FAITH AND HEALING

RETURN TO SYLLABUS

Matthew 8:1-17
Lesson #22
FAITH AND HEALING

• Memory verse: 1Pet 2:24
• In Matthew 5,6, and 7, Jesus, the King, gave us abundant teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. This was divine wisdom. Now, in chapters 8 and 9 the King shows us deeds that demonstrate his Kingly power. This is divine love in action.
• In chapter 8 there are seven miraculous happenings.
  • Healing of the leper (1-4)
  • Healing of the centurion servant (5-13)
  • Healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (14-15)
  • Healing of all the sick brought to him (16-17)
  • The reaction of the scribe (18-22)
  • Miracle of the calming of the storm (23-27)
  • Healing of the demon possessed men (28-34)
• Each of these will show us a different aspect of the power of our King.
• Read Mat 8:1-4 Jesus heals a leper
  • Background:
    • In the ancient world, leprosy was the worst possible disease, like AIDS is today. There were several types of leprosy that were common. All types of leprosy were mistakenly considered a punishment from God.
    • =1= Leprosy could begin with little nodules which develop sores and a foul discharge. The eyebrows fall out, the eyes become a stare, the vocal chords become raw sores, the voice becomes hoarse and the breath wheezes. The hands and feet develop open sores until the whole body is covered. The average length of this disease is 9 years ending in mental decay, coma and ultimately death.
    • =2= Another type could begin with a loss of feeling in some part of the body. The nerve endings and muscles deteriorate. The tendons contract until the hands are like claws. Open sores develop on the hands and feet. Fingers and toes eventually drop off. Then hands and feet may drop off. The length of this type of leprosy is 20-30 years in which a person dies by inches.
    • Social treatment of the leper:
      • Lepers were treated as though they were already dead. They were banished from any contact with society including contact with their family.
      • You could not come closer than 6 feet to a leper or you would be considered unclean and have to go through a purification ritual.
        • Read lev 13:45-46
        • Because of the banishment from society, lepers lived in horrible conditions outside the city in caves and huts, begging for food, and receiving no medical attention.
        • In the Bible, leprosy is a symbol of sin, especially in the Old Testament. The book of Leviticus goes into great detail describing all kinds of rules and regulations regarding leprosy. Leprosy is an accurate picture of sin. It starts small, festers, makes unclean, eats away, alienates, incapacitates, debilitates, and eventually causes death. (Lev 14:1-32)
  • What do we learn about Jesus from this healing?
    • More than anything else, Jesus’ compassion for suffering mankind is evident in that he disregarded the social taboo and touched the man with love.
    • Jesus did not become unclean for having done so, even though Luke says the man was “full” of leprosy (in an advanced stage)(Luk 5:12-15)
    • Jesus’ touch made the man clean.
  • A Spiritual truth:
    • The King has power to purify.
    • No man is ever too unclean to come to Jesus!
  • What do you learn about faith from this healing?
    • The leper came with faith and confidence that Jesus could cleanse him. He requested cleansing not healing.
      • No leper would ever come near an orthodox scribe or priest. He knew that he would be stoned away.
      • The leper came with humility (“if you will…”).
        • He did have a will to be healed.
        • He did not demand healing but left it in Jesus’ hands.
      • The leper came with reverence (knelt before Him). The Greek word for “knelt” (proskunein) is never used for anything but worship of God.
      • He knew he was in the presence of God.
      • The leper’s faith included confidence, humility, and worship.
    • Jesus ordered the leper to keep silent regarding his healing. Of course Jesus knew the leper would have to go to the priest and be declared clean before he could rejoin his family and society. (Lev 14)
      • The incidence of healing from leprosy was almost never, so the healing would naturally prompt questions.
      • Jesus wanted to keep a low profile in order to do all that God had given him without huge crowds seeking only miracles, and without opposition.
• Read Mat 8:5-13 Jesus heals the centurion’s servant
  • Background:
    • The centurion was the backbone of the Roman army. They were the army’s finest men. (The Bible always mentions centurions with honor and respect even though they were Gentiles.) In a Roman Legion there were 6,000 men. The Legion was divided into 60 centuries each containing 100 men. In command of each 100 men was a centurion.
    • The centurion and his servant:
      • This centurion was unusual in that he loved his servant.
      • The servants of centurions were slaves. In the Roman Empire slaves did not matter. They were merely property.
  • What do you learn about jesus from this healing?
    • Jesus was a Jew and the centurion was a Gentile. Jews did not enter the house of a Gentile because all Gentile homes were “unclean”.
    • Despite this social taboo, Jesus immediately agrees to come to the centurion’s house and heal the

