Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions shows that Jesus heals, delivers, and reveals what truly matters in the kingdom. Storms test faith, discipleship tests motives, and deliverance exposes priorities. The Gadarenes valued their possessions more than a transformed life and asked Jesus to leave. God teaches that one soul is worth more than material loss. True faith welcomes Jesus, even when it costs us everything.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Audio
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Scriptures used in this lesson:
Matthew 8:14, Ephesians 6:2, Luke 4:38, Matthew 8:15, Luke 4:39, Matthew 8:16, Matthew 8:17, Luke 8:37, Matthew 8:18, Matthew 8:19-20, Luke 8:34-35, Matthew 8:21-22, Daniel 7:13, Matthew 8:23, Mark 4:36, Matthew 8:24, Matthew 8:25, Luke 8:29, Matthew 8:26, Matthew 8:27, John 14:12, Matthew 8:28-29, 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, Matthew 8:30-34, Luke 8:38-40, Mark 5:20, Luke 8:26-27,
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Overview of Matthew 8:14-34
In this lesson, we are focusing on Matthew 8:14-34. In the last lesson, we studied the first part of Matthew chapter 8 and saw that it records the early miracles of Jesus. These miracles are not arranged in strict chronological order, unlike in Mark and Luke. Even so, they clearly represent the early works of Jesus and reveal how His ministry began to unfold.
We observed Jesus walk down from the mount and lay hands on the leper. He touched him and cleansed him, and we spent most of our time focusing on that miracle. We talked about modern leprosy, comparing it to AIDS, and asked what Jesus would say if He were physically present today. The answer is the same: I will heal you – be cleansed.
We then looked at the healing of the centurion’s servant. The centurion understood authority. He knew what it meant to be both under authority and in authority. That helped us see that true authority begins with submission. We also learned that the spoken word is not about name-it-and-claim-it ideas, but about understanding how authority actually works.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
That centurion grasped this principle, and we were able to adopt it as well. The spoken word functions through authority, and authority flows from proper order.
Healing in Peter’s House
This week, we begin with the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, along with the healing of others. The text specifically mentions her healing. Before addressing it, I want to be clear that what I say is not intended to be personal. I am not meddling or picking on individuals. What I am addressing is something shaped by society.
Jesus came into Peter’s house and saw his wife’s mother sick with a fever.
Matthew 8:14
14 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.
The parallel passages are found in Mark 1:29–34 and Luke 4:38–41. Peter lived in Capernaum, and his mother-in-law lived with him. That arrangement was customary at the time.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
In Biblical times, as parents aged, they lived with their children. It was the children’s responsibility to care for them. We do not usually do that today. While there are cases in which specialized medical care is required, our society has shifted mainly toward placing older adults in elderly nursing home settings to avoid inconvenience.
This challenged me personally. My parents are still alive, doing well, and caring for themselves. Even so, I now understand what Scripture teaches about honoring and caring for parents (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, Proverbs 23:22, Matthew 15:4–6, Mark 7:9–13, 1 Timothy 5:4, 1 Timothy 5:8, Ephesians 6:1–3, Colossians 3:20). If the time ever comes when that responsibility is mine, I know what I am to do, which is why I am addressing this.
Peter lived in Capernaum, and his wife’s mother lived with him and his family. That was the custom of the day. Children were responsible for their parents when they became old. Today, we often choose a different path.
As I read Manners and Customs of Bible Lands by Fred H. Wright, I was struck by how children showed respect for their parents. In Eastern cultures, it was customary for a child to greet their father in the morning by kissing their father’s hand. That level of honor is almost foreign to us now.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Reflecting on that made me profoundly grateful for my own family. God has blessed us far beyond anything I deserve. I was even sharing this with Judy, realizing again how gracious God has been to us.
One evening after a seminar, we came home a little after eight. As I was moving the car so it would not block the drive, Lance pulled in. The first thing he did was come over, hug me, and kiss me on the neck. That moment spoke to me while I was preparing this.
On several mornings each week, I sit by the door while our daughter gets ready for school. Before she leaves, she always kisses me goodbye. That is not something we forced upon our children. It emerged from the relationship we have built with our children, and it aligns with what I have been reading and teaching.
Such family life remains possible today. Children can love their parents, and parents can raise their children without provoking them to wrath. The home can still be what God ordained it to be.
