Matthew 8-9

Click here to read Matthew 8-9.

In these 2 chapters, there are a lot of quick stories about and teaching from Jesus. Most of the stories are healings, however. When we get into the gospel of John later in the semester, you find that Jesus says that his miracles, including his healings, are simply a sign of who he is. In a way, he's just kind of showing off. Although they are more than just a sign of the power that he has, but also to the nature of his ministry. Jesus' ministry is about healing, though not physical (although physical healing DOES happen through Christ). Jesus' ministry is about healing, from the bondage and effects of sin.

This is highlighted in 9:1-8, when the paralytic was brought before him. Jesus first told him, "your sins are forgiven." The Pharaisees asked him what authority he had to forgive sins. Jesus asked which is easier, to forgive sins or to heal the paralytic. The answer is that both are impossible for us. But Jesus had the power to do both, and used physical healing to show that he could also do the spiritual healing.