servant. (7)

• • • • Both Jesus and the centurion were aware of the social taboo.
      • Jesus’ love and compassion are evident as well as his recognition of great faith.
  • A Spiritual Truth:
    • The King has power and authority over distance.
    • Jesus honors great faith!
  • What do you learn about faith from this healing?
    • The centurion knew the power of disciplined authority. As an army officer, all he had to do was give an order, and it would be obeyed without question. He did not have to see it done.
      • In faith, the centurion suggests Jesus just speak the words of healing.
      • The centurion humbles himself recognizing that he is not worthy to have Jesus come to his house.
    • This Gentile has greater faith than any Jew.
      • Verses 11 and 12 refer to a well-known belief by Jews that when their Messiah came, He would hold a great banquet. All Jews expected to attend.
      • Jesus indicates that even gentiles will be at the banquet.
      • In fact, the entrance ticket to the banquet is faith.
      • Many Jews will be surprised to find they will not enter the banquet hall.
• Read Mat 8:14-17 Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law and many others
  • Background:
    • Three kinds of fever were common in Israel.
      • Malta fever
      • Intermittent fever like typhoid
      • Malaria
    • Mosquitos bred and flourished around Capernaum and Tiberias.
    • Therefore, malaria was common in this area of Capernaum where Peter lived.
      • His mother-in-law probably had malaria.
      • Luke calls it a “great” fever. (Luk 4:38-40).
      • Jesus “rebuked” the fever. At times there is a demon behind the disease.
  • What do you learn about Jesus from these healings?
    • Peter’s mother-in-law
    • Jesus was probably very tired from a full day of ministry hoping to rest at Peter’s house.
      • Instead He found a need there and healed Peter’s mother-in-law.
      • We see Jesus’ compassion despite his own needs. He cared more about the needs of others.
  • A Spiritual Truth: The King has power over his own human needs.
  • A multitude of sick
    • According to Sabbath Law, it was forbidden to work on the Sabbath.
      • It was illegal to heal anyone on that day.
      • You could take steps to prevent a person from getting worse if he was sick, but you couldn’t do anything to help him get better.
      • You couldn’t carry a sick person anywhere because Sabbath Law said you could not carry more than the weight of 2 dried figs. When the Sabbath ended at sunset, many sick were brought to Jesus.
    • Luke says he laid his hand on every one of them. (Luk 4:40-41)
  • A Spiritual Truth: The King fulfills prophecy! (Isa 53:4)
  • What do you learn about faith from this healing?
    • No initial faith for healing is mentioned in regard to Peter’s mother-in-law.
      • She does not request the healing.
      • However, faith serves the Lord out of love and not for the benefits that the Lord can give.
    • Faith is not mentioned in the healings of the multitude.

Homework

Matthew 8:18-34

• Application of Mat 8:1-17
  • What have you learned about faith from this chapter that you can apply to your own personal life of faith?
• Preparation for Mat 8:18-34
  • Read Mat 8:18-22 The reaction of the scribe
    • What do you learn about discipleship from these scriptures?
  • Read Mat 8:23-27 Miracle of the calming of the storm
    • What do you learn about Jesus from this miracle?
    • What do you learn about faith from this miracle?
  • Read Mat 8:28-34 Healing of the demon possessed men
    • What do you learn about Jesus from this miracle?
    • What do you learn about the kingdom of Satan from these scriptures?
• Memory verse: Luk 9:23