years of silence since the Old Testament. Our firm grasp of the political setting, language, and Matthew's purpose and perspective establishes a solid foundation for understanding his gospel. In Matthew 1, we see Jesus revealed as the royal Heir to the throne of David—the Messiah, Immanuel: God with us. |
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9/14/2011 completed
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Matthew 1:18-2:23 Matthew 1:18-2:23 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Every year people around the world recognize the birth of a poor Jewish child born in an insignificant city. The birth of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Scriptures, beckons us to worship and obey the King of the Jews. Let's examine Matthew's account of the miraculous circumstances of the nativity and the prophecies it fulfilled. |
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9/21/2011 completed
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Matthew 3 Matthew 3 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Jesus called John the Baptist the greatest man among those born of women. John saw himself in the light of who Jesus is: not even worthy to loose His sandal. From the womb, he was filled with the Spirit, continually pointing people to Christ. Let's consider this powerful prophet, his ministry, and the message he preached. |
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9/28/2011 completed
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Matthew 4:1-17 Matthew 4:1-17 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Prior to the start of Jesus' public earthly ministry, He was led up to be tempted by the devil. As we review His encounter with Satan, we uncover important principles of spiritual warfare. We consider not only when and how Jesus was tempted, but also how He fought—and the ministry that began on the heels of the battle. |
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10/5/2011 completed
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Matthew 4:18-5:4 Matthew 4:18-5:4 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Leaving life as they knew it, the disciples followed Jesus and became intimate witnesses of Jesus' teaching, preaching, and healing. As we dive into this portion of Matthew, we turn our attention to their calling and listen in as Jesus begins the greatest sermon ever preached. |
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10/19/2011 completed
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Matthew 5:5-16 Matthew 5:5-16 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary The economy in God's Kingdom is quite different from that of the world: it's paradoxical; it's progressive. Let's consider the Beatitudes and discover what kingdom living looks like, and how it impacts those around us. |
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10/26/2011 completed
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Matthew 5:17-32 Matthew 5:17-32 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary The multitudes listening to Jesus teach were undoubtedly shaken by His powerful statement: "Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20). How, then, could one be saved? As we continue our study of the Sermon on the Mount, we remember that salvation is not available through human achievement--only by divine accomplishment. |
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11/2/2011 completed
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Matthew 5:33-6:8 Matthew 5:33-6:8 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary As we continue our study of the Sermon on the Mount, we'll grow in our understanding of the contrasts between the world and the kingdom of heaven. Followers of Jesus are called to a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees—a righteousness based on our genuine relationship with Christ, rather than mere outward obedience. |
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11/9/2011 completed
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Matthew 6:9-34 Matthew 6:9-34 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Jesus taught His disciples to pray in this manner: "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). As we continue our study of the Sermon on the Mount, we learn that when we make God's kingdom our focus, He provides everything we need. |
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11/16/2011 completed
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Matthew 7 Matthew 7 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Jesus calls His followers to live differently from the world -- to live a kingdom lifestyle. In this study from the Sermon on the Mount, we consider what kingdom living looks like in both our relationships with others and our relationship with God. |
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1/18/2012 completed
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Matthew 8:23-9:9 Matthew 8:23-9:9 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Matthew carefully crafted his gospel to speak directly to the hearts of his Jewish audience. Through his detailed record of Jesus' genealogy, fulfilled prophecy, Jesus' actions, instructions, and miracles, Matthew proves that Jesus is Messiah. Let's take a close look at several of those miracles, and gain a firm grasp of His Deity. |
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1/25/2012 completed
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Matthew 9:10-31 Matthew 9:10-31 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary To the Pharisees, tax collectors and sinners were part of a lower, unpleasant class. But Jesus longed for fellowship with all people. He shared intimate meals with them, ministered to their needs, and reached out to the unlovely. As we study this passage in Matthew 9, we learn how we are also called to be heralds of the good news that brings spiritual health and enduring joy. |
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2/1/2012 completed
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Matthew 9:32-10:31 Matthew 9:32-10:31 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary The Lord calls His followers to proclaim His message to the world—we are appointed to carry out a divine purpose. We learn in this study that we, like the apostles, find abundant life only in letting go of our own ambitions, plans, and comfort. |
