Matthew Chapter 8: Extraordinary Miracles of Jesus

Bible Answer Man Podcast with Hank Hanegraaff

On today’s Bible Answer Man broadcast (06/14/21), Hank moves onward to chapter 8 of the Gospel of Matthew. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus preached. When he came down from the mountain he healed. The healing of a leper is the first of three extraordinary miracles chronicled by St. Matthew. And in those miracles, the deity of Jesus is revealed. A leper, whose fingers and toes have disappeared, whose body is covered with sores, is touched by the hand of Jesus and immediately cured of his dreaded disease. You may recall from the OT that touching a person with leprosy was forbidden. Thus, by touching the leper, Jesus demonstrated that he was the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. Immediately following this account is the second of three miracles, the healing of a centurion’s servant. In this extraordinary miracle, we ascertain at least two things. First, that a word from Jesus is sufficient to heal. That proximity to the centurion’s servant is wholly unnecessary for the King of Creation. Secondly, that the centurion’s faith in Jesus was greater than what Jesus had found amongst His own people. Jesus underscores the transcendence of having faith in His person. For He is not only able to heal the infirm in this life but to invite them to the feast of the eternal kingdom. Here Jesus also reminds us that both Jews and Gentiles will inherit the feast of eternity. That Abraham is not the father of a nation but the father of many nations. That Jesus is the seed of Abraham and that if one is in Christ, then they are the seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise.