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Matthew Chapter Eight
A Man Under Authority (8:5-13)
INTRODUCTION
1. In Mt 8:5-13, we read of the healing of the centurion's servant... a. In which Jesus highly commends the centurion's faith b. Calling his faith greater than any He had found in Israel 2. This is not the only time we read of military personnel presented in a favorable light... a. There are several Biblical examples of soldiers b. Who were outstanding in their service to God [In our text, I believe we find why soldiers were often such notableexamples of faith and service. Before we consider why, let's first review the examples of...] I. SOME NOTABLE SOLDIERS IN THE BIBLE
A. JOSHUA AND CALEB... 1. These two men were soldiers who stand out a. They tried to persuade Israel threatened with death - Num 14:6-10 b. In the end, they were the only ones over twenty-one who left Egypt 2. Caleb was highly praised by God a. At the time he stood fast for the Lord - Num 14:24 b. At the time he received the land promised to him - Josh14:6-14
-- It is repeatedly emphasized that he "wholly followed the Lord God of Israel 3. Joshua was similarly remarkable a. In his farewell address (at age 110), he takes his stand for the Lord - Josh 24:14-15 b. His influence over his family was great enough that he knew how they would choose B. CORNELIUS, THE FIRST GENTILE CONVERT... 1. His piety was remembered by the Lord - Ac 10:1-6 2. In responding to the vision... a. He immediately sent for Peter - Ac 10:7-8 b. He prepared an audience for Peter by gathering relatives and close friends - Ac 10:24 c. He was ready to hear whatever Peter had to say - Ac 10:33 3. Cornelius and his family were obedient as implied in Ac 10:48 C. THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER, THE FIRST EUROPEAN MALE CONVERT... 1. Like Cornelius, his conversion was immediate - Ac 16:30-34 2. His family likewise obeyed the gospel [These four Biblical examples remind me of military men I have known;men with similar dedication to the Lord, and success in influencing their families to follow them in their service to the Lord. Coincidence? I think not. What I see is a particular attitude towardauthority, one found in the centurion of our text (cf. Mt 8:8-9).Consider what is involved with being...] II. A MAN UNDER AUTHORITY
A. THE MILITARY TEACHES THE IMPORTANCE OF AUTHORITY... 1. Without a respected line of authority, chaos would develop a. It is impossible for a large group of individuals to function efficiently without a chain of command that is respected b. Instead of united, coordinated forces, it would be every man for himself! 2. Soldiers are taught to submit to authority immediately a. Delay can disastrous on the battlefield, where speed can mean the difference between life or death, victory or defeat b. Questioning authority, balking at keeping commands, can easily result in one's own death and that of their comrades 3. Thus the military teaches both: a. How to submit to authority b. How to exercise authority over others -- As expressed by the centurion - Mt 8:8-9 B. KNOWING HOW TO "SUBMIT" TO AUTHORITY, MILITARY MEN... 1. Often obey the will of the Lord immediately upon hearing the gospel a. They realize that delay can be disastrous b. They would not hesitate to follow orders if their lives were in danger, why hesitate when their souls are in jeopardy? 2. Often follow the Lord with a "whole heart" a. They understand the need to submit to authority totally b. If it were just a game, one might be justified to be half- hearted, not taking things seriously c. But warfare, whether carnal or spiritual, requires complete devotion and total concentration to the task at hand! - cf. Ep 6:11-13 3. Often influence their entire families for the Lord a. By such careful submission to the will of the Lord, they set a notable example for their children b. Their children see that serving the Lord is serious business for their father; there must be something to it C. KNOWING HOW TO "EXERCISE" AUTHORITY, MILITARY MEN... 1. Often raise their children in subjection a. Obedient to their parents b. Eventually following parental in obedience to the Lord 2. This is not to say they are necessarily strict martinets, but they exercise authority... a. With firmness, making it advisable for a child to obey b. With wisdom, making it natural for a child to obey c. With love, making it with willingness for a child to obey 3. Often become elders to rule over the house of God - cf. 1 Ti3:4-5
a. Having demonstrated their ability to rule over the house of God b. By first exercising authority over their own household CONCLUSION
1. My purpose is not encourage you to enlist in the military... a. But to suggest we would do well to remember the examples of those in the military b. For we are to be a people under authority, the authority of Jesus Christ! 1) An authority over all things in heaven and on earth - Mt 28:18 2) An authority that demands that we do what He has commanded - Mt 28:19-20 2. In an aged marked by permissiveness, it behooves Christians to possess a military attitude regarding authority, for we are engaged in a spiritual warfare with Satan and his influences a. Not submitting to the authority of God with all haste... 1) Could mean the damnation of our own soul 2) And a bad example for our children b. Not exercising our authority as Christian parents... 1) May lead to our children taking the broad way that leads to destruction! 2) May result in delivering our children to Satan on a silver platter! 3. How much better... a. To be like Caleb, and "wholly serve the Lord God" b. To be like Joshua, and declare "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" -- Just as our nation says, "Uncle Sam Needs You!" so the Lord's church says, "The Lord Jesus Christ Needs You!" Is your faith like that of the centurion, who recognized the power ofauthority when he saw it? If you have not yet obeyed the gospel ofChrist, or need to return to the Lord, follow the example of Corneliusand the Philippian jailer and act immediately! You might save not onlyyourself, but your children and friends as well!
