An exposition of The Gospel According to Matthew
by David L. Cooper, Th.M., Ph.D., Litt. D.
Installment eight

IN THIS INSTALLMENT we are to investigate the subject of miracles which Christ performed in order to attest His divine claims. A cycle of these is set forth in chapters 8 and 9 of the Gospel according to Matthew. In this month's article we shall have time only for those given in chapter 8.

There are various and sundry ideas concerning what a miracle is. Certain definitions have been formulated by different theologians. The one which I have composed and used for a number of years is as follows: "A true miracle is a divine act which the Almighty ordinarily accomplishes in a quiet, unobserved manner through the operation of the laws of nature (secondary causes), but which He, for a definite spiritual purpose or end, works in an obvious and open manner, and which usually attests the divine call and commission of the one thus performing it as a teacher sent from God." All acts are performed by some intelligent, rational being. We are in the habit of thinking of certain acts which the Almighty performs as miracles and of distinguishing them from what is usually termed "laws of nature." Most frequently we forget the acts of Satan and demons; but, whenever we investigate the question of miracles, we must take into consideration every phase of this subject in order to arrive at the proper induction.

Jehovah, the God of Israel, is "the Uncaused Cause" of all things. He is the Eternal One. He is the one in whom we live, move, and have our continual being. The one who is known as Satan or the devil was the first creature whom God brought into existence. He was the highest of all. In fact, he was the very perfection of beauty, skill, power, and the possessor of every attribute conferred upon a created being. The angels were likewise created by the Almighty.

Moreover, He brought into existence the material universe and is constantly working in and through it. What we call the laws of nature are but the regular way in which God manipulates the various elements constituting the material universe. This regular, ordinary way of His handling these elements we call the laws of nature, or His "secondary laws." But strictly speaking, they are God's activity.

Satan still has mighty power. Also the demons under him likewise have certain powers and authority. They are constantly acting. In fact, whenever God acts in an open manner for some moral or spiritual end, He allows the devil also to engage in unusual activity. Satan, however, is always under the limitations of God's authority, who rules and overrules.

What is especially meant by miracles in this discussion are those acts of the Lord's which He, for a moral or spiritual purpose, performed in order to attest the divine claims of Jesus of Nazareth and His message of love. All other supernatural activities are not considered in this present discussion.

In this day of skepticism and rationalism men are questioning the possibility of miracles. The attitude of doubt seems to have gripped the educational world and the possibility of miracles is denied.

But let us now examine the miracles that are set forth in Matthew, chapter 8. These fall into three categories. (1) Miracles of healing (vss. 2-17); (2) a miracle in the realm of the physical world (vss. 23-27); and (3) a miracle in the realm of the spirit world (vss. 28-34).

In the Synoptic Gospels we read of our Lord's curing the leper. This is one of the miracles which He wrought when He was on His first tour of Galilee. This case seems to have been an outstanding one, as special notice is given to it.

The man came to Jesus and said, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." He did not question the possibility of miracles, but assumed them. The only point on which he was in doubt was whether or not the Lord was willing to cure him. He tacitly admitted that Jesus could cure leprosy, since he came pleading that the Lord would do it for him.

Jesus stretched forth His hand and touched the man saying, "I will; be thou made clean." Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Then Jesus commanded him to go and show himself to the priests and make the offering commanded by Moses for the testimony of his cleansing.

When we realize that Jesus of Nazareth was God in human form, that it was He who created the world, and that He has a heart of compassion, we can see how He could perform such a miracle and why it was that He was willing to help the poor man. His performing this act was an attestation of His divine nature and calling.

The next miracle mentioned in this chapter is that of the healing of the servant of the centurion. This man was a Roman soldier who loved the Jews very much and who built a synagogue for them in Capernaum (Luke 7:2-10). It was in this building that Jesus preached the sermon on the bread of life (John, chap. 6).

The servant was sick of the palsy. His condition was critical. Jesus agreed to go with the centurion and heal him. Immediately the centurion, feeling his unworthiness, said, "I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it." This language shows that the centurion had the proper conception of one's place in an organization and that he realized that the place which he occupied in relation to Jesus was that of a servant. He was therefore willing to take that place and to do whatever Jesus might say to him. When he thus manifested such a spirit, the Lord marveled and declared that He had not found so great faith--no, not in Israel. It was indeed remarkable to find a man of this character among the pagan Romans; but when we remember, as we have already seen, that he had built the synagogue for the Jews at Capernaum, we see in that fact a devotion to the God of Israel and a love for His service. He was, indeed, a great man of faith. His faith was honored by the Lord who said to him, "Go thy way; as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And the servant was healed in that hour." According to one's faith is the blessing.

