Immanuel Lutheran Church - Clifton TX

06/08/2026

𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 8:23-27
23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒙𝒕
Jesus now boards a boat with His disciples and begins crossing the Sea of Galilee. Archaeological discoveries have helped us understand the kind of vessel they likely used. A first-century fishing boat discovered near the Sea of Galilee measured roughly twenty-seven feet long and seven-and-a-half feet wide. Such boats were sturdy but certainly vulnerable to the violent storms that could suddenly arise on the lake. The disciples are heading toward the region of the Gerasenes on the eastern shore (Matthew 8:28), a journey that could take several hours depending on weather conditions and the wind. During the crossing, Matthew tells us that Jesus falls asleep.

Then disaster strikes. A great storm arose on the sea, so severe that the waves were swamping the boat. Interestingly, the Greek word translated “storm” is σεισμός (seismos), the word from which we derive “seismic.” It often refers to an earthquake and conveys the idea of violent upheaval. Matthew is describing more than a passing rain shower. The sea has become chaotic and threatening. Several of the disciples were experienced fishermen who knew these waters well, yet even they feared for their lives. In desperation, they wake Jesus and cry out, “Lord, save us; we are perishing!”

Jesus responds in a surprising way. Before addressing the storm, He addresses the disciples: “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then He rises, rebukes the winds and the sea, and everything becomes perfectly calm. The contrast is striking. One moment, there is chaos and terror; the next, there is complete peace. Matthew then tells us that the disciples marveled. Mark’s account adds an important detail: “They were filled with great fear” (Mark 4:41). The storm frightened them, but now they are confronted with something even more astonishing: Someone who commands the weather.

Because this account is so familiar, it is often misunderstood. Many interpreters immediately turn the storm into a symbol of life’s difficulties and conclude that the lesson is simply: “If you have enough faith, Jesus will calm the storms in your life.” While Christians certainly do trust in Jesus during times of trouble, that is not Matthew’s point. In fact, if this story is reduced to a lesson about overcoming personal problems, difficult questions quickly arise. If this is about Jesus calming the storms of your life, what happens when the storm does not go away? Does that mean a person lacks faith? Does it mean Jesus does not care? Such conclusions miss the heart of the text.

The key is found in the disciples’ question: “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” This is the question Matthew wants his readers to wrestle with. In the previous section, we discussed Jesus’ favorite title for Himself, “the Son of Man.” Here, Jesus continues filling that title with meaning. Who is the Son of Man? He is the man who becomes tired and falls asleep in a boat. Yet He is also the Lord who speaks, and creation obeys.

This scene is ultimately a revelation of Jesus’ divine authority. The Old Testament repeatedly teaches that God alone rules the sea. Psalm 65:7 praises the Lord “…who stills the roaring of the seas.” Psalm 89:9 declares, “You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.” Here we see that Jesus does exactly what the Psalms say only God can do.

To be fair, disciples do not yet fully understand what they are witnessing. The answer to their question, What sort of man is this, will become clearer as Matthew’s Gospel unfolds. We, of course, have an advantage they do not yet possess. We know that Jesus is both true God and true man. He is the One who will bear the sins of the world, die in our place, and rise again. This miracle reveals both sides of that mystery. What sort of Man is this? Who is the Son of Man? He is the man who naps in the boat, and the One who commands creation. The tired traveler is the Lord of heaven and earth.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑮𝒐𝒅
Jesus possesses authority that belongs to God alone. He rules not only over people, sickness, and demons, but also over creation itself.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇
Like the disciples, I often focus on the storm rather than the One who is with me in it. This passage reminds me that faith ultimately rests not on the strength of my trust, but on the identity of Jesus.

𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, who is both true God and true man. When fear and uncertainty arise, remind me that Christ is Lord over all creation and that nothing is beyond His authority. Strengthen my faith to trust in Him above all things; through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

06/07/2026

06/07/2026

Clifton, Texas
Missouri Synod

06/05/2026

𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 8:18-22
18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒙𝒕
Matthew now records two brief encounters that reveal the cost of discipleship. Jesus is preparing to leave Capernaum and cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, eventually arriving in the region of the Gerasenes (Matthew 8:28). By this point, His popularity has grown tremendously. Crowds gather around Him constantly, and people are beginning to step out from the crowd, expressing a desire to follow Him.

The first man is a scribe who boldly says, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Scribes were educated students and interpreters of Scripture. This man is not yet presented as a disciple, but he desires to become one. Jesus responds first by referring to Himself as “the Son of Man.” This is His favorite title for Himself throughout the Gospels.

