COMPASSION AND WISDOM
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Opening Prayer
Lord God, help me to begin and end each day with thanksgiving for who you are and all you have done.
Read MATTHEW 8:14—22
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Matthew
Matthew 8
Jesus Heals Many
14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“He took up our infirmities
and bore our diseases.”
The Cost of Following Jesus
18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Reflect
What would you say is your cost in following Jesus?
Today’s passage begins with one private healing and many public healings. Jesus’ willingness to heal reveals his compassion and genuine concern for people’s physical health. However, physical health is never his priority. We humans have a far greater need than temporary physical health: we need forgiveness for our sins and friendship with God. We need victory over death, and we need access to eternal life. Jesus’ priority is always for our wholeness in him. Thus, Matthew identifies these healings and exorcisms as the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 53:4 (v. 17). Indeed, all of Jesus’ healings and exorcisms were signs pointing to the truth that he came to save sinners. His compassion was shown in the way that he granted forgiveness and salvation fully and freely to anyone and everyone who came to him in faith.
The second half of today’s passage reveals Jesus’ wisdom as he responded to two would-be disciples (vv. 18—22). The first was too eager, the second not eager enough. The first didn’t understand that following Jesus meant going the way of the cross, the way of suffering service. Jesus’ reply warned him only of the immediate physical discomforts (v. 20), but that was enough to encourage him to think more deeply before committing himself. Consider what the cost of discipleship has been in your own life. All too often, we welcome new Christians without sufficiently explaining the cost.
The second man was hoping to wait until he had more time for Jesus. Jesus’ reply warned that following him is far more urgent than family responsibilities. The decision to acknowledge Jesus Christ as one’s Savior and Lord must have absolute priority. How do you resolve the balance between commitment to Christ and family responsibility? Read Luke 14:26, 27.
Apply
Consider the compassion and wisdom of Jesus as he dealt with those who came to him.
Closing prayer
Father, in my dealings with others, help me learn and strive to be as kind and wise as Jesus, my Lord.
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