On this occasion the Lord foretold that many would come from the east and from the west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom, but that the sons of the kingdom would be cast into outer darkness where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This passage looks forward to the time when the millennial kingdom of our Lord will be set up and many of the Jews of the Dispersion from all over the world will come and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but that many Palestinian Jews will be cast out. Not only will there be Jews of the Dispersion but there will be the Gentiles who will come from the east and from the west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In other words, the ones of whom Jesus is here speaking are the same ones who are mentioned in the statement concerning the judgment of the nations (Matt. 25:31-46). Those who are put on the right hand are the ones who will come, enter the kingdom, and who will come from the east and west and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The last miracle of healing mentioned in this list is that of the restoration to health of Peter's mother-in-law, who was sick with a fever. The touch of Jesus caused it to leave. She immediately arose and ministered to Him. This miracle of healing was reported throughout the community. People therefore at sundown brought many of those who were possessed of evil spirits, and He healed them with a word. This healing ministry is said to be the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah which declares, "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our diseases." Matthew's use of this passage and his applying it to the healing ministry of Jesus shows that Isaiah, in chapter 53 from which this passage is taken, was discussing physical, literal healing. The healing of the body therefore is included in the atonement according to Isaiah, chapter 53, and Matthew 8:17. But let us not think that, since it is in the atonement, it is to be universal at the present time; for such is not the case. It was not universal in the Apostolic Age. Neither has it been since then, but it will be the order of the day in the great Millennial Age when many shall come from the east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom.

Following this record of the healing ministry of Jesus, we read that the crowds were thronging Him and that He gave commandment to depart to the other side of the lake. Just at that moment there came a scribe who volunteered to follow Jesus. Evidently the Lord knew his heart; so He said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests: but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." Jesus wanted to let him know that he need not expect any wealth or prestige from his following Him, for He had no material benefits to bestow upon His followers. At the same time another man volunteered to follow Jesus, but asked that he be permitted to bury his dead father. In reply the Lord said, "Follow me; and leave the dead to bury their own dead." According to some authorities certain ones remained with their people until their fathers died. They felt that to remain at home and to assist was an obligation that rested upon them; then, after the death of the father, they would be at liberty to engage in any kind of vocation which they might choose. It is altogether possible that such was true in this case. If this was so, Jesus brushes aside this camouflage and tells the man for him to come and follow Him immediately. No man, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

The next item to be mentioned in this chapter is the stilling of the tempest at sea. When Jesus entered into the boat, His disciples followed Him. As they were crossing, a great tempest arose in the sea. The waves were beginning to cover the boat. At that time Jesus fell asleep. Then the disciples came and awoke Him, saying, "Save, Lord; we perish." Upon His awaking, Jesus rebuked them because of their little faith. Then He gave a command to the wind, and there was a great calm. The stilling of the tempest produced a profound impression upon the disciples. This miracle shows that the Lord Jesus Christ had power in the realm of the natural world. He still is the Master of the winds and waves.

In the last paragraph of this chapter, verses 28-34, we read of our Lord's casting demons out of the two men (Gadarenes) who were living in the tombs. Upon our Lord's reaching the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, He went out of the boat upon land, and these two men, who were fierce and violent because of the fact that they were possessed by demons, and who lived in tombs in the mountainside, came to Jesus. They were such fierce characters that no one dared to go that way. When they saw the Lord Jesus they cried out, "What have we to do with thee, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" In some way or other they were able to recognize in Jesus the Son of God. They therefore confessed Him. Moreover they realized that they were destined eventually to be cast into torment. They feared, however, that He was going to cast them there "before the time." Evidently these demons understood that at a certain time in the history of the world they will be cast into the pit of the abyss or the place of everlasting punishment. The time when this will be done is evidently at the beginning of the millennial reign of our Lord. As authority for this position look at Isaiah 24:21,22. Here we see that "it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will punish the host of the high ones on high [the host of evil spirits], and the kings of the earth upon the earth." They then shall be gathered into the pit where they shall be incarcerated for the many days--the thousand years' reign of our Lord.

Near the place where the Gadarene demoniacs were a herd of swine was feeding. The demons, speaking through these men, implored the Lord Jesus saying, "If thou cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine." The permission was granted. Immediately upon the demons entering the swine, they, the hogs, ran violently down the steep bank and rushed into the water where they were drowned.

The report concerning this unusual occurrence scattered throughout the country-side. Those who owned the swine came out and implored Jesus to leave their borders, which thing He did. He then entered the boat and crossed back to the western side of the Sea of Galilee. Then He came to His own city, doubtless Capernaum, where He had his headquarters at the time.

From the account of our Lord's casting these demons out of the Gadarenes, we see that He had power and authority over evil spirits. He cast them out by His own divine power and authority. Indeed He is Lord of all.