Bible Study WELCOME TO AN IN DEPTH STUDY OF MATTHEW'S GOSPEL.

[reba]

wow some good reading... I had lots of catch -up to do... Thank you for your steadfastness Chopper

 

[Chopper]

wow some good reading... I had lots of catch -up to do... Thank you for your steadfastness Chopper

Thank you Reba, welcome back, I hope you had a great time and are full of thanksgiving.

 

[Malachi]

Jesus, reaching over her apparently took her by the hand to raise her up, and as soon as He touched her

We need to take a moment to reflect on "to raise her up". There is not a single healing or resurrection miracle in Scripture where the afflicted or dead person was not raised up. Never "cast down" but always raised up. Modern "miracles of healing", on the other hand, are accompanied by a falling down or a casting down. Christians need to ask themselves whether they conform to God's method, and if not, why not.

 

[Karl]

Day 74 Saturday 11/29/14 Matthew 8:5-13 Jesus Marveled.

V.13 Lets think about this simple statement that Jesus makes. "as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee". This man believed and his servant was healed. Do we have that same kind of faith? How do we get it if we don't? Is it possible to have that kind of faith in today's world?

I'm convinced we can have that kind of faith,

...the just shall live by his faith. Hab 2:4

That's why the Holy Spirit inspired/wrote three commentaries on Hab 2:4, Romans explains who the just are, Galatians explains how the just live and Hebrews explains what the faith of the just is.

We receive this faith from,

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom 10:17

God speaks to His children through His Word, He guides and directs and we obey, just like Jesus said to the leper, go, or the man paralyzed, get up, or the man with the withered hand, stretch it out, any one of them could have said, are you crazy, look at me, ...and that's the point, we don't look at ourselves (as is so common today in the church, ...I say in the name of Jesus, ...Jesus said ask Me), God tells us to do something completely impossible (like a nonFrench citizen coming to Tahiti with a one way ticket, ...it's impossible, but because I heard Father tell me to come I believed what He had told me to do and He worked out the details), ...we hear Father speak and we obey in faith, ... I've lived almost 24 years in/with this kind of faith, not that I'm some kind of super saint, but rather I've learned it out of daily necessity.

So yes it is possible today, ...because Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Any wise soldier will do a recon on the enemy terrain he is in, this was what the Centurion did, he studied the Jewish habits and customs, he had seen them celebrate their appointed feasts, he had observed their disdain for Roman and foreign gods, he knew they were looking for their Messiah and he studied about this coming Messiah that he new he would have to put down, he had heard about Jesus and His miracles and healings, ...he was a well trained field commander, ...but the Messiah he was expecting was not the Man he was observing, ...the soil had been/was being prepared to receive the seed, that's what Jesus explained to His disciples, they might of even thought back about this Centurion's faith when they heard this parable and it's explanation, but even if they didn't, ...it's there for us.

 

[Chopper]

I'm convinced we can have that kind of faith,

...the just shall live by his faith. Hab 2:4

That's why the Holy Spirit inspired/wrote three commentaries on Hab 2:4, Romans explains who the just are, Galatians explains how the just live and Hebrews explains what the faith of the just is.

We receive this faith from,

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom 10:17

God speaks to His children through His Word, He guides and directs and we obey, just like Jesus said to the leper, go, or the man paralyzed, get up, or the man with the withered hand, stretch it out, any one of them could have said, are you crazy, look at me, ...and that's the point, we don't look at ourselves (as is so common today in the church, ...I say in the name of Jesus, ...Jesus said ask Me), God tells us to do something completely impossible (like a nonFrench citizen coming to Tahiti with a one way ticket, ...it's impossible, but because I heard Father tell me to come I believed what He had told me to do and He worked out the details), ...we hear Father speak and we obey in faith, ... I've lived almost 24 years in/with this kind of faith, not that I'm some kind of super saint, but rather I've learned it out of daily necessity.

So yes it is possible today, ...because Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Any wise soldier will do a recon on the enemy terrain he is in, this was what the Centurion did, he studied the Jewish habits and customs, he had seen them celebrate their appointed feasts, he had observed their disdain for Roman and foreign gods, he knew they were looking for their Messiah and he studied about this coming Messiah that he new he would have to put down, he had heard about Jesus and His miracles and healings, ...he was a well trained field commander, ...but the Messiah he was expecting was not the Man he was observing, ...the soil had been/was being prepared to receive the seed, that's what Jesus explained to His disciples, they might of even thought back about this Centurion's faith when they heard this parable and it's explanation, but even if they didn't, ...it's there for us.