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2/8/2012 completed
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Matthew 10:32-11:19 Matthew 10:32-11:19 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary In His second major discourse of Matthew, Jesus equips and instructs His apostles about going into the world and reaping the spiritual harvest. In this passage, Jesus expounds on the courage needed to complete the mission and warns His followers of certain persecution. He reminds us that while not all who hear will believe, God's wisdom is powerfully demonstrated in changed lives. |
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2/15/2012 completed
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Matthew 11:16-30 Matthew 11:16-30 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary In order to truly worship God, you must know Him. Speaking clearly and openly in this passage, Jesus proclaims some of His strongest warnings and makes some of His most intimate promises. He reveals the Father to His followers and assures us that life lived under His rule yields peace and rest. |
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2/22/2012 completed
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Matthew 12:1-21 Matthew 12:1-21 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Though God intended the Sabbath to be a day of rest, keeping the Sabbath became difficult work by New Testament times. The oral traditions of the Pharisees had become weighty burdens-burdens the Lord did not mean for His people to bear. In this passage, Jesus demonstrates mercy and the true intent of the Sabbath as He and His disciples meet physical needs in the face of strong opposition. |
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2/29/2012 completed
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Matthew 12:22-42 Matthew 12:22-42 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Though our current culture embraces a form of spirituality, the biblical view of God, Satan, and good versus evil has been dismissed by most. Ignorance and indifference cause them to relegate Satan to the stuff of fairy tales and myth. In this study from Matthew 12, Jesus demonstrates His authority over the devil and his minions--giving us a glimpse into the supernatural and a reminder that, "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). |
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3/7/2012 completed
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Matthew 12:43-13:17 Matthew 12:43-13:17 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Jesus consistently brought His message of hope to the common man: He spoke in parables to bring revelation to His followers and to conceal heavenly truth from the hard-hearted. In this message, we examine parables of our Master Teacher and Holy Judge, and discover that truth can be a blessing, but also a curse--we must be diligent to understand and apply God's Word to our lives. |
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3/14/2012 completed
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Matthew 13:18-52 Matthew 13:18-52 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Jesus often used parables to explain spiritual truth to His followers. In Matthew 13, His seven kingdom parables are recorded--word pictures which explain the beginning, opposition, expansion, and culmination of His kingdom. Let's consider His teachings and apply these lessons, so that we may be fellow workers with Him in spreading the good news. |
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3/21/2012 completed
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Matthew 13:53-14:36 Matthew 13:53-14:36 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary In this passage from the gospel of Matthew, we see powerful examples of the results of both faith and the lack of it. Those who might have known Jesus best failed to trust in Him and missed out on His work in their lives, while others were carried through the storm in His care. As we consider our own trials, we should rest in His hands, knowing He has power to change us and use our lives for His glory. |
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3/28/2012 completed
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Matthew 15 Matthew 15 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary God is less concerned with the outward appearance than He is with the inward attitude. In this passage, Jesus boldly proclaims truth in a confrontation with the Pharisees, warning his followers to avoid hypocrisy. We also witness His tender response to the persistent faith of a Gentile woman, and His mercy for the multitudes. As we study Matthew 15, let's consider our own approach to Him: Do we recognize that we cannot live without Him? |
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4/11/2012 completed
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Matthew 16:1-20 Matthew 16:1-20 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Through stern rebuke, gentle prodding, and powerful teaching, Jesus instructs those around Him about who He is and how we can know and serve Him. Matthew 16 records several lessons in faith - warnings and wisdom which encourage us in our own spiritual journey. |
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4/25/2012 completed
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Matthew 16:21-17:27 Matthew 16:21-17:27 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Jesus calls His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. From this passage, we gain a clearer understanding of what it means to exalt Him as King in our lives and also get a preview of His future glory, when He will reign over all the earth. |
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5/2/2012 completed
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Matthew 18 Matthew 18 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary How should sin be dealt with? As we examine Matthew 18, we learn not only to deal radically with sin in our own lives, but also the steps toward reconciliation with a sinning brother. |
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6/13/2012 completed
