QT 10/02/2026 Tue. Matthew 8. “Following the New Moses” “跟随新摩西”
QT 10/02/2026 Tue. Matthew 8. “Following the New Moses”
READ http://www.esv.org/matthew8
After delivering the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus comes down from the mountain (8:1). The movement is intentional. Like Moses descending Sinai, Jesus now demonstrates in action what He has proclaimed in word. Yet He is not merely a new lawgiver—He is greater than Moses. Matthew 8 reveals the authority, compassion, and cost of following Him.
(1) Coming to Jesus: Faith That Knows Who He Is (8:2–13)
Those who approach Jesus do so in response to His preaching—and they come in faith. The leper knew where to go. “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” (8:2)
Despite social exclusion and physical decay, the leper comes directly to Jesus. He does not question Jesus’ power—only His willingness. Jesus’ response is immediate and compassionate:
“I will; be clean.” (8:3)
The centurion, by contrast, understood how Jesus’ authority works. “Only say the word, and my servant will be healed.” (8:8) He recognises authority that is unhindered by distance or time. Jesus does not need proximity to act. This faith astonishes Him.
Whether it is (a) Devastating skin disease (8:3), (b) Paralysis with intense suffering (8:6) or (c) Fever that debilitates (8:14–15), Jesus heals them all—and He heals immediately.
Yet Matthew is careful to show: following this New Moses is not easier than following the old Moses through the wilderness. Power does not cancel cost.
(2) The Cost of Following Jesus: Priority and Permanence (8:18–22)
Two would-be followers step forward—and Jesus responds with sobering clarity.
“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (8:20)
Jesus does not promise material security or settled comfort. While believers find true rest in God, discipleship often brings a holy restlessness in this world.
Another disciple asks: “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” (8:21) Jesus’ reply is jarring: “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” (8:22)
This is not a rejection of family responsibility, but a declaration of ultimate priority. Jesus demands first place—over comfort, property, and even the strongest social expectations. The question is not whether these things matter—but whether they matter more than Christ.
(3) Assurances While Following Jesus: Authority Revealed (8:23–32)
Following Jesus does not exempt His disciples from storms. As the boat is overwhelmed by waves, the disciples cry out in fear. Moses once lifted his staff at God’s command to divide the sea (Exod. 14:16). But Jesus does something greater: “He rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” (8:26)
No intermediary. No staff. No prayer recorded. The disciples ask the right question: “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” (8:27) The implied answer is unmistakable: the Lord of the Universe Himself is present in the boat!
And His authority does not stop at nature. In the region of the Gadarenes, Jesus confronts the demonic realm. With a word, He liberates the possessed and displays power over forces unseen (8:28–32).
Jesus is Lord over disease, nature, spirits and fear. This is the assurance given to those who follow Him—not a promise of ease, but a promise of sovereign presence.
(4) Avoiding the Wrong Choice (8:33–34)
The chapter closes with a tragic response. “They begged him to leave their region.” (8:34) These people saw Jesus. They met Him. They witnessed His power. Yet they asked Him to go.
The leper begged to be healed. The centurion begged for mercy. The Gadarenes begged for distance.
Why? Because Jesus disrupted their sense of control, comfort, and economic security. To them, His presence was more frightening than the demons’ absence! Proximity to Jesus does not guarantee allegiance to Him.
Closing Reflections
Matthew 8 confronts us with a decision. Some draw near to Christ, trusting His authority and mercy. Others keep their distance—sometimes politely, sometimes religiously—finding reasons to ask Him to leave.
This chapter calls us not merely to admire Jesus’ power, but to follow Him, even when the cost is real and the path unsettling. The New Moses does not merely lead us out of “Egypt”—He calls us to Himself.
The question remains: What is your response today? Old Moses, New Moses, or none at all?
