A selection of Jesus’ miracles

Matthew has here collected together nine miracle stories (one of which contains two miracles woven together; 9:18-26). They are arranged in three groups of three (8:1-17; 8:23-9:8; 9:18-34), with short passages in between focusing on the demands of following Jesus (8:18-22; 9:9-17). Matthew tells the stories much more briefly than Mark, leaving out most of the picturesque detail and focusing attention on Jesus himself. The resultant impression is one of irresistible authority, seen both in Jesus’ power over illness, demonic power and natural forces and in the radical response which he required of those who followed him. All this complements the authority which he demonstrated in his teaching in the first discourse.   

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.”

The cost of discipleship (see Lk. 9:57-60). Matthew maintains a distinction between the crowd of those who were interested but uncommitted and the disciples, whose personal commitment to Jesus had to take priority. They shared his homelessness when travelling around Galilee, and even family responsibilities had to take second place. Jesus’ refusal of permission even to bury my father is astonishing; this was a son’s sacred duty which took precedence over all regular commitments. The dead is a stark description of those outside the disciple–group as lacking spiritual life. The language, no less than the demand, is uncompromising to the point of offensiveness.
   
Matthew 8:23-27

Jesus Calms a Storm

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?”

Authority over the elements (see Mk. 4:36-41; Lk. 8:22-25). This is the first ‘nature miracle’ in Matthew, showing Jesus exercising the same power over nature which Ps. 107:23-30 ascribes to God. The disciples’ reaction (cf. Ps. 107:31-32) adds a new level to Matthew’s account of Jesus’ authority. But while the story is recorded mainly for this purpose, Matthew’s mention that his disciples followed him (23), picking up the language of the preceding section, suggests he may also have seen it as an illustration of discipleship: when the storms come, faith in Jesus’ saving power will be rewarded. Matthew often warns of the danger of little faith (26; cf. 6:30; 14:31; 16:8; 17:20).
   
Matthew 8:28-34

Jesus Heals Two Men with Demons

28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, [5] two demon-possessed [6]29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. 33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region. men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.

A spectacular exorcism (see Mk. 5:1-20; Lk. 8:26-39). While exorcisms have been mentioned in general terms already, this first specific account of one adds another dimension of Jesus’ authority: his control over supernatural beings. Matthew’s drastically abbreviated version of the story omits most of the personal details and concentrates on the conflict of Jesus with the demons. Because of their superhuman insight they recognize Jesus as Son of God, but this testimony, though true, is not welcome from such a source.

    Mark and Luke mention only one possessed man, but Matthew here (as in 20:30; cf. 9:27) says there were two, perhaps because the story is recorded as a witness to Jesus’ power and in Jewish law two witnesses were needed.

    This was Gentile territory (hence the presence of pigs). Matthew mentions no response other than the desire to get rid of this destructive visitor! Nor does he show any concern over the death of the pigs nor the economic loss to their owners. Presumably the liberation of two men was felt to be more important. But the story is told primarily to show Jesus in victorious conflict with an unusually powerful demonic force.
    Notes. 28 Gadara was a Greek town which controlled territory on the east side of the Lake of Galilee.
29  The appointed time refers to the Jewish belief that demons were to be punished in the final judgment.