This title is deeply rooted in the Old Testament. It appears in passages such as Psalm 8, Ezekiel, and especially Daniel 7, where the “Son of Man” is presented as a divine ruler receiving eternal authority and dominion from God. Yet unlike titles such as “Messiah,” “Son of David,” or “King of the Jews,” the phrase “Son of Man” was not heavily loaded with political expectations in Jesus’ day. Because of this, Jesus could fill the title with His own meaning. Interestingly, while people call Jesus “Lord,” “Christ,” or “Son of David,” no one in the Gospels ever confesses Him by saying, “You are the Son of Man.” It is Jesus’ own self-description.

Then Jesus responds to the scribe. And His response reveals that the man does not yet fully understand where following Christ leads. “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Perhaps the scribe sees Jesus’ growing popularity and power and wants to be associated with it. But Jesus warns him that discipleship does not lead to earthly security or comfort.

There are likely several layers to Jesus’ statement. On one level, His ministry was that of the itinerant preacher, always wandering and very demanding. Yet there is also a deeper spiritual reality. In a fallen world dominated by sin and rebellion, the Son of God is, in a sense, a stranger within His own creation. Scripture speaks of the world lying under the power of the evil one (John 14:30; 1 John 5:19). This does not mean Satan is equal to God or outside His control, but it does mean the world is in rebellion against its Creator. To follow Jesus, therefore, is to enter into a spiritual conflict (Ephesians 6:12). The disciple should not expect the world to feel fully like home.

Then a man described as a disciple asks permission first to “go and bury my father.” To modern ears, Jesus’ response sounds shocking: “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” Yet we should be cautious about assuming we know the exact situation. Jesus elsewhere strongly condemns people for neglecting their parents (Matthew 15:4–6), so He is not abolishing the commandment to honor father and mother.

In the ancient Jewish world, burial customs were often a lengthy process. Many families practiced a two-stage burial. The body would first be placed in a tomb, and later, sometimes about a year afterward, the bones would be gathered into an ossuary. It is also possible the man’s father had not yet died, and the request meant something like, “Let me remain at home until my father eventually passes away.” Whatever the precise circumstances, Jesus’ meaning is clear: following Him cannot be indefinitely delayed, even for important earthly obligations.

The issue in both encounters is the same: neither man has fully counted the cost of discipleship. One man is too quick in his promises; the other is too slow in his response. Jesus’ words force the question: What is most important in life? This fits the broader theme running through these chapters: the authority of Christ. Even family, comfort, security, or earthly obligations cannot take precedence over the One who alone gives eternal life.

Jesus’ statement, “Let the dead bury their own dead,” likely uses “dead” in two senses: let the spiritually dead attend to earthly matters while the disciple follows the call to life. Like many of Jesus’ statements, the language is intentionally sharp and even hyperbolic in order to emphasize urgency. The point is not hatred of family or neglect of responsibility, but that Christ must come first.

This same reality appears in the Lutheran Baptismal rite when the Christian renounces the devil and all his works and ways. The issue is not merely dramatic acts of unbelief. Anything placed above Christ, comfort, security, family, reputation, or even busyness can become an obstacle to discipleship. Yet paradoxically, when Christ is first, everything else falls into its proper place. In other words, you will find that following Jesus will free you up to serve others. Jesus does not call His disciples to abandon the world, but to follow Him so they may rightly serve God and their neighbor.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑮𝒐𝒅
Jesus does not hide the cost of discipleship. He speaks truthfully and calls people to follow Him above every earthly attachment because He alone possesses eternal life and salvation.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇
I am often tempted either to follow Jesus too casually or to delay following Him until it is more convenient. This passage forces me to ask what I place ahead of Christ and whether I truly trust Him above worldly security and comfort.

𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓
Heavenly Father, give me faith to follow Christ above all earthly things. Guard me from false security, divided loyalties, and delay, and teach me to trust that true life is found only in Your Son. Amen.

06/04/2026

𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 8:14-17
14 And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. 16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒙𝒕
As Matthew narrates, Jesus continues to show His authority through a series of miracles. He is still in Capernaum, but Matthew tells us that Jesus enters Peter's house. Interestingly, there is strong archaeological evidence that the early Church identified Peter’s home and turned it into a church. Beneath the remains of a later Byzantine church, archaeologists uncovered a simple first-century house with Christian graffiti scratched into the walls in Greek, Hebrew, and Syriac. Some inscriptions contain prayers such as “Lord Jesus Christ, help your servant,” and even references connected to Peter’s name. While archaeology can never prove faith, discoveries like this remind us that Christianity is rooted in real history, real people, and real places.

