Matthew 8:1-4

Matthew 8:1-4

And after he came down from the mountain, many crowds followed Him.  And behold!  A leper drew near to Him to worship Him while saying, “Lord, if you should desire, you are powerful enough to cleanse me.”  And after stretching out the hand He touched him while saying, “I desire.  Be made clean!”  And immediately his leprosy was being made clean.  And Jesus says to him, “Take responsibility to speak to nobody.  But go away and show yourself to the priests and present the gift that Moses commanded into a testimony to them.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I think that this miracle follows Jesus’ teaching for one major reason.  It is a practical example of what Jesus has just taught.  Where did we end yesterday?  Anyone can listen to truth.  But the one who is like the wise man hears truth and acts upon it.  Look at what happens here.  Jesus heals the man.  The man doesn’t deserve it.  The healing comes as a gift.  But look at what Jesus says to the man after the healing occurs.  He tells the man to go, to show himself to the priests, and to offer up the gift of sacrifice required by the Law.  The man in given a gift; Jesus wants to see how he responds!  This healing is a practical example of the principle that Jesus has been teaching.  We all are recipients of God’s grace.  The question is: how will we respond to it?

How do you respond to God’s grace?  Are you led to obedience by God’s grace?  Do you take God’s grace for granted?

Second Thought:

I love the leper’s statement here in these verses.  “If you should desire.”  “You are powerful enough.”  These are words of humble faith.  The leper isn’t about to impose his will upon Jesus.  He knows Jesus is powerful enough to do it.  There is no doubt of that.  He is confident of Jesus’ ability.  But the leper is humble enough to let the control remain with Jesus.  I doubt that there is anything that this leper wants more in life than to be cleansed.  Yet the leper does not command.  He certainly asks, but he never commands.  There is much to learn from the humble submission of this man in need.

Are you ever in need of something that God is powerful enough to do?  How quick are you to made demands upon God?  How quick are you to be patient enough to allow the control and timing to remain in God’s hands?

Third Thought:

Jesus tells the man to say nothing to anyone.  The reason for this is simple.  Palestine was occupied territory.  The whole country was waiting for someone to come and overthrow the Roman government.  If too many people talked too loudly about all of the miracles that Jesus was doing, people would get the wrong idea about Jesus.  The truth is, they did that anyways.  But Jesus knew that this would eventually set up a conflict with the Jewish leaders.  Jesus knew the conflict was inevitable.  He knew it would lead to His crucifixion, which would lead to the salvation of mankind.  But He had work to accomplish.  He had teachings that needed to be taught.  He had disciples that needed to be trained.  Much had to happen, and it needed to happen on god’s timing instead of the impatience of the Jewish people.  Thus, Jesus orders the man to stay silent.

How does Jesus’ injunction really speak to human impatience?  Why do you think human beings are so impatient?  Why are we so willing to take control of timing out of God’s hands, even when He clearly has our best interests in mind?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 8:5-9