In Scripture, father and mother are seen as representatives of God in matters of authority. Hebrew children held their mothers in great respect, even as adults. That helps explain why Peter’s wife’s mother lived with them.
All of this has been deeply resonating with me. It is preparing me for the future and reminding me of God’s instruction. Ephesians 6:2 still commands honoring your father and your mother.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Ephesians 6:2
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-Law
It’s an interesting thought to me that the apostle Peter had a sickness in his home. And Luke tells us more information.
Luke 4:38
38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.
The NIV Bible says it was a high fever. This was a sick lady. What did Jesus do?
Matthew 8:15
15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Luke, again, tells us a little more.
Luke 4:39
39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
How does Jesus minister? How did he always? He touched someone or he spoke to someone. He ministered with his words and with his touch.
The Laying On of Hands in Practice
This past Sunday, Monty was injured while a group of youth were playing flag football near the Chamber of Commerce building. They were not playing tackle, but Monty fell and dislocated his shoulder.
Lance was there, along with some of our youth, and there were also several children from the First Methodist Church. Lance went to Monty and told him they were going to pray and lay hands on him. Our kids gathered around and laid hands on Monty while the Methodist kids stood nearby. Lance then invited them to join in, and they did, laying hands on him and praying together.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Later that day, Doug Ingram came by to see me. He oversees youth at the Methodist church, much like Lance does for us. Doug asked me about what happened at the football game. He wanted me to explain why Lance laid hands on Monty and why all the kids were invited to do the same. That conversation lasted nearly an hour, during which we discussed not only the laying on of hands but also many good things in the Word of God. I gave him a tape we had recently done on the laying on of hands, and I expect he is listening to it now.
That encouraged me. Jesus ministered not only with His words but also through the laying on of hands. This is something God is restoring to His church, as Hebrews chapter 6 shows. It is becoming increasingly clear, even among youth from different churches, who are beginning to understand this truth.
Healing Leads to Ministry
Jesus touched people during His ministry, and He healed them so they could respond and minister in return. That raises an important question. Often, we seek healing, but we must ask what we will do once we are healed. I believe one reason God heals us is to enable us to minister to and serve Him.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Verse 16 brings this together.
Matthew 8:16
16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
Why Healing Waited Until Evening
You may not have thought about this before, but it raises an important question. Why did they wait until evening to bring people to Jesus? This happened more than once in the Scriptures, and I had not really considered it until I was writing this.
Mark’s Gospel explains why. All of this happened on the Sabbath day (Mark 1:21-34), and the Sabbath lasted from sunrise to sunset. Because no work was allowed during that time, they waited until the sun went down. Only then, after the Sabbath ended, did they bring the sick to Him.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Healing, Forgiveness, and Offense
I was discussing this with Doug, and it stood out to me. In Biblical times, people were not offended when Jesus healed others unless the healing occurred on the Sabbath. As long as it was not the Sabbath day, He could heal freely without objection.
What really angered them was when He said someone’s sins were forgiven. That is when they challenged His authority and asked who He thought He was.
Today, we often reverse that pattern. We freely discuss forgiveness and salvation at any time. Yet when we lay hands on people and believe God for healing, some immediately react with suspicion and resistance.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Because no work was permitted on the Sabbath, healing occurred afterward. Scripture says He healed all their sicknesses. The word “all” means every kind, without exception. It includes both curable and incurable conditions and terminal and nonterminal illnesses. Jesus healed every sickness brought to Him. There is nothing He cannot touch and heal.
Matthew 8:17 explains why. This happened so that what Isaiah spoke would be fulfilled. He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.
Matthew 8:17
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
The Fulfillment of Prophecy
Matthew repeatedly demonstrates that the Messiah has already come, not that He will come in the future. He is writing to the Jew, and the Jew needed to see clearly that the Messiah was present. That is why Matthew consistently points to Old Testament prophecies. He uses them to prove that the Messiah has come.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Two Ready Versus Two Unready
Next, we move to Matthew 18-22, which I’ve titled “two ready versus two unready.” The focus is on two individuals who want to follow Jesus. I want to bring this close to us and examine what is really happening in their hearts.
Matthew 8:18
18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
Again, large crowds came and began to surround Jesus, which is important for understanding the first person in this group to come to Jesus.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Matthew 8:19-20
19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
20 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.