Hi Karl. I really liked your comments on faith. You are correct. Like you, my life has been motivated by faith. In 1975 I stepped out in faith, sold my house, took my Wife and two children, moved into the Town that the Bible College was, bought a mobile home, settled in, enrolled my two kids in the Christian Academy, me in Bible College without any means of paying for all that. The Lord never failed to support us financially right up to graduation.

I do have a question. You said, "but the Messiah he was expecting was not the Man he was observing" would you please explain that? I felt that the Centurion may have felt that Jesus might have been the promised Messiah, and that's why he had the faith that he had.

 

[Chopper]

Day 77 Wednesday 12/3/14 Matthew 8:23-27 Who Is This?

Matthew 8:23 "And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him."

I think it valuable to include this verse as we start our text for study. 8:18 "Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side." Now pay attention to Jesus' statement in V.18, "He gave commandment to depart unto the other side." If I have learned anything about faith in Jesus Christ it is this, when Jesus says that He is going somewhere, He IS GOING!! There is nothing that will stop Him. This makes my faith so very strong because if I can find a promise in the Word of God, or if I know what is Jehovah' nature to do something, then I absolutely know that if I pray according to these two factors, I will receive!

What these relative new believing disciples failed to realize is that Jesus said, in my words, "lets go to the other side." Now, you can bet the farm that they will reach the other side because God the Son said so! Wow, if only everyone who names the Name of Jesus as their Savior could just remember to believe that what He says, it WILL happen. That is the only faith builder that I'm aware of.

Matthew 8:24 "And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep."

This "tempest" suddenly came up. I read several authors of commentaries and they all said just about the same thing that this wild storm was probably divinely created to test the faith of the disciples and to display the power that Jesus had at His disposal at any time. Only the Messiah would have that kind of power, in time, Peter realized that. I have, in the past, studied about these sudden storms that would arise on the lakes in that region. Apparently, the winds that came over the mountains in the background caused such violent updraft & downdraft storms. Some of the fishermen and sailors believed that demons were responsible for those wicked bad (I'm from Maine) storms. If a sailor lost his life on the sea, it was a demon under the water that grabbed him. I guess that was a first century Jaws. sorry! Also, when Jesus walked on the water, their first thought was He was a ghost or some evil being because of those old tales.

Here are these disciples who were seasoned fishermen who were used to bad storms. I think they were used to forecasting the weather by the signs. Red sky at night, sailors delight, red sky in the morning, sailor take warning. Jesus, is asleep! Can you imagine that? All the while these rough tough fishermen are shaking in their boots, Jesus is taking a nap. I wouldn't be surprised if He had one eye open so He could see just how His disciples would react to this divine test.

Matthew 8:25 "And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish."

It seems to me that the disciples should have more faith than we because they had Jesus, the miracle Man, if you will allowed to use that phrase, right with them. It seems to me that they have seen some miracles already and they should have said, "look our Master sleeps, no problem." They didn't so they sort of prayed out loud, loudly, Lord, save us we perish. Again, I say, Jesus said they were going to the other side, in the disciples mind there shouldn't have been any question that they were going to make it. The following verse from the Gospel of John reveals what Jesus wanted because of this tempest.

John 11:4 "When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."

So that the Glory of the Son of God would be seen by these disciples. Wow, what a privilege to have been there!

Matthew 8:26 "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."

Wow, could there be a more convincing display of God's power than this at this early time in Jesus' ministry to men? I don't think so. One minute the waves of the sea are like what we saw in the movie "the perfect storm" as it devoured a ship. this was no ordinary storm of which these fishermen were used to, no, this was supernatural and faith? Their faith blew away on the wind.

Jesus gets up from His nap, rebukes the winds and sea and the wild conditions stop immediately! Then the sea becomes like glass, peaceful as can be.

Matthew 8:27 "But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"

What manner of man is this? Probably they whispered to each other, could this be our Messiah? It seems to me that there had to be some conversation that Scripture does not record. I even think that They might have asked Jesus some questions after this display of Divine power.

 

[Chopper]

Tomorrow's Study: Day 78 Thursday 12/4/14 Matthew 8:28,29 Tomb Bullies.

 

[reba]

Jaws? Really?

