Matthew 8-10 are action-packed when compared with the teaching chapters of Matthew 5-7. Matthew 8 starts with Jesus cleansing a leper. This miracle is recorded in Mark 1, so we see the Gospel writers didn’t always record the events in the same sequence. They did record the details quite similarly in most cases. Some have seen these “discrepancies” as “proof” the gospels were made up stories and not actual events. The slight variations in details are what we would expect if various witnesses had seen the same thing happen and told someone about it. Matthew was with Jesus from Matthew 9 on, so he wasn’t there for all the events recorded. Mark is thought to have written his gospel from Peter’s perspective. In any case, Matthew tells us about Jesus healing the leper, then the centurion’s servant, then Peter’s mother-in-law and many others. Next, Matthew interjects the account of Jesus telling a few men the cost of following Him. Finally, we read what is the account of “Legion” in Mark 5, but here is the account of two men filled with demons. This is an important detail, so it might have been two separate events. However, Matthew also has Jesus ride two donkeys at His triumphal entry into Jerusalem rather than the one recorded in the other three gospels. The details differ, but the point is the same: Jesus has powerful authority over evil spirits.
In Matthew 9, Jesus heals a paralytic, but first forgives his sins. This causes an uproar among the religious leaders. Next, Jesus calls Matthew to follow Him, and Matthew throws a party to introduce Jesus to his friends. This causes another uproar among the religious leaders, because Jesus was hanging out with tax collectors and other “sinners.” Jesus pointed out He came to call the sinners, not the righteous to repentance. John the Baptist’s disciples come to ask Jesus why his disciples didn’t fast? They noted they fasted, as did the disciples of the Pharisees. Jesus pointed out no one fasts when the wedding feast is taking place. Jesus was comparing Himself to the bridegroom, and He said His disciples would fast when He was taken away. After this, we find the record of Jesus healing a dead girl, and a woman who had been suffering from a bleeding disorder for twelve years. Next Jesus healed two blind men, and finally a man who was deaf and unable to speak. Matthew shows us Jesus’ power to bring the Kingdom of God to the earth in all these examples. As Jesus surveys the crowds, He turns to the disciples and tells them the “harvest” is plentiful, but the workers are few. Then He tells them to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send workers.
As chapter 10 begins, Jesus calls those He just told to pray for workers as His twelve disciples and sends them out on their first missionary endeavor. Jesus gave the twelve extensive directions before sending them out. He told them to rely on God’s provision. He told them they would be persecuted. In the midst of that, they were to rely on God’s provision. He promised them if they remained faithful, they would receive great rewards even for the smallest act of kindness done in Jesus’ name.
As we return again to John 15, Jesus continues His discourse with the disciples before His arrest. He uses a powerful analogy to show the disciples how vital it is for us to stay “connected” to Him. Jesus says He is the vine, and we are the branches. He makes the point clear: If we remain in Him, we will bear fruit, much fruit, and more fruit. If we don’t stay connected to Him, we will die. Jesus reiterates His new commandment for us to love one another. Then He tells the disciples the world will hate them, because it first hated Jesus. He promises the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, will come to be with them, and He will bear witness to them, and they will bear witness to the people about Jesus. What a powerful reminder that remaining connected to Jesus means living in the power of the Holy Spirit!