This individual was drawn in by what he saw. He noticed the large crowds, the miracles, and the power of God at work. Everything looked good, and he became excited about what God was doing. Because of that excitement, he said he wanted to follow Jesus and be part of it.
I don’t know whether he followed or not, but Jesus’ response tells the story. Jesus spoke about foxes having holes and birds having nests, while the Son of Man had nowhere to lay His head. By saying this, Jesus was reading his heart. He informed him that he was not ready for the required sacrifice. Following Jesus would demand sacrifice, and this man was not prepared for that.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
The scribe had seen the move of God and wanted to be involved in the action. He liked the excitement and the results. Yet Jesus’ words revealed his actual condition. He was not ready to forsake all, deny himself, and live a life of service and sacrifice.
Immediately afterward, another man came forward.
Matthew 8:21–22
21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
He said he wanted to follow Jesus, but first asked to bury his father. Jesus answered him directly, telling the man to follow Him and to let the dead bury the dead. To understand this, we have to understand Jewish customs. In Biblical times, burials were often conducted the same day. Since it was already night, there is doubt that the man’s father had actually died.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
What he was really doing was offering an excuse. He wanted to follow the Lord, but only when it was convenient. He was not ready to take an immediate step of obedience.
Jesus Addresses the Heart
We can all recognize these two types of people. Some come in excited and on fire. They see what God is doing and want to be part of it. Then, when they realize the cost and difficulty, they find they are not prepared to make the sacrifice required. Others are already present but only want to follow when it fits their schedule. There is always another reason or another obligation.
I am not picking on anyone. I am simply pointing out what the text shows. Jesus was addressing the heart in both cases. One wanted to follow but was not ready to sacrifice. The other wanted to follow, but only on his own terms. In both situations, Jesus made the call clear and uncompromising: follow me.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
The Son of Man
I also want to address Jesus’s self-designation as the Son of Man briefly. This is the first time that title is used. It goes back to Daniel 7:13, which speaks of the Son of Man coming in the clouds for judgment. There is much more there than we have time to cover, but it is significant and intentional.
Daniel 7:13
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
I want you to remember the message we’ve done from Revelation about the Lord coming quickly. The Son of Man comes in the clouds, and Jesus said they would not see Him again until they saw the Son of Man coming in the clouds for judgment. That judgment did come, and that is what this is pointing to.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Jesus said the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. I don’t have time to go into all of it right now, and I’m not going to. There will be better opportunities later. Right now, I want to stay focused on the miracles of Jesus. Daniel 7:13 is the foundation for this phrase, the “Son of man.”
The meaning of the Son of Man is enormous, so we can only touch it briefly. It always refers to one specific person, Jesus Christ. Jesus is fully man, fully God, and the Christ. He is both the Son of Man and the Son of God.
The title speaks of the ideal man God intended. Yet it goes far beyond that. It comes from Daniel 7:13 and points to His coming in the clouds for judgment. Every time you study the Son of Man, you will find that judgment is central to it.
The Sea Calmed and the Wind Stilled
Now we move into verses 23 through 27, where the sea is calmed, and the wind is stilled. The parallel passages are found in Mark and Luke.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Matthew 8:23
23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
It doesn’t matter where He goes or when He goes. His disciples follow Him. They follow Him regardless of the cost and wherever it leads. Mark even notes that other ships were crossing with Him at the same time.
Mark 4:36
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
I began to notice something here, and it actually amused me. Up to this point, everything had been enjoyable for the disciples. They had seen the miracles, the healings, and the deliverances. They had watched the crowds grow, and people lined up to follow Jesus. The disciples had witnessed the move of God, and it all felt exciting.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
They were part of the crowd where everything was happening. The ministry was growing, and it felt good to be there. But that was about to change. It is not always fun. Storms come, and there are moments when it feels like the ship is going down.
Verse 24 shows that shift.
Matthew 8:24
24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
Different translations describe the storm with increasing intensity. The waves were higher than the boat. Water was sweeping over it. The boat was being overwhelmed, washed, and battered by the waves. It was violent and uncontrolled.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
This was serious. It felt like everything was about to end. The ministry was going under. The ship was going down. The situation felt final. The word tempest means a violent commotion. It describes an aerial storm, a ground upheaval, and even an earthquake. Hendrickson calls it a great shaking, a seaquake in the sea.