When we know many cast out demons and did 'signs and wonders' then we look at the Jesus those guys saw... He was no big deal... looked like them a carpenters son... He was not this great figure of valor he was meek.... How is this guy going to liberate us from the Romans... The Jewish Messiah was to be a leader a king as in the past glory days and we all know those past glory days are bigger then life...

I believe the Centurion saw the King... The disciples saw one of them self..... now the changes are coming..... Most of the Jewish leaders will not see The King...

 

[Karl]

Hi Karl. I really liked your comments on faith. You are correct. Like you, my life has been motivated by faith. In 1975 I stepped out in faith, sold my house, took my Wife and two children, moved into the Town that the Bible College was, bought a mobile home, settled in, enrolled my two kids in the Christian Academy, me in Bible College without any means of paying for all that. The Lord never failed to support us financially right up to graduation.

I do have a question. You said, "but the Messiah he was expecting was not the Man he was observing" would you please explain that? I felt that the Centurion may have felt that Jesus might have been the promised Messiah, and that's why he had the faith that he had.

Fantastic Chopper, we serve an awesome God, makes me wish more of our brothers and sisters knew Him in this manner.

Before I answer your question I have a question for you, I know you heard from God about doing this,otherwise there would not of been the results you and your family experienced, but to erase all question of your actions be presumptuous, please finish the story, tell us how Father spoke to you and put in your heart to step out of the boat, so to speak, and walk on water.


For myself, before I was born again, I had misconceptions about who Jesus is, because the carnal mind is enmity against God, so too this Centurion, it was common knowledge among the Roman troops about the Egyptian mentioned in Acts 21:38, they also knew of the successful revolt against authority led by the Maccabees, so it's safe to assume as a field commander when he was assigned to Palestine he was on alert for any insurrection, big or small, ...because of this he probably had a stereotype of the Jewish Messiah in His mind when he took over command, however, he lived in or close to Capernaum, Jesus' home base, also Scripture tells us he is one of the elect, Matt 8:10 and as Father was drawing him to Jesus (the Light shining into the darkness) his stereotype picture of the Messiah didn't fit or coincide with the Man he was observing, he knew his job was to put down any revolt this Jewish Messiah might start (we know from Scripture the people wanted to make Jesus King and throw off the Roman yoke), but in his heart he knew he wouldn't be able to carry out his orders, ...just imagine the turmoil in his soul, a Roman Centurion, they were bad dudes, becoming soft, the love he observed and felt flowing from Jesus, ...just like you and me, His love broke through our hard shells, just like it did to this Centurion so many centuries ago........, so yes, he did come to have saving faith in the Jewish Messiah and his recorded work proves that, but that was not how he viewed Jesus in the beginning, he too, like you and me, is a sinner saved by grace.

...Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

 

[Karl]

Day 77 Wednesday 12/3/14 Matthew 8:23-27 Who Is This?

Matthew 8:23 "And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him."

I think it valuable to include this verse as we start our text for study. 8:18 "Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side." Now pay attention to Jesus' statement in V.18, "He gave commandment to depart unto the other side." If I have learned anything about faith in Jesus Christ it is this, when Jesus says that He is going somewhere, He IS GOING!! There is nothing that will stop Him. This makes my faith so very strong because if I can find a promise in the Word of God, or if I know what is Jehovah' nature to do something, then I absolutely know that if I pray according to these two factors, I will receive!

What these relative new believing disciples failed to realize is that Jesus said, in my words, "lets go to the other side." Now, you can bet the farm that they will reach the other side because God the Son said so! Wow, if only everyone who names the Name of Jesus as their Savior could just remember to believe that what He says, it WILL happen. That is the only faith builder that I'm aware of.

Matthew 8:24 "And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep."

This "tempest" suddenly came up. I read several authors of commentaries and they all said just about the same thing that this wild storm was probably divinely created to test the faith of the disciples and to display the power that Jesus had at His disposal at any time. Only the Messiah would have that kind of power, in time, Peter realized that. I have, in the past, studied about these sudden storms that would arise on the lakes in that region. Apparently, the winds that came over the mountains in the background caused such violent updraft & downdraft storms. Some of the fishermen and sailors believed that demons were responsible for those wicked bad (I'm from Maine) storms. If a sailor lost his life on the sea, it was a demon under the water that grabbed him. I guess that was a first century Jaws. sorry! Also, when Jesus walked on the water, their first thought was He was a ghost or some evil being because of those old tales.

