Matthew Chapter 8 Part 3 Verses 23-34 Why Are We Afraid? and Look Who Actually Is Clear Who Jesus Is And What Does It Say To Us?
Paul Wallace
Ordained Pastor, Both Conventional & Social Media Ministries, Fire Department Chaplain, Maintenance Worker 1, Certified Safety Professional, Proven Governmental Leader, True Team Builder, You will love all of this resume
Matthew Chapter 8 Part 3 Verses 23-34 Why Are We Afraid? and Look Who Actually Is Clear Who Jesus Is And What Does It Say To Us?
This Lesson we will look at;
Keeping The Whole Bible And Era In Which It Is Written And How We Apply It Today In Focus
Why Are We Afraid?
Look Who Actually Is Clear Who Jesus Is And What Does It Say To Us?
As we look at this passage it really import to always see the true and full context of what is being said throughout the Bible to us in true focus, and I must quickly caution that this is the failing in the 90% of today’s Preaching we have sampled throughout the last 10 years and Coast to coast.
As I promised I will no longer spend time on the Details, but will only say I believe it is the poor Exegetical training of the so called reformed Seminaries that has damaged these kids and given them a false sense of “authority”.
I will say I had a Professor of whom I would commend to all students to sit under Dr. Samuel Lammerson President of Knox Seminary for their exegetical training, and I also thank the late Elder Walter Ferrier for being the tools the LORD used in Elder Ferrier’s case to Open my eyes to the true understanding of the Bible as one contextual story, and Dr. Lamerson as the one who reinforced how correct and accurate this method is.
Dr. Lamerson also stunned me be pronouncing in class that “Over 90% of today’s 3 point sermons are actually 3 sermons one point a piece as the Pastor is not skilled enough to see the context”.
I would also suggest that sadly they are way too young to be Church Pastors, as Sunday School Training, College and Seminary does not equate to true life experience and 25 years of Contextual Biblical training and thus would set the Pastoral age not at 33 to 44 but instead 45 to 60.
As you have noticed I don’t normally recommend many books outside of the Bible so when I highly recommend Grasping God’s Word as a Handbook to help you understand the Contextual, Cultural, and Period to current reading and applying of GOD’S word I hope you are encouraged to obtain a copy for your Library here is a quick link
This Background may explain why people are fleeing the Church and is exactly what I have been told during my recent interviews with people who DO Believe and are firm Christians, Yet don’t buy the Crap being preached.
It also helps explain why Robin and I have had to walk out on 32 out of 40 sermons we last heard, and for the record 6 of the ones we stayed for we felt trapped into staying and as I stated this has been from California, to Texas to Florida, to Virginia, to New York and New Jersey!
So this takes us to our texts first observation;
Keeping The Whole Bible And Era In Which It Is Written And How We Apply It Today In Focus
When we look at the first part of our passage it is important to view it in the full context of its original audience as the cultural period can and will dictate the reaction and even the circumstances to allow for a possible response.
What I mean, though I think you already know, is that we don’t have Roman Rule where the clash of two people was very well seen. It actually helps us to understand our author’s background and why His abandonment of His religion and people so severe.
As we noticed Matthew is also known as Levi and as we laid out that name has an important religious meaning, as Matthew (Levi) was not a simple Tax collector, but as a youth raised to understand the Torah and had a better understanding of the prophecies and an eye opened by the HOLY SPIRIT to see them fulfilled when they are fulfilled.
It also helps us to grasp the Demons pronouncement in verse 29, 28 ? When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way.
29 And they cried out, saying, "What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?"
As the Demons are fully aware of just who this Jesus really is and did you notice something important here?
What’s that you may ask?
Remember Dr. Martin Luther’s great and very true statement that “The Devil is GOD’S Devil” and this will answer fully our question won’t it as;
Who is subject to WHOM?
The Demons are fully subject to Jesus and further proof they have to ask our LORD for permission to enter the swine and run down a Hill to drown.
A little side bar is that swine should tell us that we are in a Gentile area (I know we knew that but it does confirm the neighborhood) as Jews would not be Pig Farmers.
This will also help us by the Grace of GOD, to view the passages in their true context, and not in the fragmented mess of today’s “exegetical trained” Seminarians who drill down on a passage and week to week contradict their own messages.
We will continue to notice that the ones throughout the Bible who have their eyes opened to the Truth are the “Sinners” and Never the Religious, as the Bible is very clear we are ALL SINNERS and Christ ALONE is Righteous!
So it has been the Blind who see Christ before their Physical eyes are opened, The Lepers who ask to become clean, when in fact we all should be asking to become clean as again Jesus ALONE is clean.
We will return to verses 29-34 but let’s first see our next point is going to be an honest reflection;
Why Are We Afraid?
23 ? When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.
24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep.
25 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!"
26 He *said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.
27 The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"
I have sat in on Sermon after Sermon over my 58 years and NOT one flattered the Apostles as being honest examples of just how we would react and perhaps even to be more honest that they actually react better than we would?
We also need to remember our Context as these Professional Fishermen, Expert boatmen Schooled thoroughly in the Dangers of the Sea of Galilee are what?
YES Frightened To Death at what they are going through and YES they really KNOW and respect how dangerous the Sea can become. So their fear actually is one based on experience and as such really helps put full perspective on this interaction between Jesus and HIS Apostles.
It has been “look how little faith the Apostles have” or “ This is an example of how we should not act” when in fact truth be told we would react the same or perhaps even with less faith, but why?
Well let’s be honest, we actually need our eyes truly opened to believe in the truth of the Bible Cover to Cover, and even still the HOLY SPIRIT in kindness to our ego reveals how vile we really are over time and not right off the bat.