At that point, it seemed hopeless. Things looked finished. The question became, where was Jesus? He was asleep. Many of us have felt that way. The situation is bad, and we cry out asking where the Lord is. It feels like He is asleep while we are about to perish. That is precisely what the disciples did. They woke Him and said, Lord, we are perishing.
Matthew 8:25
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
Have you ever cried out like that? The disciples did. They were experienced fishermen who spent their lives on the water. They were supposed to know what to do in storms. Yet in that moment, they looked at a carpenter sleeping in the boat and cried out, believing they were about to perish.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Many of us have felt the same way. We think we know what we’re doing, and then suddenly a seaquake hits. The waves rise, the boat is filling, and it feels like the Lord is asleep. In that place, we cry out, asking Him to save us.
The key lies in what Jesus said earlier. He gave a command to go to the other side. That was a prophetic word. They were going to the other side no matter what the storm looked like.
I experienced that myself about a year ago. I thought I knew what I was doing as a pastor, and then everything began to shake. The waves were coming over the boat, and it felt like everything was going under. I was ready to abandon ship. Then I remembered His command. He had told us to cross over. That is when He arose and said, You have little faith.
Matthew 8:26
26 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.
He spoke to the tempest. He talked to that massive seaquake that had risen in our lives, and in my life in particular. In a moment, everything became calm.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
This speaks to personal prophecy. If we have received a word from God and stepped into the boat to go to the other side, storms may come. Even when it feels like we are perishing, we are still crossing over.
Sometimes we wonder why He seems to wait instead of fixing things immediately. If He had fixed it right away, we would still be in that sinking boat. God uses those moments for good. He stretches our faith. He teaches us to trust Him, and He has shown my family that He is in charge. In a moment, He can still any storm.
When He arose, He asked why they were fearful and why their faith was so small. Then He rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Matthew 8:27
27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
The picture here is powerful. They woke Him up, and I can see Him sitting up while the waves were crashing over the boat. He looked at them and said they had little faith. He reminded them that He had already given the command to cross over. Then He spoke to the wind and the waves, and everything became calm.
The word calm means tranquility. In a moment, the raging seaquake turned into complete peace. The wind and the sea moved from chaos to tranquility instantly.
Who Is This Man?
That leads to the question, what kind of man is this? He did not rebuke demons or evil spirits in the sea. He spoke directly to the wind and the water, and they obeyed Him.
Jesus said in John 14:12 that the works He did, we would also do, and even greater works. That is what I want us to understand and walk in.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
John 14:12
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
I raise the question of whether we should speak to the elements. I ask what is wrong with believing that the word of God can be spoken with authority, even over a storm, because I would rather see faith at work than resignation. That kind of faith is good, and it says something about what we believe.
I point out that Pat Robertson spoke to a hurricane, and it obeyed. That forces us to ask how great our faith really is. I do not believe Jesus told us we would do greater works if He intended to remove certain expressions of authority. When the church comes together in unity and faith, it can speak to anything, and it must obey. That applies to every issue we face.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Who Do You Say That I Am?
The disciples marveled and asked what kind of man this was, since even the winds and the sea obeyed Him. Put yourself in that boat and feel the weight of that moment. It was real, and they were real people just like us. From a raging storm to complete calm in an instant, the question became unavoidable: Who is this?
They had already heard His teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. They had seen Him heal the leper, the centurion’s servant, Peter’s mother-in-law, and the multitudes. The disciples had watched His authority over demons. Now they saw His authority over the elements. That is why the question kept pressing in on them: Who is this?
That question leads directly to what Jesus later asked. He wanted to know who people said He was (Matthew 16:13-20), but more importantly, who He was to them. That same question is still asked of each of us.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
You can hear what others say about who Jesus is. You listen to what pastors say and to what others say. The real issue is who He is to you. Until we arrive at the same answer Peter gave, we will keep asking, “Who is this?” He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. There is no power above Him and no authority beyond Him. He speaks to winds and waves, and they obey, and He speaks to demons, and they must leave. He lays hands on people, and disease departs. On that truth, He builds His church. He is Lord, and He is the Christ.
Crossing Into the Country of the Gadarenes
From there, the account moves into the demoniacs. The parallel passages are found in Mark and Luke. Mark and Luke speak of one demoniac, while Matthew records two. I don’t fully understand the difference, but it is the same story. Many theologians believe Mark and Luke focus on the leader of the two. The principle remains the same. Additionally, I think this likely occurred at night, which is crucial because they were crossing the sea in the dark.