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Matthew 19 Matthew 19 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary In the U.S., the lifestyle of Christians often mirrors that of unbelievers--divorce, self-indulgence, misaligned priorities. Using God's Word to teach lessons about divorce and eternal life, Jesus exhorts his followers to enter the kingdom of heaven--to live in wholehearted faith and obedience to the Him. Let's consider what Scripture says about godly living and the reward Jesus promises to His faithful followers. |
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6/20/2012 completed
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Matthew 20 Matthew 20 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary As followers of Christ, what awaits us in eternity? In this study, we consider not only our eternal home but also our eternal reward. Saved by grace through faith, we must see beyond the circumstances and status of this world, and look toward our future glory. |
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7/11/2012 completed
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Matthew 21:1-32 Matthew 21:1-32 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary In this intriguing passage, Jesus enters Jerusalem in a precise fulfillment of prophecy. It's an exciting study, where those who know they need forgiveness find refreshment and hope—and those who rely on their own righteousness receive a stern rebuke. |
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7/18/2012 completed
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Matthew 21:33-22:22 Matthew 21:33-22:22 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Jesus taught with complete authority, denouncing the misconceptions of the religious leaders of the day. With skill and precision, Jesus uses parables and their own words to silence their challenges and expose their motives. Let's consider His words, heed His warnings, and remember that He alone is righteous and worthy of praise. |
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7/25/2012 completed
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Matthew 22:23-23:39 Matthew 22:23-23:39 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary In dealing with the Pharisees and Sadducees, Jesus speaks wisely, uncompromisingly, and with the authority of heaven—His Words shoot straight to the heart. Though many try to fit Jesus into their pre-conceived mold—to accept Him and His Words only as far as they are comfortable—we learn here danger of that the perilous position. |
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8/1/2012 completed
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Matthew 24:1-30 Matthew 24:1-30 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary In this passage—the Olivet Discourse— Jesus provides a summary of end time events: the future of the world. We look forward to the Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus, but those found outside of Christ face unparalleled suffering and judgment. Let's contemplate the wrath of God that's in store for this world—and share the hope of the gospel with those who don't yet know Him. |
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8/8/2012 completed
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Matthew 24:31-25:46 Matthew 24:31-25:46 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary In this section of the Olivet Discourse, we consider Jesus' Warning Parables. As we examine the text, let's remember that while the church escapes judgment, many are left to suffer the Great Tribulation. We must be righteous, be ready, and be responsible. |
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8/15/2012 completed
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Matthew 26:1-30 Matthew 26:1-30 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary As Jesus gathered with His disciples to observe the Passover one last time, He brought fresh meaning to a festival which had been celebrated for thousands of years. Rather than a memorial to their physical deliverance from bondage in Egypt, the meal represents His broken body and shed blood—and spiritual deliverance from sin for those who believe. |
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8/22/2012 completed
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Matthew 26:31-75 Matthew 26:31-75 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Following the Last Supper, Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemane and willingly surrendered Himself to the will of the Father: Jesus was crushed for our sin, abandoned to the Cross, so that we might have fellowship with Him. As we study Matthew 26, we consider the spiritual battle before us, the choices we make, and the ultimate victory that is ours through Jesus Christ. |
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8/29/2012 completed
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Matthew 27:1-50 Matthew 27:1-50 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary In this message, we see the ultimate demonstration of God's love—the cross. Jesus, the King of the Jews, was betrayed, falsely accused, illegally tried, scourged, and ultimately crucified. As we consider the details of His crucifixion and death, how could we be anything except amazed and humbled? |
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9/19/2012 completed
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Matthew 27:50-66 Matthew 27:50-66 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary As He hung on the cross, betrayed by his friends and separated from His Father, Jesus declared "It is finished!" Victorious, not defeated—He completed the work the Father gave Him to do. In that dark hour, the grave gave up some of her dead, the earth quaked, and in the temple, the curtain that separated men from God was torn from top to bottom. As we study this text, let's consider the price Jesus paid to redeem us and the personal, intimate fellowship with God now available. |
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9/26/2012 completed
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Matthew 28 Matthew 28 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Jesus' resurrection: great news for His disciples—troubling news to his enemies. As the chief priests grappled with a cover up, the disciples met with the risen Lord and were commissioned to "Go and make disciples of all the nations." As we consider our text, we discover the good news for ourselves: Jesus is not dead—He's alive and has all authority in heaven and earth. |
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