SF024 - JESUS' POWER OVER DESPAIR (Matthew 8 1-4)
Matthew 8:1-4
Introduction
Jesus’ demonstrates His authority and power in chapters 8-9.
Overview of chapters 8 and 9
The leper – Jesus’ power over despair (8:1-4)
The centurion’s daughter – Jesus’ power over distance (8:5-13)
Peter’s mother-in-law – Jesus’ power over disease (8:14-17)
The storm – Jesus’ power over disaster (8:18-27)
The demon possessed man – Jesus’ power over demons (8:28-34)
The paralytic – Jesus’ power over difficulty (9:1-8)
The call of Matthew – Jesus’ power over disdain (9:9-17)
The raising of the official’s daughter – Jesus’ power over death (9:18-26)
The two blind men – Jesus’ power over doubt (9:27-31)
The mute – Jesus’ power over dumbness (9:32-34)
Jesus’ power over disbelief (9:35-38)
Jesus power over despair…
Four primary elements of the story
Ø The multitude
Ø The man
Ø The Master
Ø The mandate.
1A. The Multitude (8:1)
1B. They followed Him because of His words. (7:28-29) - They had a hunger for knowledge.
2B. They followed Him because of His works. (4:23-25) - They had a hunger for miracles.
2A. The Man (8:2)
1B. The Leper’s condition
Leprosy affects the whole body – sin affects the whole person
Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Leprosy made the leper unclean – sin makes the sinner unclean
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags…
Leprosy separated the leper from God and man – sin separates the sinner from God and man. (Isaiah 59:2)
The leper could not change his own condition – the sinner cannot change his condition
Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.
Leprosy ended in death – sin ends in death (Romans 6:23)
2B. The Leper’s coming
He came to Jesus with confidence – “a leper came to Him”
Ø He was confident that Jesus would receive him.
Ø He was confident that Jesus could heal him.
He came to Jesus with reverence – “and bowed down before Him”
Ø Proskuneoô (bowed down) literally means to prostrate oneself and is most often translated “to worship”
He came to Jesus with humility – “Lord, if you are willing”
Ø He did not claim to be worthy or deserving, but left himself in the Lord’s hands to do as He would.
Ø This man claimed no rights, and his first concern was not his own welfare at all, but the Lord’s will and glory.
He came to Jesus with faith – “You can make me clean”
Ø That is faith at its highest—the absolute conviction that God is able, coupled with humble submission to His sovereignty in the exercise of His power. (Daniel 3:17-18)
The leper came with confidence because he believed Jesus was compassionate, with reverence because he believed Jesus was God, with humility because he believed Jesus was sovereign, and with faith because he believed Jesus had the power to heal him. (MacArthur)
3A. The Master (8:3)
1B. He touched the leper (8:3a)
This is grace demonstrated
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
2B. He transformed the leper (8:4)
This is grace experienced.
Ø The Lord’s grace was not in response to the man’s faith it was an act of His will.
Ø When grace is experienced life is changed forever.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
4A. The Mandate (8:4)
1B. Obedience is the first requirement of faith.
He was to fulfill the requirements of the law (Leviticus 14) before he gave testimony of God’s grace.
John 14:15 " If you love Me, keep My commandments.
2B. Obedience is the believer’s best testimony.
James 2:17-18 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Application
Much modern evangelism and personal witness is weakened by failure to confront men with the terribleness and danger of their sin. Coming to Christ is not getting on a popular bandwagon of religious sentimentality. It is facing and confessing one’s sin and bringing it to the Lord for cleansing. True conversion takes place when, like the leper, desperate people come to Christ humbly confessing their need and reverently seeking His restoration. The truly repentant person, like this leper, comes with no pride, no self-will, no rights, and no claim to worthiness. He sees himself as a repulsive sinner who has absolutely no claim to salvation apart from the abundant grace of God. He comes believing that God can and will save him only as he places his trust in Jesus Christ. (MacArthur)
Matthew 8:1-4
1A. The Multitude (8:1)
1B. They followed Him because of His _________. (7:28-29)
2B. They followed Him because of His _________. (4:23-25)
2A. The Man (8:2)
1B. The Leper’s ___________________________
Leprosy affects the whole body – sin affects the whole person
Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Leprosy made the leper unclean – sin makes the sinner unclean
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags…
Leprosy separated the leper from God and man – sin separates the sinner from God and man.
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
The leper could not change his own condition – the sinner cannot change his condition
Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.
Leprosy ended in death – sin ends in death (Romans 6:23)
2B. The Leper’s ____________________________
He came to Jesus with confidence – “a leper came to Him”
He came to Jesus with reverence – “and bowed down before Him”
He came to Jesus with humility – “Lord, if you are willing”
He came to Jesus with faith – “You can make me clean”
3A. The Master (8:3)
1B. He ______________________ the leper (8:3a)
This is grace demonstrated (Romans 5:8)
2B. He transformed the leper (8:4)
This is grace ___________________________.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
4A. The Mandate (8:4)
1B. Obedience is the first requirement of faith.
John 14:15 " If you love Me, keep My commandments.
2B. Obedience is the believer’s best testimony.
James 2:17-18 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.