The Challenge Of Following Jesus (8:18-22)
INTRODUCTION
1. As Jesus went about His earthly ministry, He was often followed by large multitudes... a. Drawn by His teachings - Mt 7:28-8:1 b. Attracted by His miracles - Mt 8:16-18 2. Some of those who followed Him wanted to become His disciples... a. Willing to be taught by Jesus - e.g., Mt 5:1-2 b. Wanting to follow Jesus as their Lord and Master - e.g., Mt 8:19 3. Jesus would later command His apostles to make disciples of all the nations... a. As found in The Great Commission - Mt 28:19-20 b. Clearly Jesus wanted people to become His disciples 4. But Jesus never misled the multitudes... a. It would not be easy to be His disciple b. Following Him would be a challenge! 5. In our text for today's study (Mt 8:18-22), we find Jesus responding to two individuals regarding the matter of discipleship... a. "The hasty scribe" who wanted to become a disciple b. "The reluctant disciple" who needed to be reminded of what it meant to be a disciple [This passage should remind us of "The Challenge Of Following Jesus",taken seriously by all who would be His disciples. For instance, in the case of "the hasty scribe" we learn...] I. ONE MUST BE WILLING TO COUNT THE COST
A. THE SCRIBE'S OFFER... 1. He expressed a willingness to follow Jesus anywhere - Mt 8:19 2. A commendable offer, but does he know what it means? B. THE MASTER'S REPLY... 1. Jesus informed the scribe that He was homeless - Mt 8:20 a. As an itinerant preacher, Jesus had no place to call home b. Many a night might be spent with no roof overhead 2. To follow Jesus at that time would mean to leave all a. As was necessary for Peter, Andrew, James, and John - Mt 4:18-22
b. As was encouraged of the rich young ruler - Mt 19:21 C. ONE NEEDS TO COUNT THE COST BEFORE BECOMING A DISCIPLE... 1. As Jesus told the multitudes who followed Him - Lk 14:25-33 2. One does not have to become homeless to follow Jesus today, but we must still: a. Love Him more than family and life b. Forsake all by making Him the Lord and Ruler of our lives 3. In our zeal to win souls, do we neglect to tell people the cost of becoming a disciple of Jesus? a. The cost of observing all that Jesus commands? - Mt 28:20 b. A cost that might require a radical change in one's life? 1) E.g., quitting jobs that interfere with holy living 2) E.g., leaving friends who seek to lead one astray 3) E.g., changing lifestyles, or getting out of unlawful marriages c. That one's repentance is fundamental to the gospel message? - cf. Lk 24:46-47; Ac 2:38; 3:19; 17:30-31; 20:20-21 [When a person wants to follow Jesus, that is wonderful! But we shouldremind people there is a cost involved, one they need to consider before they commit. For those who are already disciples, we must not forget "The ChallengeOf Following Jesus". In the case of "the reluctant disciple", we are
reminded that...] II. WE MUST BE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE
A. THE DISCIPLE'S REQUEST... 1. He desires to forego following Jesus in order to bury his father first - Mt 8:21 2. Sounds like a devoted son, what harm is there in his request? B. THE MASTER'S RESPONSE... 1. Jesus tells him to follow Him and let the dead bury their own dead - Mt 8:22 a. I.e., let the spiritually dead bury the physical dead b. Others could handle such familial tasks, his responsibility was to answer to a higher calling 2. Jesus often made it clear...to follow Him meant putting Him before family a. As we saw earlier - Lk 14:26 b. As He taught His disciples in preparing them for The Limited Commission - Mt 10:34-37 c. As He set the pattern on one occasion when His family was seeking Him - cf. Mt 12:46-50 C. WE NEED TO PAY THE PRICE OF BEING DISCIPLES... 1. As disciples, we are taught there may be a price to pay to remain faithful a. As Paul taught the new disciples on his first journey - Ac 14:21-22 b. As Paul wrote to Timothy at the end of his life - 2 Ti 3:10-12
2. Far too often, disciples today want to first "bury the dead", such as: a. Putting family responsibilities before the Lord 1) E.g., missing services to entertain visiting family or friends 2) Did not Jesus tell Martha some things take precedent over the desire to be a gracious host? - Lk 10:38-42 b. Accepting jobs when they know it will hinder their service to the Lord 1) E.g., occupations that are so demanding, one has little time or energy left 2) You might think them necessary to support family, but did not Jesus promise that God will provide if you put the kingdom first? - Mt 6:31-33 3. In our zeal to provide for our families, do we forget that we are disciples of Christ? a. There are many good and noble things that can be done in relation to kin and occupation b. But as disciples of Christ, we have a higher and more noble calling - 1 Pe 2:9-10 1) As a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own special people 2) To proclaim the praises of God who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light c. If we can't "bury the dead" without neglecting our service to Jesus, then we must "let the dead bury the dead"! CONCLUSION
1. In many places, the Lord's church suffers through neglect... a. Attendance is sporadic b. Service rendered is minimal c. Discipleship is practiced only when convenient 2. There may be many reasons for this, but I suspect two head the list... a. Teaching the gospel without mention of the cost of discipleship b. Disciples who have forgotten there is a price to pay for following Jesus 3. In an age of "easy believism", do not forget "The Challenge OfFollowing Jesus"...
a. Let "the hasty scribe" remind you to count the cost of becoming a disciple b. Let "the reluctant disciple" remind you of the need to pay the price of being a follower of Jesus! This is one of the paradoxes of Christianity: the salvation that Jesusoffers is a free gift, but it comes at a high cost. Jesus truly "paidit all", so one cannot earn their salvation; but as our Savior and LordHe requires that we have the servant mentality: "So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, `We are unprofitable servants. We have donewhat was our duty to do.'" (Lk 17:10)
Have you counted the cost? Are you willing to pay the price? Both arerequired to follow Jesus!
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