Here are these disciples who were seasoned fishermen who were used to bad storms. I think they were used to forecasting the weather by the signs. Red sky at night, sailors delight, red sky in the morning, sailor take warning. Jesus, is asleep! Can you imagine that? All the while these rough tough fishermen are shaking in their boots, Jesus is taking a nap. I wouldn't be surprised if He had one eye open so He could see just how His disciples would react to this divine test.

Matthew 8:25 "And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish."

It seems to me that the disciples should have more faith than we because they had Jesus, the miracle Man, if you will allowed to use that phrase, right with them. It seems to me that they have seen some miracles already and they should have said, "look our Master sleeps, no problem." They didn't so they sort of prayed out loud, loudly, Lord, save us we perish. Again, I say, Jesus said they were going to the other side, in the disciples mind there shouldn't have been any question that they were going to make it. The following verse from the Gospel of John reveals what Jesus wanted because of this tempest.

John 11:4 "When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."

So that the Glory of the Son of God would be seen by these disciples. Wow, what a privilege to have been there!

Matthew 8:26 "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."

Wow, could there be a more convincing display of God's power than this at this early time in Jesus' ministry to men? I don't think so. One minute the waves of the sea are like what we saw in the movie "the perfect storm" as it devoured a ship. this was no ordinary storm of which these fishermen were used to, no, this was supernatural and faith? Their faith blew away on the wind.

Jesus gets up from His nap, rebukes the winds and sea and the wild conditions stop immediately! Then the sea becomes like glass, peaceful as can be.

Matthew 8:27 "But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"

What manner of man is this? Probably they whispered to each other, could this be our Messiah? It seems to me that there had to be some conversation that Scripture does not record. I even think that They might have asked Jesus some questions after this display of Divine power.

This is another what if instance in the life of our Lord that I would of liked to have seen, ...what if He had not awoken and the boat sank, it would sink to the bottom and then continue on it's voyage to the other side, ...without loss of life!

But Father knows best, Heb 11:1, and when Jesus tells us to do something we can be sure it will come to pass.

 

[Sinthesis]

Day 77 Wednesday 12/3/14 Matthew 8:23-27 Who Is This?

Matthew 8:23 "And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him."

I think it valuable to include this verse as we start our text for study. 8:18 "Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side." Now pay attention to Jesus' statement in V.18, "He gave commandment to depart unto the other side." If I have learned anything about faith in Jesus Christ it is this, when Jesus says that He is going somewhere, He IS GOING!! There is nothing that will stop Him. This makes my faith so very strong because if I can find a promise in the Word of God, or if I know what is Jehovah' nature to do something, then I absolutely know that if I pray according to these two factors, I will receive!

What these relative new believing disciples failed to realize is that Jesus said, in my words, "lets go to the other side." Now, you can bet the farm that they will reach the other side because God the Son said so! Wow, if only everyone who names the Name of Jesus as their Savior could just remember to believe that what He says, it WILL happen. That is the only faith builder that I'm aware of.

Matthew 8:24 "And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep."

This "tempest" suddenly came up. I read several authors of commentaries and they all said just about the same thing that this wild storm was probably divinely created to test the faith of the disciples and to display the power that Jesus had at His disposal at any time. Only the Messiah would have that kind of power, in time, Peter realized that. I have, in the past, studied about these sudden storms that would arise on the lakes in that region. Apparently, the winds that came over the mountains in the background caused such violent updraft & downdraft storms. Some of the fishermen and sailors believed that demons were responsible for those wicked bad (I'm from Maine) storms. If a sailor lost his life on the sea, it was a demon under the water that grabbed him. I guess that was a first century Jaws. sorry! Also, when Jesus walked on the water, their first thought was He was a ghost or some evil being because of those old tales.

Here are these disciples who were seasoned fishermen who were used to bad storms. I think they were used to forecasting the weather by the signs. Red sky at night, sailors delight, red sky in the morning, sailor take warning. Jesus, is asleep! Can you imagine that? All the while these rough tough fishermen are shaking in their boots, Jesus is taking a nap. I wouldn't be surprised if He had one eye open so He could see just how His disciples would react to this divine test.

Matthew 8:25 "And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish."

It seems to me that the disciples should have more faith than we because they had Jesus, the miracle Man, if you will allowed to use that phrase, right with them. It seems to me that they have seen some miracles already and they should have said, "look our Master sleeps, no problem." They didn't so they sort of prayed out loud, loudly, Lord, save us we perish. Again, I say, Jesus said they were going to the other side, in the disciples mind there shouldn't have been any question that they were going to make it. The following verse from the Gospel of John reveals what Jesus wanted because of this tempest.

