by Wells, Steve
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
MATTHEW 8
8 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
(8.5-6) “There came unto him a centurion … saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick.” Jesus is approached by a centurion who asks him to heal his servant (slave). But when the same story is told in Luke (7.1-7), the centurion doesn't come himself but sends some “elders of the Jews.”
345 Did the Centurion ask Jesus directly to help his servant?
5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
(8.7) “Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.” Here was the perfect opportunity for Jesus to condemn slavery. All he'd have to do is say, “OK, I'll heal him. But then you must set your slave free, because slavery is an abomination to God.”
42 Does God approve of slavery?
8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
(8.10) “When Jesus heard it, he marvelled.”
346 Did Jesus know everything?
11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(8.12) “The children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
347 What will happen to Jews when they die?
13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
(8.14-15) Peter's mother-in-law was sick with a fever. Jesus healed her by touching her hand, so she could get back to serving them. (Peter's mother-in-law? The first pope was married?)
14 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.
(8.14) “When Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.”
15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
(8.15) “He touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.”
16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
(8.16) “They brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick.”
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
(8.21-22) Jesus tells a man who had just lost his father: “Let the dead bury the dead.”
21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
(8.21) “Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.”
22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
(8.22) “Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.”
23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
(8.24-26) Jesus and his disciples were crossing a lake in a boat when a storm came. Jesus was asleep, so his disciples woke him up. Jesus rebuked them for having little faith and then calmed the winds and the waves. All of which was to show, what? That weather is sent by God and can be controlled by faith?
24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
(8.24) “There arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.”
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
(8.25) “His disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.”
26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
(8.26) “He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”
27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
(8.28) “There met him two possessed with devils.”
348 How many men were possessed with devils?
29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
(8.29) “They cried out … Jesus, thou Son of God.” The devils confess that Jesus is the Son of God. So according to 1 John 4.15, God dwells in the devils and the devils in God.
30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
(8.32) “The whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.” The devils ask Jesus to cast them into a herd of pigs. He does, and the poor pigs run off into the sea and drown.
33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
(8.34) “The whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.” After Jesus killed the herd of pigs by sending devils into them, the “whole city” asked him to leave. Who could blame them?
MATTHEW 9
9 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
(9.2-6) Jesus heals a paralytic man by forgiving his sins. (Paralysis is caused by sinful behavior.) Notice that Jesus didn't just heal him, he forgave his sins, which is something only God is supposed to be able to do.
349 Is Jesus God?
2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said
unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
(9.2) “They brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus … said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”
3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
(9.3) “Certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.”
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
(9.6) “That ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.”
7 And he arose, and departed to his house.
8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
(9.13) “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice.”
20 Does God desire animal sacrifices?
14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
(9.18) “My daughter is even now dead.”
350 Was Jairus' daughter alive when Jesus was approached?
19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
(9.22) “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” If you have enough faith, you will never get sick. (Illness is caused by sin and lack of faith. Medical science is unnecessary.)
23 And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
(9.24-25) “The maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But … he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.”
196 Was Jesus the first to rise from the dead?
167 Is death final?
26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
(9.27-29) Jesus heals two blind men. (Or was it their blind faith that healed them?)
27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
(9.27) “When Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.”
28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
(9.28) “Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.”
29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
(9.29) “Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.”
30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
(9.32-33) Jesus heals a “dumb man possessed by a devil.” (Those who cannot speak are possessed by a devil.)
32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
(9.32) “They brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.”
33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
(9.33) “And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake,”
34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
(9.34) “But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.” An interesting hypothesis, if you believe in devils, that is.
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
(9.35) “Jesus went about all the cities and villages … healing every sickness and every disease.”
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
MATTHEW 10
10 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
(10.1) “He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.”
(10.2-3) “The names of the twelve apostles are these … Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus.”
351 What were the names of the apostles?
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
(10.5-6) “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
352 Should the gospel be preached to everyone?
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have
received, freely give.
(10.8) “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils.”
9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
(10.10) “Neither shoes, nor yet staves”
353 Did Jesus tell his apostles to go barefoot and without a staff?
11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
(10.14-15) “Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words … It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.” Cities that neither “receive” the disciples nor “hear” their words will be destroyed by God. It will be worse for them than for Sodom and Gomorrah. And you know what God supposedly did to those poor folks (see Genesis 19.24).
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.