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Matthew 8:14-22

Jesus heals many people.
For parallel to v.14-16 see Mk 1:29-34 and Lk 4:38-41.
v.14-15 Jesus entered Simon and Andrews house and found Simon's mother-in-law sick with a fever. He healed her immediately and completely with the touch of his hand; she got up and began serving him.
v.16 Jesus healed many people who were sick or oppressed by demons. They came to him in the evening since it was the sabbath (Mk 1:21) and normal activity could continue.
v.17 Citing Is 53:4, Matthew says this fulfilled prophecy about the Messiah. “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” This looks forward to the consummation of the kingdom when sickness and death will be banished.

The cost of discipleship.
v.18 Jesus, surrounded by a large crowd, calls on the disciples to cross to the other side (of the sea). In view of v.19-22 below, many interpreters view this call as a call to discipleship.
For parallel to v.19-22 see Lk 9:57-60.
v.19-20 One follower tells Jesus that he will follow wherever he goes. Jesus reply is that he has no place to lay his head. This was to remind the man of the cost of discipleship. True disciples have no place in this world and must be ready for hardship.
v.21-22 Another follower asks Jesus to let him bury his father first. Jesus replied that the man should follow him and let the dead bury their own dead. The priorities of this life must give way to the priorities of discipleship (see Lk 14:25-33).

Read Matthew 8:14-22

Matthew 8:5-13

Jesus heals a centurion's servant.
For parallel see Lk 7:1-10.
v.5-7 Jesus came next to Capernaum, a town on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was a major trade center in the Northern Galilean region. Jesus lived in Capernaum during this time (Mt 4:13-16). A Roman centurion came to him. A centurion was a commander of 100 men and there were 60 centurions in a Roman legion. The centurion's request was that Jesus heal his suffering servant who was lying ill. Jesus agreed to come to his house and heal the servant.
v.8-9 The centurion addressed Jesus as Lord and said he was not worthy to have him come under his roof, but only he should say the word and his servant would be healed. He gives orders to his troops that are obeyed and amazingly believes Jesus has the authority over the illness by just giving the word.
v.10 Jesus was amazed at the centurion's faith and remarked to those following him that he had not seen such faith even in Israel.
v.11-12 Many gentiles will feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (enjoy fellowship with God for eternity), while those from Israel, for whom it was prepared, will be thrown into utter darkness. Those who claim to be Christians but lack faith will also be excluded.
v.13 Jesus heals the servant with the word of his mouth, from a distance (as the centurion believed).

Read Matthew 8:5-13

Matthew 8:1-4

Jesus heals a man with leprosy.
v.1 Jesus has completed the Sermon on the Mount (ch.5-7) and now will demonstrate his messianic mission with deeds. Jesus came down from the mountain (cf. 5:1) and large crowds followed him since they were amazed at his teaching (7:28).
(For v.2-4 see parallels in Mk 1:40-44 and Lk 5:12-14.)
v.2-3 The first miracle in this section is of a leper. The leper shows faith in Jesus and knelt before him calling him Lord. Jesus reaches out to him and heals him immediately. For lepers to be made clean is a mark of the Messiah (11:2-6).
v.4 Jesus implores him to tell no one, but show himself to the priest (Lv 14:1-32), presenting an offering, as a witness to them.

Read Matthew 8:1-4

Matthew 7:24-29

Build on the Rock.
For parallel see Lk 6:47-49.
v.24 The person who listens to Jesus's teaching and follows it is wise; like a man who builds his house on solid rock. It is not enough to simply hear his words, rather we must persevere in obedience. See also Jas 1:22-25.
v.25 When the trials of life (rains, floods, winds) come his house does not fall because it is built on the rock. Judgment day will come like a flood exposing authentic Christian faith (and the fool).
v.26 The person who hears Jesus's words and does not do them is foolish like a man who builds his house on the sand. The words of the Sermon on the Mount are mean to be obeyed.
v.27 When the trials of life (rains, floods, winds) come his house falls (with a great crash) because it is built on the sand. The reality of eternal punishment should sober us all!
v.28-29 The crowds were astonished at Jesus's teaching because he taught with great authority (unlike their religious leaders). This ends the first of five discourses in Matthew.

Read Matthew 7:24-29

Matthew 7:21-23

True and False Disciples.
v.21 Jesus says it is the person who does the will of God that will go to heaven (see also Rom 2:13). An oral confession (Lord, Lord) without a repentant heart will not be enough (but see Rom 10:9-10) to enter the kingdom.
v.22-23 Jesus decides who will enter the kingdom on 'that day' and who will be banned from his presence. The criteria is your relationship with him, i.e. whether he "knew you". Having done works will not save you in the end if you do not know Jesus.

Read Matthew 7:21-23

Matthew 7:15-20

You will know them by their fruit.
v.15 Beware of false prophets by maintaining a healthy balance between not judging (v.1-5) and not being gullible (v.6). They come pretending to have authentic Christianity to conceal their identity/hostility. They do not, however, teach the 'narrow way' that leads to life and therefore are leading those who would listen to them to destruction.
v.16a How do we identify these false prophets? You will recognize them by their fruits. There will be many false prophets (Mt 24:11) and they will lead many astray (Mt 24:24).
v.16b-19 This is now illustrated by the image of good trees producing good fruit and bad trees producing bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. False prophets will be judged (as a bad tree thrown into the fire, see Mt 3:10).
v.20 Thus, you will know them (false prophets) by their fruit. At the grocery store we inspect the fruit to discern the good from the bad. The fruit of a person is all one says and does. This fruit will eventually give evidence of the character of the person.

Read Matthew 7:15-20