Mindfully Meditating in Matthew, the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 39, Feb 8)

Passage

Matthew Chapter 8

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Homan Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

• Matthew 8
  • mt 8:1-4 Cleanses the Leper
    • ³ Reaching out His hand He touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean.” Immediately his disease was healed.^[a]
      • leprosy was considered the outcome of sin
      • lepers were outcasts
      • lepers were unclean but Jesus TOUCHED him – how long had it been since he’d been touched.
  • Mt 8:5-13 the Centurion’s faith
    • ⁵ When He entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, ⁶ “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible agony!”
    • ⁷ “I will come and heal him,” He told him.
    • 8-9 The power of authority with faith
    • ¹⁰ Hearing this, Jesus was amazed and said to those following Him, “I assure you: I have not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith!
    • ¹¹ I tell you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
      • indication that the Kingdom of God is not just for Jews!
  • Mt 8:14-17 Peter’s Mother in Law
    • ⁷ so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:He Himself took our weaknesses
      and carried our diseases.
    • ¹⁶ When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick,
      • key – the sick came to him – James 5:14-15
  • Mt 8:18-22 counting the cost
    • ²⁰ Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
  • Mt 8:23-27 the Winds and Waves obey
    • ²⁴ Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves. But He was sleeping. ²⁵ So the disciples came and woke Him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to die!”
      • these were fishermen, they knew the seriousness of the storm.
    • ²⁶ But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, you of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm.
    • ²⁶ But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, you of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm.
  • Mt 8: 28-34 Gadarene Demoniacs and Swine
    • ²⁹ Suddenly they shouted, “What do You have to do with us,^[j][k] Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
      • they knew who He was
    • ³² “Go!” He told them. So when they had come out, they entered the pigs. And suddenly the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water.
      • The pigs committed suicide rather than live with demons in their heads.
    • ³⁴ At that, the whole town went out to meet Jesus. When they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region.

Mindful Meditating

1. choose a verse,
2.  set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
3.  example: Matt 8:3
4. repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

• ³ Reaching out His hand He touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean.”
• REACHING out His hand He touched him, saying,…
• Reaching OUT His hand He touched him, saying…
• Reaching out HIS hand He touched him, saying…

…and so on.  This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

Matthew 8:27 coloring page to print

Quick Questions – if  you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

1. Why did Jesus touch the leper? the law made that unclean for a period of time.
   1.  I think the key is in the words “Immediately his disease was healed.”  I don’t believe the leper was leprous when Jesus touched him, that the healing power was instantaneous.  But the power of the at of touching the leper can be explained by Church Militants article.
2. Why does the Bible say that after Peter’s mother-in-law was healed that she got up and served them?
   1. The Gospel Coalition has thoughts on Peter’s mother-in-law.
3. Why were the disciples amazed at Jesus calming the storm?
   1. – your answer
4. Why did the Gadarenes ask Jesus to leave the region? does that make sense to you?
   1.  – your answer

~~~~~~~

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links:

• Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
• Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

• Naomi’s Heart Ministries
• Obed’s House Ministries
• The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.