John 11:4 "When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."

So that the Glory of the Son of God would be seen by these disciples. Wow, what a privilege to have been there!

Matthew 8:26 "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."

Wow, could there be a more convincing display of God's power than this at this early time in Jesus' ministry to men? I don't think so. One minute the waves of the sea are like what we saw in the movie "the perfect storm" as it devoured a ship. this was no ordinary storm of which these fishermen were used to, no, this was supernatural and faith? Their faith blew away on the wind.

Jesus gets up from His nap, rebukes the winds and sea and the wild conditions stop immediately! Then the sea becomes like glass, peaceful as can be.

Matthew 8:27 "But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"

What manner of man is this? Probably they whispered to each other, could this be our Messiah? It seems to me that there had to be some conversation that Scripture does not record. I even think that They might have asked Jesus some questions after this display of Divine power.

This scene also prefigures the relationship Jesus was to have with the gentiles(the sea) where it seems as though the people of God would be overcome by the gentiles absent the intervention of the Messiah. However, Jesus' voice calms the gentiles as the Gospel converts them. Jesus' dominion over the gentile world will also be demonstrated through His ability to walk all over them, which will be shared by Peter as long as he keeps his eyes fixed on Christ. Then there is the example where the fishers-of-men are successful only once they follow Jesus' instructions and fish the right way, as left to their own devices they can catch nothing.

 

[reba]

Like and an Amen

 

[Chopper]

This scene also prefigures the relationship Jesus was to have with the gentiles(the sea) where it seems as though the people of God would be overcome by the gentiles absent the intervention of the Messiah. However, Jesus' voice calms the gentiles as the Gospel converts them. Jesus' dominion over the gentile world will also be demonstrated through His ability to walk all over them, which will be shared by Peter as long as he keeps his eyes fixed on Christ. Then there is the example where the fishers-of-men are successful only once they follow Jesus' instructions and fish the right way, as left to their own devices they can catch nothing.

That's an interesting take on the sea, as Gentiles. Thanks.

 

[jasonc]

That's an interesting take on the sea, as Gentiles. Thanks.

fits in with revelation in some chapters. and I saw a beast rising out of the sea with two horns..

 

[Chopper]

Jaws? Really?

When we know many cast out demons and did 'signs and wonders' then we look at the Jesus those guys saw... He was no big deal... looked like them a carpenters son... He was not this great figure of valor he was meek.... How is this guy going to liberate us from the Romans... The Jewish Messiah was to be a leader a king as in the past glory days and we all know those past glory days are bigger then life...

I believe the Centurion saw the King... The disciples saw one of them self..... now the changes are coming..... Most of the Jewish leaders will not see The King...

I like your description of two different men. I think you are right that the Centurion saw someone that the Disciples did not see. That a great thought, I'm going to meditate on those facts. Thank you.

 

[Chopper]

Fantastic Chopper, we serve an awesome God, makes me wish more of our brothers and sisters knew Him in this manner.

Before I answer your question I have a question for you, I know you heard from God about doing this,otherwise there would not of been the results you and your family experienced, but to erase all question of your actions be presumptuous, please finish the story, tell us how Father spoke to you and put in your heart to step out of the boat, so to speak, and walk on water.


For myself, before I was born again, I had misconceptions about who Jesus is, because the carnal mind is enmity against God, so too this Centurion, it was common knowledge among the Roman troops about the Egyptian mentioned in Acts 21:38, they also knew of the successful revolt against authority led by the Maccabees, so it's safe to assume as a field commander when he was assigned to Palestine he was on alert for any insurrection, big or small, ...because of this he probably had a stereotype of the Jewish Messiah in His mind when he took over command, however, he lived in or close to Capernaum, Jesus' home base, also Scripture tells us he is one of the elect, Matt 8:10 and as Father was drawing him to Jesus (the Light shining into the darkness) his stereotype picture of the Messiah didn't fit or coincide with the Man he was observing, he knew his job was to put down any revolt this Jewish Messiah might start (we know from Scripture the people wanted to make Jesus King and throw off the Roman yoke), but in his heart he knew he wouldn't be able to carry out his orders, ...just imagine the turmoil in his soul, a Roman Centurion, they were bad dudes, becoming soft, the love he observed and felt flowing from Jesus, ...just like you and me, His love broke through our hard shells, just like it did to this Centurion so many centuries ago........, so yes, he did come to have saving faith in the Jewish Messiah and his recorded work proves that, but that was not how he viewed Jesus in the beginning, he too, like you and me, is a sinner saved by grace.

...Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Thank you Karl for your response. After I became born of the Spirit in November of 1974, I started to get the impression that God wanted me to become a pastor like the one of whom I was saved under. He took me to the Bible College that he attended (did not graduate) and it was there on the grounds of the College that I received an overwhelming urge to go there for my preparation. For some reason, Jesus flooded my heart and mind with, what I call, a supernatural faith. Without even thinking much about it, I knew it was God's will to go to the College and God would take care of me if I just did it.

My house sold in a very fast fashion. I think that the first person who looked at my house, bought it. Everything went so smooth in getting settled at Bible College and Christian Academy for my kids that I knew it was the hand of God and I just never worried that He would not take care of us which He always did. Praise His Name.

The gift of faith that I received from my Lord has been my motive to enter into the realms of impossibilities with people of whom need the Lord's Touch.

 

[Chopper]

Day 78 Thursday 12/4/14 Matthew 8:28,29 Tomb Bullies.

Matthew 8:28 "And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?"

I realize that the other Gospel Writers mention only one demon possessed man but that can be explained perhaps because one was more dominate than the other and was the spokesman. At any rate these possessed men were exceedingly fierce. I can't imagine how terrible it must feel for a man to be possessed by a demon. It must feel like a terrible prison not being able to resist evil deeds to perhaps some people in the village that they knew. They must have been ordinary men before they were a target of Satan to send demons into them. It would be a lesson to others that somehow practiced evil prior to possession. Something in the line of evil must have opened the door for Satan to be able to control them.

Now, V.29 is very interesting to me. The demons knew that this man Who is approaching them is in fact the Son of God. The Jewish people of whom are the children and favored Nation of God refused to believe what demons know as fact. That's a sad tale indeed. Their statement to Jesus was in my words, "what in the world could You want with us?" Apparently they were aware of Jesus' mission on the earth, and it had nothing but bad for demons. Satan is a very clever planner of rebellion against the workings of Almighty God. In various strategic locations around the word he places his demon forces to keep people from obeying the Commands of God. Satan had about five thousand years of experience watching the plan of God unfold before him. That gave him insight into where he could set up walls of resistance to God's will for mankind.

Then the demons asked an interesting question, "art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" At that time it probably was still "an eye for an eye" so the demons naturally thought that Jesus was somehow going to torment them like they were tormenting those in the town. Their statement "before the time" blows my mind. Not only did they have knowledge that Jesus Himself would be their Judge, but they knew that at some future date, they would be judged and sent to the Lake of Fire.

I have often thought that Satan is fully aware of all Scripture up to this point in history. Revelation has not been written but Old Testament writings give ample information on Israels pending judgments if they continue to rebel against God....Can anyone expand on this idea? How did these demons know about a pending judgment? What did they know of Scripture. I know Satan knew some Scripture because he quoted his idea of Scripture in the wilderness temptation of Jesus.

 

[Chopper]

Tomorrow's Study: Day 79 Friday 12?5/15 Matthew 8:30-34 You're Not Welcome Here.

 

[Chopper]

fits in with revelation in some chapters. and I saw a beast rising out of the sea with two horns..

I hadn't thought of that, thanks.

 

[Deborah13]

Day 78 Thursday 12/4/14 Matthew 8:28,29 Tomb Bullies.?What did they know of Scripture. I know Satan knew some Scripture because he quoted his idea of Scripture in the wilderness temptation of Jesus.

This is my take on what the demons didn't know, they didn't know what satan didn't know...

satan knew everything accept the mystery that Paul said had been kept a secret. As long as satan had control over all the nations besides the nation of Israel he could use the heathens to corrupt the nation of Israel. The two men living among the tombs would have been those. It's likely that they had gotten involve in idolatry of other gods worshiped by heathen nations.
Jesus hinted that there was a change coming when He healed people who were not of the nation of Israel, that He would hear their pleas and heal them.
So satan didn't know the same thing that no Jew or Gentile knew...That the Messiah's work on the cross and resurrection, the blood He shed, was for all nations. He crushed satan's head, that God may be glorified in every corner of the earth.