So when we read of the Apostles displaying fear they really are reacting to the physical apparent and the not resting in the power and protection of the LORD as we are too so prone to do, and yes this means your Pastor and author of this lesson as well.
But why?
Well aside from the Apostle Paul, Lazarus and our LORD Jesus HIMSELF we get little example of those who have actually died and been raised from the dead, and really only Paul walks us through what happens and when “Absent From the Body, Present With the LORD” and it is instantly.
I just want to encourage us to understand that the HOLY SPIRIT will indeed give us the Strength and cause us to trust more and more.
It is why Jesus tells us not to worry about what to say or what to do as the HOLY SPIRIT will be guiding us.
So as promise let’s go back to verses 29-34
Look Who Actually Is Clear Who Jesus Is And What Does It Say To Us?
Did you notice the Demons are telling us Bluntly WHO Jesus is.
They are Telling us who is subject to WHOM.
The also seem well aware of their pending doom and future torment as They ask Jesus is HE has come to Torment them before the appointed Time.
I had to prepare a Bible Study on these verses a number of years ago and it was this passage that the LORD used to open my eyes to How Little I openly proclaimed Jesus as LORD and here these Demons condemned to eternal Hell are crying out the LORD as the SON of GOD and acknowledging HIS full dominion over them!
I must say I had to come full circle on this passage as I first took the Pharisaical approach that dominates the Religious Clubs parading as Christ Church as I thought “I must change and become more obedient to our LORD Jesus Christ, when in fact that teaching and understand of us changing that is exactly what has killed the true Church. You see I had to have my eyes opened by the HOLY SPIRIT to see that it is HE ALONE who can Change me, and through the Will of the FATHER, fully purchase by Jesus Christ our LORD as that truly is our ONLY path to Life Change!
In other words We change not of our own effort, but by the Mercy of the Triune GOD ALONE!
You will change believe me, as a person whose soul is Dead in our Sins, brought to Life by the Will of the FATHER in Christ Jesus, and through the Regeneration by the HOLY SPIRIT CAN’T HELP BUT CHANGE, and LIVE for the LORD who has brought us to life!
So in summation se will have seen that this and all of the Bible is about our rescue and redemption, and what is best, we and others will indeed see the change in our lives, though our own perspective will focus more and more on being more and more thankful to the true mercy of GOD for redeeming the worst of the worst in us, and as our total depravity is more and more revealed to us, we see more and more the Standard of Love set by our LORD Jesus Christ as HE Loves and redeems us from the full estate of being Dead in our Sins and NOT because we did or could do something.
In my last sermon at Seacrest Presbyterian as an Intern I taught “What Is The Difference Between Jacob And Esau?”, it was a Sermon the Senior Pastor asked me NOT to teach, not because it was not true but because he suggested “we had too many dispensationalist in the congregation and they might be offended” YES he said those very words.
At the end of the lesson one the Elder approached me shook my hand enthusiastically and said “I can’t thank you enough as I always struggled with Jacob and Esau as Jacob did not do the right thing constantly”.
What do you think the answer of the question “What Is The Difference Between Jacob And Esau?”
I actually wrote this on the Large White Board suggesting this was the opposite of normal teaching as I am giving you the answer before the lesson, as you see difference between Jacob and Esau is absolutely NOTHING!!!! This is what he LORD used to get this reply from the Elder as He and I had been taught the lie that “Jacob chose X path and Esau chose Y Path” that for the record is NOT in the Scriptures anywhere.
I have been going through the Gospel of Luke over and over and see Jesus interacting and opening the eyes of the Sinners and Tax collectors while the Religious leaders remain dead, and yes THIS IS why the Church & Synagogue Struggle.
We will suspend our Matthew Lessons during Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas period and address Chapter 9 late in January though that will be the only Chapter we address as we then focus on Lent and the Easter period.
Matthew Chapter 8
23 ? When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.
24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep.
25 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!"
26 He *said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.
27 The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"
28 ? When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way.
29 And they cried out, saying, "What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?"
30 Now there was a herd of many swine feeding at a distance from them.
31 The demons began to entreat Him, saying, "If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine."
32 And He said to them, "Go!" And they came out and went into the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters.
33 The herdsmen ran away, and went to the city and reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs.
34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they implored Him to leave their region.
(NAS95)
The Holy Gospel Of Our LORD Jesus Christ
Response By ALL: All Glory To YOU LORD Christ!
Mt 8:1 ? When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.
2 And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."
3 Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 And Jesus *said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
5 ? And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him,
6 and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented."
7 Jesus *said to him, "I will come and heal him."
8 But the centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
9 "For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it."
10 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.
11 "I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;
12 but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
13 And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed that very moment.
14 ? When Jesus came into Peter's home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever.
15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him.
16 When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill.
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES."
18 ? Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea.
19 Then a scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."
20 Jesus *said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
21 Another of the disciples said to Him, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father."
22 But Jesus *said to him, "Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead."
23 ? When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.
24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep.
25 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!"
26 He *said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.
27 The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"
28 ? When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way.
29 And they cried out, saying, "What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?"
30 Now there was a herd of many swine feeding at a distance from them.
31 The demons began to entreat Him, saying, "If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine."
32 And He said to them, "Go!" And they came out and went into the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters.
33 The herdsmen ran away, and went to the city and reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs.
34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they implored Him to leave their region.
(NAS95)
The Holy Gospel Of Our LORD Jesus Christ
Response By ALL: All Glory To YOU LORD Christ!