Matthew 8:28–29
28 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.
29 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?
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
People possessed by devils came out of the tombs, living in cemeteries and burial caves. Every account emphasizes how violent and dangerous they were. No one could pass that way. Demonic spirits completely controlled their minds, thoughts, and actions.
They cried out with loud screams. The word describes shrieking and screaming uncontrollably. Picture the moment. We have just crossed the sea. Jesus calmed a violent storm. There was peace. It was dark. We step out of the boat, and suddenly, two screaming demoniacs run toward us. It makes you wonder who this man is, because chaos seems to follow wherever He steps.
I began to think about how the disciples must have felt. They had survived a seaquake minutes earlier. Now it is night, and two demoniacs are screaming at them. The demons cried out that Jesus had come to torment them before the appointed time. Interestingly, they understood timing and judgment.
One thing stands out clearly. They recognized Him as the Son of God. That is more than many people do. Scripture says even the devils believe and tremble (James 2:19). They knew who He was. He is not only Jesus, and He is not only the Son of God. He is Lord, and that is where our understanding must come to rest.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Understanding Judgment and the Coming of Christ
What I really want to emphasize is this truth. Demons have no problem understanding the first and second coming of Jesus. Unlike many followers of Jesus, they know that His next coming brings judgment.
They know when He comes, there will be judgment. Scripture even speaks of judgment of the world and of angels. The struggle with understanding this is not on their side. It is often ours.
1 Corinthians 6:2–3
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
I heard of a popular evangelist who teaches multiple comings, but I disagree with that. There is one more Advent. It is not one and a half, nor several, final comings. There may be moments of His coming in clouds and judgment, but there is one final Advent. At that coming, there will be judgment.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
It amazes me that demon-oppressed people often have greater revelation than those of us who are supposed to have it. The scene then shifts to a herd of swine feeding nearby. The demons speak and ask permission to enter the herd. There is an exchange taking place. Jesus, the demons, and the disciples are all there, and the disciples are still trying to grasp who this man Jesus really is.
Matthew 8:30–34
30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
32 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.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
33 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.
34 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.
The disciples had already been through a lot. Things had been good with the crowds and the miracles. Then everything shifted. They crossed the sea, faced a storm, stepped onto land in the dark, met screaming demoniacs, and suddenly watched two thousand hogs run off a cliff and die. Those hogs belonged to someone. You can imagine the shock. A seaquake, violent demons, and now massive loss all at once.
Jesus told Nathanael he would see great things, and I imagine Nathanael wondered what else might happen. I may make light of it, but there is a serious point here. When the disciples were called, they did not know everything that would happen along the way. If we knew everything in advance, many of us might not have come. God does not tell us everything. Moses was called, but he was not told all that lay ahead. Some things only make sense in hindsight. In the moment, none of this was funny. Yet what mattered most was the command. Jesus said they would cross over, and that is what counts.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
The question then becomes why the demons wanted to enter the swine and why Jesus allowed it. Many ideas have been offered. Some argue that the swine were unclean animals and that this was a judgment for keeping them. I disagree with that explanation. My understanding is that the demons intended to destroy the herd so the people would become angry with Jesus and ask Him to leave. They hoped to return later and resume business as usual. I do not believe they tricked Jesus. All things work together for good.
The Value of a Soul
Jesus knew how the people would respond. He knew they would ask Him to leave. He also knew they would learn an important lesson. That lesson is what we will address next as we examine Luke 8:38-40.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Luke 8:38–40
38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,
39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
40 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.
The man who had been delivered wanted to stay with Jesus, but Jesus sent him home. He told him to return to his house and tell how great things God had done for him. The man obeyed and went throughout the city, declaring what Jesus had done in his life.
The placement of the verses may vary across translations, but the principle is clear. They had to learn that a soul is far more valuable than any possession. When the possessions ran off the cliff, they knew that Jesus Christ values a soul more than material things.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
We have possessions, and as a church, we are probably as prosperous as any of our size. Yet the Lord will allow possessions to be lost if it means saving a soul. That is a principle this city must learn. There is a spirit of greed that hangs over cities, and sometimes hogs have to run off a cliff before people understand the value of a soul.