Inside the house, Jesus sees that Peter’s mother-in-law is sick with a fever. This small detail also reminds us that Peter was married, something Paul later confirms explicitly in 1 Corinthians 9:5. As Jesus comes in, He touches her hand, and the fever leaves her immediately. Matthew emphasizes the completeness of the healing by telling us that she rises and begins to serve them. This should not be read as repayment for the miracle. Hospitality was a deeply important part of ancient Near Eastern culture. Welcoming and serving guests was expected within the household. The scene resembles Martha serving Jesus in Luke 10:38–42, though without the criticism found there. Instead, the statement simply focuses on the fact that Peter’s mother-in-law was fully healed by Jesus!

Matthew then tells us that “that evening,” people brought many who were sick or oppressed by demons to Jesus. The Greek grammar (the genitive absolute Ὀψίας) seems to emphasize the unusual nature of the event. Even though it was evening and likely late, crowds still gathered around the house because their need was so great, and Jesus’ authority had become widely known. (Matthew 4:24) Such gatherings would not have gone unnoticed. In a tense region under Roman oversight, large crowds assembling at night would certainly have attracted curiosity and perhaps concern from local authorities.

Regardless, once again, Jesus demonstrates authority over sickness and demons. Matthew says He “…cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.” This detail is important. Jesus does not rely on rituals, charms, incantations, or magical formulas, as many pagan healers of the ancient world do. He simply speaks, and things obey Him. His word itself carries divine authority. Throughout Matthew’s Gospel, this pattern continues: Jesus commands storms, demons, sickness, and even death itself, and creation obeys.

Matthew then explains that these miracles fulfill Isaiah 53:4: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” Jesus’ miracles are not random displays of power. They reveal who He is and what He came to do. He enters into a broken world filled with sickness, suffering, and death in order to bear humanity’s burdens. These healings point beyond themselves to the cross, where Christ ultimately bears not only physical suffering but the deeper disease of sin itself.

And so these miracles teach two foundational truths. First, Jesus is truly God, for only God possesses authority over creation, sickness, demons, and death. Second, His promises can therefore be trusted completely. Jesus is not merely offering comforting words or religious ideas. He possesses the authority and power to accomplish what He promises: forgiveness, restoration, resurrection, and eternal life.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑮𝒐𝒅
Jesus is not distant from human suffering. He enters into a broken world to heal, restore, and ultimately bear humanity’s burdens upon Himself. His authority over sickness and demons reveals that He is truly God.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇
I often want God’s help while forgetting how deeply broken the world truly is because of sin. This passage reminds me that my greatest need is not merely temporary healing, but the salvation Christ accomplishes through His death and resurrection.

𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son into our suffering and brokenness. Strengthen my trust in His power and promises, and comfort me with the assurance that Christ has borne both sin and death for me. Amen.

06/03/2026

𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 8:5-13

5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒙𝒕
As Jesus enters Capernaum, the centurion approaches Him and asks for help on behalf of his servant. Jesus responds, “I will come and heal him.” Though we can’t be certain, Jesus’ response is likely a question and not a statement. “Shall I come and heal him?” The Greek places emphasis on the “I,” which may suggest surprise or amazement at the man’s request. Jews generally avoided entering Gentile homes because of concerns regarding ritual uncleanness (Acts 10:28). Yet Jesus’ response should not be read as reluctance or arrogance. Rather, it prepares for the remarkable faith the centurion is about to display.

The centurion answers, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.” These are extraordinary words of faith. The centurion understands something profound about Jesus: His authority works through His word. As a military officer, the centurion lived within a strict chain of command. When he gave an order, soldiers obeyed. He recognizes that Jesus possesses an even greater authority, not merely over men, but over sickness, creation, and reality itself. Jesus does not need to be physically present. He only needs to speak.

This marks an important contrast with the l***r from the previous account. The l***r’s faith was implicit; he trusted Jesus could heal him. The centurion’s faith is explicit and theological. He understands that Jesus’ word itself carries divine authority. Matthew tells us that Jesus “marveled” at this faith. This is striking. Though Jesus knows all things, He still experiences genuine human amazement. Being amazed does not necessarily mean being surprised in the sense of ignorance; it can also mean recognizing and delighting in something remarkable. Just as we may understand how biology works, we can still marvel at the birth of a child, so Jesus marvels at the greatness of this man’s faith.

