Bullet Point Bible

Jesus Cleanses a Man with Leprosy

¹ After he came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him.² And a leper approached and bowed low before him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."³ He stretched out his hand and touched him saying, "I am willing. Be clean!" Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.⁴ Then Jesus said to him, "See that you do not speak to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest, and bring the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

This healing occurs immediately after the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), demonstrating Jesus' authority in action following his authoritative teaching.
Leprosy in the ancient world often referred to various skin diseases, leading to ritual uncleanness and social isolation (Leviticus 13-14).
The leper's approach shows humility ("bowed down") and faith in Jesus' *ability* ("you can make me clean"), while acknowledging Jesus' *authority* ("if you are willing").
Jesus' willingness to touch the leper was radical, defying purity laws (Leviticus 5:3) and showing profound compassion alongside his healing power.
The healing was instantaneous ("Immediately"), highlighting the divine nature of the miracle.
Jesus instructs the man to follow the Mosaic Law regarding cleansing (Leviticus 14:1-32), showing respect for the Law and ensuring the man's reintegration into society.
The command for silence ("See that you do not speak to anyone") is a recurring theme in Mark (the "Messianic Secret"), possibly to manage public expectation or avoid premature conflict with authorities. Here, it might emphasize that the testimony should first be official, via the priest.
The offering serves as a "testimony to them" (the priests and potentially the wider community), officially validating the healing according to established religious protocols.

Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant

⁵ When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him asking for help:⁶ "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible anguish."⁷ Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."⁸ But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof! Instead, just say the word and my servant will be healed.⁹ For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave 'Do this!' and he does it."¹⁰ When Jesus heard this he was amazed and said to those who followed him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found such faith in anyone in Israel!¹¹ I tell you, many will come from the east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,¹² but the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."¹³ Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; just as you believed, it will be done for you." And the servant was healed at that hour.

A centurion was a Roman military officer commanding about 100 soldiers, representing the occupying power in Israel. It was unusual for a Jew to interact favorably with one.
The centurion displays remarkable humility ("I am not worthy") and extraordinary faith, recognizing Jesus' authority operates even at a distance.
His understanding of authority, derived from his military experience, allows him to grasp the power of Jesus' mere word. He believes Jesus commands healing like he commands soldiers.
Jesus' amazement ("he was amazed") is rare in the Gospels and highlights the exceptional nature of the Gentile centurion's faith compared to what he typically encountered in Israel.
Jesus uses this occasion to teach about the inclusion of Gentiles ("many will come from the east and west") in God's kingdom, symbolized by a banquet with the patriarchs. This foreshadows the universal scope of the gospel (Isaiah 25:6).
Conversely, Jesus warns that lineage ("sons of the kingdom") does not guarantee inclusion; lack of faith leads to exclusion ("outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth"). This is a stark warning to his Jewish audience.
The healing occurs instantly and remotely ("at that exact moment"), confirming the centurion's understanding of Jesus' authority and the power of faith.
This incident contrasts sharply with the potential unbelief Jesus sometimes encountered among his own people (Matthew 13:58).

Healings in Peter's House

¹⁴ Now when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying down, sick with a fever.¹⁵ He touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and began to serve them.¹⁶ When it was evening, many demon-possessed people were brought to him. He drove out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.¹⁷ In this way what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah was fulfilled:¹⁷ " He took our weaknesses and carried our diseases ."

This healing is more private, occurring within the home of his disciple, Simon Peter, in Capernaum.
The healing is again instantaneous and complete, evidenced by her immediate return to activity ("she got up and began to serve them"). Touching the sick woman shows Jesus' compassion and disregard for ritual impurity concerns.
The influx of people "when evening came" likely occurred after the Sabbath ended (sunset), when travel and seeking help were permitted.
Jesus demonstrates authority over both physical illness and demonic oppression, healing many with just "a word."
Matthew explicitly connects Jesus' healing ministry to the prophecy of Isaiah 53:4. While Isaiah 53 primarily refers to bearing sins, Matthew applies it here to Jesus' compassionate taking up of physical suffering, seeing it as part of his messianic work foreshadowing the atonement.
This cluster of healings reinforces the theme of Jesus' power and authority established after the Sermon on the Mount.

