Matthew 8:18-9:8

Confidence in His Power

Jesus sees the crowds and gives orders to depart to the other side of the sea when a scribe comes to him, saying that he will follow wherever he goes. A second man says he needs to bury his father before he can follow. Jesus' reply, in essence, is to first count the cost. In the next miracles he performs, Jesus proves his authority over nature, the wind and the waves, then over the demonic world, and over sin and infirmity.

  1. Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
  2. And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
  3. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
  4. And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
  5. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
  6. And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
  7. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
  8. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
  9. 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.
  10. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
  11. 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.
  12. 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?
  13. And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
  14. So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
  15. And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
  16. And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
  17. And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
  1. And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
  2. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
  3. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
  4. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
  5. For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
  6. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
  7. And he arose, and departed to his house.
  8. But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.