Matthew 8-10 Class Comments

Notes from Thursday Class Discussion

Matthew 8-10

1. 8:1-17 How do verses 1-16 fulfill the prophecy mentioned in verse 17? Class Answers: 1-4 He cleansed a leper; 5-13 He healed a centurion’s servant; 14-15 He healed Peter’s mother-in-law; 16 He cast out spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. Most of us in the class had not considered the significance of “He took our infirmities, carried (or bore) our diseases,” as if somehow He took on the burdens of the physical diseases, just as He did our sins.
2. 8:18-9:1 Describe the different responses to Jesus’ works. Class Answers: v. 19 – Devotion: “I will follow you everywhere.” And this from a scribe! v. 21 – An excuse: “I have something more important to do first.” v. 23 – Obedience: they followed Him. v. 27 – They marveled. v. 34 – They rejected him; begged him to leave. Discussion on the reasons for this rejection was either because they feared him, they didn’t want the change he seemed to be making, or he had ruined their livelihood. We generally agreed that according to the map we’re using, this was the Gergesenes, rather than the Gadarenes (in some translations), which is inland.
3. 9:2-8 Why were the crowds awestruck? Class Answer: Because God had given such power to men. They obviously still saw Jesus just as a man, though they did recognize God as the source of His power.
4. 9:9-17 What two complaints did Jesus receive, first from Pharisees, then from the disciples of John? Class Answers: The Pharisees criticized Him for eating with the tax collectors and sinners. The tax collectors were considered “scum,” for not only working for the Roman government but for collecting as much as they could above the taxes owed. We noticed that such criticism meant nothing to Jesus. He knew what His mission was; He knew Whom He was pleasing. John’s disciples criticized Jesus’ disciples for not fasting, as they and the Pharisees did. Jesus’ answer about the old and new cloth and new wine in old wineskins indicated that the old, traditional ways were no longer viable. To fast would have been for traditional reasons only; it made no sense to fast and mourn when the bridegroom was with them.
5. 9:18-38 What specific people did Jesus heal in this passage? What percentage of the people who asked for healing received it from Him? Class Answers: The ruler’s daughter; the woman with a flow of blood; two blind men; a man who was mute and demon-possessed; every sickness and every disease. According to this passage, all who asked for healing were healed.
6. 10:1-15 What were some of the things the apostles were to do? Class Answers: 6 - Go to the lost sheep of Israel (according to Jesus’ order of evangelism – first, Israel then – after they rejected Him for the most part – the Gentiles); 7 – Preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand; 8 – Heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons; 9-10 – Take nothing extra; 11-15 – Turn away from those who don’t refuse to hear you.
7. 10:16-25 What challenges would they face? Class Answers: 17 – They would be arrested and scourged; 18 – They would be brought before rulers – sources of intimidation and with the power to punish; 21 – Betrayed by family members; 22 – Hated for Jesus’ name’s sake; 25 – Called Beelzebub.
8. 10:26-42 What assurances did Jesus give them? Class Answers: 19 – They would know what to say; 26 – Everything will be revealed eventually – you will be vindicated; 28 – they can kill only the body, not the soul; 30 – You are valuable; 32 – I will confess you before My Father; 39 – In losing your life for My sake, you will find it.

For Discussion:

1. 8:1-4 It appears that Jesus is surrounded by throngs of people here, yet he tells the healed leper not to tell anyone of his healing. Did this have to do with publicity or something else more personal for the leper?
2. 9:13 Does Jesus’ statement here mean that He saw the Pharisees as righteous?
3. 10:5 Why did Jesus send the apostles to the Jews only, and not to Gentiles or Samaritans?