When Jesus Is Not Wanted
That city eventually learned the worth of the man who was delivered. When Jesus returned, they welcomed Him. He did not stay when He was not wanted, and He will not force Himself into a life or a city. He stays where people hunger for righteousness, peace, and joy, and where they desire His will.
They learned that salvation is more valuable than material possessions. The man returned to his family and spread the word throughout the region about what Jesus had done for him. When a city understands that changed lives matter more than possessions, it will welcome Jesus. As long as possessions matter more than Him, He may visit, but a great work will not happen. The man did not only go to his city. He went throughout the surrounding region, and the people marveled.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Mark 5:20
20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
When Jesus was there, the people did not marvel at His ability to cast out demons. What amazed them was the testimony of the once-possessed man. They were struck by the changed life and by how great a work God had done in him. The focus was not on power over demons, but on transformation.
That man spread his testimony throughout the surrounding regions. Bringing it home, what the Lord wants us to proclaim is not our authority over demons, but what great things God has done in our lives. That is how we affect our area.
Luke 8:26-40 recounts the same story, but I want to examine it from another angle. Some of us heard a message on this passage that helped open it up in a fresh way. It takes what we have already seen and places it into a broader perspective.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
When Jesus arrived in the country of the Gadarenes, a man came out from the city to meet Him. This man had been demonized for a long time. He wore no clothes. He lived in no house, and He made his home among the tombs.
Luke 8:26–27
26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
What I want to show you is that this man was not covered. There was no authority over him. He wore no clothes. He had no house, and He was not part of any fellowship. The person had no covering, no church, and he lived among the tombs. He was connected only to dead places.
When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him. When we truly see Jesus, we fall on our faces before Him. We beg for covering. We ask Him to fix us and take care of us.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
The passage also shows how people tried to deal with him. They put him in chains and bound him. They pushed him into tombs and dead places. He kept breaking the chains, but their actions only drove him farther into the wilderness.
Luke 8:29
29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
I believe many Christians today are being driven into the wilderness instead of being brought into the land of promise. We push people there by putting them in chains and bondage. That only drives them further away rather than leading them into freedom.
I see two extremes. On one side are liberal messages. On the other side are legalistic messages. What I am seeking is Jesus’ message. He did not give us a license to sin, and He did not put us in bondage either. I do not work for my salvation. I work from it, and I desire to walk in obedience and put on the whole armor of God. Yes, I would rather err on the side of covering than think I am free while being exposed.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. When the Spirit is flowing, things are right. If things are not, the first place I examine is myself.
When the people who fed the swine saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and countryside. The people came to Jesus and found the man who had been delivered. He was sitting at the feet of Jesus, and He was clothed. The person was in his right mind.
Luke 8:34–35
34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.
35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
When we are adequately covered and under God’s divine order, we are in our right minds. We are clothed, we are covered, and we think clearly. That is when fear often shows up.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
It is striking that they were not afraid of the man until he was in his right mind. When people around us begin to think clearly, the city will start to respond. The same thing happened when believers turned the world upside down. What the world sees as upside down is actually the kingdom of God set right.
To the world, this appears foolish. To us, it is life and peace. We do not want to gather in dead places week after week. We want a place filled with life, peace, righteousness, and provision.
Ultimately, the people of the region asked Jesus to leave. He will not remain where He is not wanted, whether in a church or a city.
Luke 8:37
37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Closing Exhortation
I want to conclude with a straightforward thought. If we genuinely wish to see Jesus in our city, there must be people willing to let their hogs run off the cliff.
The changed life in Luke 8:26-40 shows the picture clearly. The man wore no clothing, indicating he had no covering. He had no house and no true church home, lived among tombs and dead places. He was bound and driven deeper into the wilderness.
When he truly saw Jesus, he fell before Him. He was delivered and genuinely saved. Those who knew him then saw him sitting at the feet of Jesus. He was clothed. He was covered and in his right mind. That was the moment fear entered the crowd.
When people sit at the feet of Jesus and come into their right minds, it will unsettle a city. The real question is whether the city wants the presence of Jesus. If we truly want Him, we can have Him. Wanting Him more than our hogs is the key.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
The city did not want His presence, so they asked Him to leave. He did. He will never force Himself into a city or a life. There must be people who truly hunger and thirst after righteousness.
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
Matthew 8 Pt 2 How to Value Souls over Possessions
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