Jesus then uses the moment to speak about the coming kingdom of heaven. He says that many will come “from east and west” to sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom. This is an image of the great messianic banquet foretold in passages such as Isaiah 25:6–8 and Revelation 19:9. The Gentile centurion serves as a preview of what is to come: people from all nations gathered into God’s kingdom through faith in Christ. Psalm 107:2–3 similarly speaks of God gathering His people “from the east and from the west.”

But alongside this promise comes a warning. Jesus says that “the sons of the kingdom” will be cast into outer darkness. He is speaking about those among Israel who assumed that heritage or ancestry guaranteed salvation. The crowds standing around Jesus needed to hear this warning. Physical descent from Abraham was not enough. Faith in Christ, not ethnicity, heritage, or outward association, is what saves. Jesus’ words are deeply exclusive: there is no entrance into the kingdom apart from Him (John 14:6).

Finally, Matthew concludes, “And to the centurion Jesus said, ‘Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.’ And the servant was healed at that very moment.” Jesus heals exactly as the centurion trusted He could, through His word alone. The centurion’s faith was surely incomplete in one sense; he did not yet fully understand everything about Jesus’ identity. Yet his faith was complete in the most important sense: he trusted Jesus. That is the heart of faith. It is also important to note that the faith of this man results in the healing of another. This reminds Christians why they pray for others, especially for the faith of others.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑮𝒐𝒅
Jesus possesses divine authority even over all things, even when a great distance is involved. His Word is powerful and effective, accomplishing exactly what He wills. God also shows that His salvation extends beyond Israel to people from every nation who trust in Christ.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇
True faith is not perfect knowledge, but trust in Jesus and His Word. Like the centurion, I come before Christ unworthy in myself, yet confident that His Word is enough.

𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓
Heavenly Father, strengthen my faith to trust in the power of Christ’s Word. Keep me from relying on heritage, membership, outward appearances, or my own worthiness, and teach me to rest confidently in Jesus alone. Amen.

06/02/2026

𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 8:5-13 (𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕 1)
5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒙𝒕
Jesus now enters Capernaum, which becomes the center of operations for much of His Galilean ministry. Located on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum was more than a small fishing village. It sat along the Via Maris, the major trade route connecting Egypt, Syria, and the regions beyond. Because of this, it was a busy border town filled with travelers, merchants, soldiers, fishermen, and tax collectors. Though largely Jewish, it was heavily influenced by the wider Roman world. Matthew himself likely worked there as a tax collector, and Peter, Andrew, James, and John lived and worked in the area as fishermen.

Jesus’ choice of Capernaum as a ministry center was deliberate. Rather than preaching in isolation, He taught and performed miracles in a place where news would spread rapidly. Travelers passing through Capernaum would carry reports of Jesus throughout the region and beyond. In this way, the Gospel began spreading outward from the very beginning. As Scripture says, God sent His Son “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4), at precisely the right moment in history.

As Jesus enters the city, He is approached by a centurion who asks Him to heal his servant. A centurion was a commander in the Roman military, typically responsible for around eighty soldiers. Centurions formed the backbone of the Roman army and often led from the front in battle. Because Judea was considered unstable and politically sensitive, Roman forces were spread throughout the region rather than concentrated in one place. This man was likely among the highest-ranking military officers in the area. His primary responsibility would have been maintaining order and protecting the important trade route passing through Capernaum.

Though often called “Roman,” this centurion may not have been ethnically Roman. He likely served under Herod Antipas while operating within the broader Roman military system. Regardless, he was clearly a Gentile outsider from the perspective of the Jewish population. Yet Luke’s Gospel gives us an important detail that Matthew does not: this man was highly respected by the Jews of the region. In fact, the Jewish elders tell Jesus, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue” (Luke 7:4–5). This is a remarkable description of a Gentile officer stationed in occupied territory.

At this point, it might be helpful to address what some have called a contradiction between these two Gospel accounts. Matthew and Luke describe the same event but with different levels of detail. Luke includes the Jewish elders and servants whom the centurion sends to Jesus, while Matthew abbreviates the account by presenting the centurion as speaking directly to Jesus. This was a common literary practice in the ancient world. Actions carried out through representatives could still be described as actions performed by the person himself. Matthew’s purpose is not to trace every step of the encounter, but to emphasize the centurion’s extraordinary faith and Jesus’ response to it. Ancient readers would not have viewed these accounts as contradictory, but as complementary presentations emphasizing different aspects of the same event.