QT 10/02/2026 星期二 马太福音8. “跟随新摩西”
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/mat/8/
耶稣在山上讲完道后，便从山上下来（8:1）。这个动作充满深意。正如摩西从西奈山下来，耶稣此刻正以行动印证祂所宣讲的真理。然而祂不仅是新律法颁布者——祂远超摩西。马太福音第八章揭示了跟随祂所需的权柄、怜悯与代价。
(1) 来到耶稣面前：认清祂身份的信心（8:2-13）
前来求告者皆因回应祂的教导——且怀着信心而来。那痲疯病人深知该往何处去：“主啊！如果你肯，必能使我洁净。” (8:2)
尽管遭受社会排斥与肉体腐朽，痲疯病人仍径直来到耶稣面前。他未质疑耶稣的能力，只求祂的意愿。耶稣当即以怜悯回应：
“我肯，你洁净了吧！” (8:3)
相较之下，百夫长深谙耶稣权柄的运作方式：“你只管吩咐，我的仆人就必痊愈。” (8:8) 他认出这不受时空限制的权柄。耶稣无需亲临现场便能施恩。这信心令耶稣惊叹。
无论是(a)毁容的痲疯病(8:3)，(b)痛苦缠身的瘫痪(8:6)，还是(c)使人衰弱的热病(8:14-15)，耶稣都立刻医治了他们。
然而马太谨慎地表明：跟随这位新摩西，并不比昔日跟随旧摩西穿越旷野更轻松。权能的彰显，并不意味着代价的免除。
(2) 跟随耶稣的代价：优先与恒久（8:18–22）
两位想跟随耶稣的人上前询问——耶稣以清醒的洞见回应：
“狐狸有洞，天空的飞鸟有窝，但人子却没有栖身（“栖身”原文作“枕头”）的地方。”（8:20）
耶稣并未应许物质保障或安稳舒适。信徒虽在上帝那里得享真安息，但门徒之路常带来世上的圣洁不安。
另一门徒请求：“主啊！请准我先回去安葬我的父亲吧。”（8:21）耶稣的回应令人震撼：“跟从我吧！让死人去埋葬他们的死人。”（8:22）
这并非否定家庭责任，而是宣告终极优先次序。耶稣要求居首位——凌驾于安逸、财产乃至最严苛的社会期待之上。关键不在于这些事物是否重要，而在于它们是否比基督更重要。
(3) 跟随耶稣时的应许：权柄显明（8:23–32）
跟随耶稣并不意味着门徒能免于风暴。当巨浪吞没船只时，门徒惊恐地呼喊。摩西曾奉神命举杖分开红海（出14:16），但耶稣所行的更胜一筹：“他就起来斥责风和海，风浪就平静了。”（8:26）
无需中介。无需杖。未记载祷告。门徒问出了关键问题：“这是什么人，连风和海也听从他？”（8:27）隐含的答案毋庸置疑：宇宙的主宰亲自同在船上！
祂的权柄不仅限于自然界。在迦达拉地区，耶稣直面邪灵领域。祂一言之间释放被附者，彰显对无形之力的统治权（8:28-32）。
耶稣是疾病、自然、灵界与恐惧的主宰。这便是跟随祂之人的确据——并非承诺安逸，而是应许祂至高的同在。
(4) 避开错误选择（8:33-34）
本章以悲剧性回应收尾：众人“就求他离开他们的地区”（8:34）。这些人见过耶稣，遇见过祂，见证过祂的大能，却仍要求祂离开。
痲疯病人恳求医治，百夫长恳求怜悯，迦达拉人却恳求疏远。
为何？因耶稣颠覆了他们对掌控、安逸与经济保障的认知。对他们而言，祂的临在比驱逐恶灵更令人恐惧!亲近耶稣并不等于效忠于祂。
终章沉思
《马太福音》第八章迫使我们作出抉择。有人亲近基督，信靠祂的权柄与怜悯；有人保持距离——或彬彬有礼，或故作虔诚——总找理由请祂离开。
本章呼召我们不仅要惊叹耶稣的大能，更要跟随祂——即便代价真实，道路颠簸。新摩西不仅引领我们出 “埃及”，更召我们归向自己。
问题依然存在：今日你的回应是什么？选择旧摩西？新摩西？抑或两者皆弃？
