Matthew 8 Summary - Quick Bible Study

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MATTHEW 8 SUMMARY IN 5 MINUTES

• WHEN:

  • The birth of Jesus probably occurred around 4 B.C..

  • From Luke 3:23, we know Jesus began His ministry when He was about 30 years old.

  • This would place the events of Jesus’ ministry roughly between 26-31 A.D..

• CHARACTERS:

  • Jesus - The Messiah. The Son of God who came to save the world from sin.

  • Man with Leprosy - A sick man who met Jesus after His teaching on the mountain.

  • Centurion - A Roman military officer who had a paralyzed servant.

  • Peter’s Mother-in-Law - She lived in Capernaum and was sick with a fever.

  • Demon Possessed Men - Two men who lived in the tombs of the Gadarenes.

• WHERE:

  • We aren’t told the specific mountain on which Jesus was teaching in chapters 5-7, but traditions places it on the Mount of the Beatitudes. Jesus healed the leper after descending the mountain.

  • The Centurion’s servant and Peter’s mother-in-law where healed in Capernaum.

  • Jesus healed the two demon possessed men in the Gadarenes (also known as the country of the Gerasenes, Luke 8). The exact location is unknown.

• OUTLINE:

  • THE HEALING OF A LEPER (8:1-8:4):

    • A man with leprosy approached Jesus and asked Him to heal him.

    • Jesus granted his request, but told the man to keep silent about the miracle.

  • A CENTURION’S FAITH (8:5-8:13):

    • A centurion approached Jesus and ask Him to heal his paralyzed servant.

    • Jesus was willing to go to his house to heal the servant, but the centurion felt unworthy to host Jesus. He asked Jesus to just “say the word.”

    • Jesus marveled and commended the man’s faith to the surrounding crowd.

    • Looking towards the future, Jesus foretold many Gentiles would enter the Kingdom of Heaven, while many Jews would refuse.

  • PETER’S MOTHER-IN-LAW HEALED ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS (8:14-8:17):

  • WHAT IT TAKES TO FOLLOW JESUS (8:18-8:22):

    • A scribe approached Jesus and told Him he wanted to follow Him.

    • Jesus told him he needed to be ready to leave the comforts of home, because the Son of Man had “nowhere to lay His head.”

    • Another man wanted to follow Jesus, but only after burying his father.

    • Jesus told him to let the “dead bury their own dead.”

  • JESUS CALMS A STORM ON GALILEE (8:23-8:27):

    • Jesus and the Apostles got into a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee.

    • On their journey, a strong storm came up and threatened to drown them.

    • Jesus rebuked the wind and the sea and everything went calm.

    • The Apostles were amazed and asked, “What sort of man is this”?

  • TWO DEMON POSSESSED MEN IN THE GADARENES (8:28-8:34):

    • When they made it across the sea, they were met by 2 possessed men.

    • The demons recognized Jesus and asked Him to send them into a herd of pigs that was feeding in the area.

    • Jesus banished them into the pigs, which proceeded to run into the sea and drown.

    • The people of the nearby city asked Jesus to leave their region.

• BIG PICTURE:

  • In verses 11-12, Jesus foretold the demographics of His future Church.

  • Although the gospel was preached first to the Jews, the majority of them refused to accept Jesus as the Messiah/Savior.

  • The Gentiles would prove to have greater faith, and were more open to a Savior from Nazareth who spoke of a spiritual kingdom.

• APPLICATION:

  • Great faith isn’t always found where you expect it.

  • 1st Century Jews didn’t think the Gentiles had very much to teach them about God.

  • We should always keep our eyes open for examples of admirable faith.

  • It isn’t exclusively found in pulpits or in the lives of those in religious leadership.

  • Sometimes it’s observable where you least expect it.