This also serves as a useful reminder when approaching other alleged contradictions in Scripture. Some will reject this explanation, but if a person is determined to doubt, he will always find reasons to do so, just as someone can find reasons to doubt nearly anything in life. Christianity, however, has never feared examination or criticism of the Scriptures, because it is not afraid of the truth. Certainly, there are difficult passages and questions that require careful study, but the central message of the Bible remains remarkably clear and consistent: Jesus is God in the flesh, the Creator of all things, and the One who died and rose again for the sins of the world. And as such, we have no reason to doubt His Word, which has been handed down to us.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑮𝒐𝒅
God works through real history, real places, and real people to accomplish His saving purposes. He is not a distant myth or abstract idea, but the Lord who entered human history in the person of Jesus Christ. God also gives a trustworthy Word that can withstand examination and careful study.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇
This passage reminds me that faith is not blind, but rests on the real acts of God in history and on the trustworthy witness of His Word.

𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓
Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing Yourself through Your Son in real places and times within human history. Strengthen my confidence in Your Word, give me humility as I study the Scriptures, and keep me steadfast in the truth of Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

06/01/2026

𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 8:2-4
2 And behold, a l***r came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒙𝒕
With this miracle account, Matthew resumes the narrative portion of his Gospel. Up to this point, opposition to Jesus has been limited. Jesus has already been preaching throughout Galilee (Matthew 4:23), and the Sermon on the Mount has revealed His authority in teaching (Matthew 7:28–29). Now Matthew begins to show that Jesus’ authority is not limited to words alone. In the chapters that follow, His authority is displayed over disease, demons, nature, sin, and even death itself. Initially, we see a mostly faithful response to Jesus’ authority, but later responses are not so faithful.

What is surprising in the text is the way Jesus uses His authority. The world expects authority to demonstrate power, dominance, or force. But Jesus repeatedly uses His authority to show mercy and grace. His miracles are not merely displays of raw power; they confirm who He is and reveal the character of His kingdom. Furthermore, they back up the authority of His words, which create faith.

The first person Matthew exercises his authority for, after the sermon, is a l***r. In the ancient world, leprosy and other skin diseases made a person ritually unclean. Such individuals were often isolated from society and excluded from normal worship and community life (Leviticus 13:45–46). Many people also assumed such diseases reflected God’s judgment. To a Jew, this was one of the most devastating conditions imaginable. The l***r was physically suffering, socially isolated, and religiously cut off.

Yet from the crowds comes this man who kneels before Jesus and says, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” His words reveal faith. He does not doubt Jesus’ power; he trusts that Jesus is able. Somewhere along the way, whether at this sermon or another, this man heard Jesus’ words and began to believe (Romans 10:17).

Jesus’ response is remarkable: “I will; be clean.” And then Matthew adds an important detail: “Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him.” This is more amazing than most modern hearers recognize. According to the Jewish purity laws, touching a l***r would make a person unclean (Leviticus 5:3). And so, Jesus was risking being unclean by touching him, or at least that is what people would have thought. But Jesus does not become defiled; instead, the unclean man is made clean. This is one of the clearest pictures of Christ’s holiness in the Gospels. Jesus cannot be made unclean; instead, His purity overcomes uncleanness.

This moment is powerful not only physically but also personally. Lepers were avoided and isolated. It is entirely possible that this man had not been touched in years. Yet the One who touches him is not merely another person; it is God in the flesh. Jesus does not recoil from human uncleanness. He comes near to heal and restore. In this sense, Jesus fulfilled the Law. The Law identified uncleanness; Christ removes it.

Jesus then commands the man, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded.” This instruction appears several times in Matthew’s Gospel, though not always for the same reason. Here, Jesus likely wants the man to first fulfill the requirements of the Law given in Leviticus 14:2–32. The priests were responsible for officially declaring a healed l***r clean and restoring him to the community. Jesus is not rejecting the Law, but honoring it completely.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑮𝒐𝒅
Jesus uses His authority not merely to display power, but to show mercy. Further, He does not become corrupted by human uncleanness; instead, He brings cleansing, restoration, and healing to those broken by sin and suffering.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇
Like the l***r, I am unable to cleanse myself. Yet Christ does not turn away from sinners or the broken. This passage reminds me that faith trusts not in my worthiness, but in Jesus’ willingness and power to save.

𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to cleanse all that is unclean and restore what is broken. Strengthen my faith to trust in Christ’s mercy. Amen.