The Demands of Discipleship

¹⁸ Now when Jesus saw a large crowd around him, he gave orders to go to the other side of the lake.¹⁹ Then an expert in the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."²⁰ Jesus said to him, "Foxes have dens, and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."²¹ Another of the disciples said to him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."²² But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

Jesus seeks to withdraw from the crowds, perhaps for rest, teaching his disciples, or moving to a new area of ministry (the Gentile region across the lake).
The "expert in the law" (scribe) makes an enthusiastic, seemingly unconditional commitment.
Jesus' response about the "Son of Man" (his preferred self-designation, emphasizing both humanity and divine authority) highlights the cost of discipleship: insecurity, homelessness, and rejection. Following Jesus means embracing a life without worldly comforts.
The second man's request to "bury my father" might refer to waiting for his father's death (which could be years away) or completing secondary burial rites common at the time. It represented a primary family obligation.
Jesus' stark reply, "{{Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead}}," emphasizes the supreme priority of the kingdom of God over all other ties, even sacred family duties.
"Let the dead bury their own dead" likely means let the spiritually dead (those outside the kingdom) tend to the affairs of the physically dead. The call to follow Jesus is urgent and demands immediate, radical commitment.
These two encounters serve as a sobering check on impulsive enthusiasm and traditional obligations when faced with the call of Christ.

Jesus Calms the Storm

²³ As he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.²⁴ And a great storm developed on the sea so that the waves began to swamp the boat. But he was asleep.²⁵ So they came and woke him up saying, "Lord, save us! We are about to die!"²⁶ But he said to them, "Why are you cowardly, you people of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was dead calm.²⁷ And the men were amazed and said, "What sort of person is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him!"

The Sea of Galilee is known for sudden, violent storms due to its geography (low elevation surrounded by hills).
Jesus sleeping peacefully amidst the chaos contrasts sharply with the disciples' panic, demonstrating his trust in the Father and his inherent authority.
The disciples' cry, "Lord, save us!" acknowledges Jesus' power but reveals their fear and lack of faith in his presence being sufficient protection.
Jesus first rebukes the disciples for their fear and "little faith" before addressing the storm, highlighting the importance of trusting him even in crisis.
Jesus' rebuke of the wind and sea demonstrates his authority over the natural forces, an attribute associated with God in the Old Testament (Psalm 89:9, Psalm 107:28-30).
The disciples' amazement ("What sort of man is this?") shows they are still grappling with the full extent of Jesus' identity and power. They recognize his command over nature as something extraordinary and divine.
This miracle serves as a powerful metaphor for Christ's ability to bring peace and order to the chaotic "storms" of life for those who trust in him.

Jesus Heals Two Demon-Possessed Men

²⁸ When he came to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were extremely violent, so that no one was able to pass by that way.²⁹ They cried out, "Son of God, leave us alone! Have you come here to torment us before the time?"³⁰ A large herd of pigs was feeding some distance from them.³¹ Then the demons begged him, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."³² And he said, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake and drowned in the water.³³ The herdsmen ran off, went into the town, and told everything that had happened to the demon-possessed men.³⁴ Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

Jesus enters Gentile territory (Gadarenes/Gerasenes), indicated by the presence of pigs, which were unclean animals for Jews. Mark and Luke mention one man; Matthew mentions two, possibly due to his focus on fulfilling Jewish legal requirements for testimony (Deuteronomy 19:15).
The demon-possessed men lived among tombs, signifying uncleanness, isolation, and the realm of death. Their extreme violence highlights the destructive power of evil.
The demons immediately recognize Jesus' true identity ("Son of God") and his authority over them. They understand eschatological judgment ("the appointed time") and fear premature torment.
The demons' request to enter the pigs reveals their desire to continue their destructive work, albeit in animals rather than humans.
Jesus grants their request ("{{Go!}}"), demonstrating his authority even in the manner of their expulsion. The resulting destruction of the pigs graphically illustrates the destructive nature of the demonic forces Jesus came to overcome.
The economic loss (the pigs) seems to concern the townspeople more than the liberation of the two men. Their fear of Jesus' power and its disruptive consequences leads them to ask him to leave.
This reaction contrasts with the faith of the centurion and highlights how encountering Jesus' power can lead to either faith or fearful rejection, especially when it disrupts the status quo or economic interests.
Jesus' authority over the demonic realm is absolute, showcasing another facet of his messianic power and the advance of God's kingdom against the forces of darkness.

The Bullet Point Bible

Matthew 8