After Jesus spoke the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Matthew’s Gospel then proceeds to display the things Jesus did (Matthew 8-10) interspersed with commands from Jesus to follow Him. Matthew 8:1-17 tells of three separate incidents in which the power of Jesus to heal was on show. What do we learn from these healings? And, what is Matthew telling us about Jesus?
Matthew
‘Making the unacceptable acceptable’ (Matthew 8:1-4)
In the account of Matthew 8:1-4, Matthew records how Jesus showed great compassion to a leper by touching him to heal him. Although the story contains only a small amount of information, it carries a great amount of significance for those who know they are also ‘unclean’ and therefore unworthy.
‘Jesus’ Temptations’ (Matthew 4, Rev Keith Bell)
In Matthew 4, we read one of the most exciting passages; a master class in facing temptation. Like us, Jesus faced temptation. Unlike us – and everyone who has come before – he never fell into it. How should we respond?
‘What’s in a name?’ (Matthew 1:23, Rev Keith Bell)
Names are vital things, usually given because of the desire of the parents. In Matthew 1:23, we find out that God directed Joseph to name Mary’s baby ‘Jesus’. God must have had a plan and a purpose in providing such a name for His Son. What was it?
‘Treasuring Jesus above all’ (Shady Mehanni, Matthew 6:19-24)
The world is full of all kinds of treasures – the earthly kind. When Jesus spoke in the Sermon on the Mount he challenged his disciples in Matthew 6:19-24 to invest in the right kind of treasure and not fall for the trap of earthly treasures.
‘From fear to faith’ (Captain Mike Oborn, Matthew 14:22-33)
When Jesus came walking to the disciples across the sea in Matthew 14:22-33, they cried out in fear at first, but soon confessed that Jesus was the ‘Son of God’. In so many of our trials and in so much of life we have to face fears of many kinds, but God’s purpose is to se these things to come to trust Him with our whole heart.
‘Who is Jesus? Three opinions about Him’ (Rev Keith Bell, Matthew 16:13-23 and 17:1-9)
When Jesus gathered His twelve disciples to Himself at Caesarea Philippi in Matthew 16:13-23, He asked them two very important questions…who did the people say that He was and who did they think that He was? While they answered these questions well, God the Father also had something to add as revealed in Matthew 17:1-9. Of course, what God thinks about the question is more important than anyone else’s opinion! What do you think of Jesus?
‘The right foundation. The right response.’ (Matthew 7:24-29)
Everything that Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount was designed to get those who heard Jesus to do something, that is, not just hear him and walk away, but hear him and act. In Matthew 7:24-29, the final conclusion to everything that Jesus said that day, this could not be more true! The illustration he gave to complete the sermon was designed to highlight the pointless nature of merely hearing what he had said. His words demanded a response and the right kind of response. They still do. Only then can we be sure that our foundation is secure.
*Unfortunately a recording error means that a portion of this audio is missing. The full text of the missing bit appears below.
‘True and false teachers, teachings and believers’ (Matthew 7:15-23)
Jesus really puts the ‘cat among the pigeons’ in Matthew 7:15-23. After making clear that he wanted those who heard him to enter through the ‘narrow gate’ and so enter his kingdom, he straightaway warned of those who would keep people away from that narrow gate by their false teachings. More than that, he also warned those who think they have entered that narrow gate, to be doubly sure that their profession of faith in him is real. Two dangers are clear in his words. Those who tru to deceive others by distorting the truth and those who are self-deceived, who say they believe but do not!
‘Two gates. Two ways. Two ends. Two crowds’ (Matthew 7:13-14)
Everything that Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount is so important, but these words of Jesus in Matthew 7:13-14 seem to have much more importance and weight than the rest. Why is that? Because eternity hangs on what Jesus said in these verses. The outcome of our response to what He said will either be heaven or hell. There is no in-between. And so what He said is so vital.