THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

Passage: Matthew 8:14-22

Key verse: 20

NIV

Jesus Heals Many(A)

14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.(B) 17 This was to fulfill(C) what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

“He took up our infirmities
    and bore our diseases.”[a](D)

The Cost of Following Jesus(E)

18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.(F) 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man(G) has no place to lay his head.”

21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me,(H) and let the dead bury their own dead.”

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 8:17 Isaiah 53:4 (see Septuagint)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Heals Many

14 (A)And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw (B)his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. 15 He (C)touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. 16 That evening they brought to him many who were (D)oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits (E)with a word and healed all who were sick. 17 (F)This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: (G)“He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

The Cost of Following Jesus

18 Now (H)when Jesus saw a crowd around him, (I)he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 (J)And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave (K)the dead to bury their own dead.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. He took up our infirmities (14-17)

Jesus' healing work was very personal. Peter's mother-in-law was an example. He saw her in bed, suffering with a fever. He touched her hand and she was healed. She got up and served them. In the evening, many came who needed his help. He drove out evil spirits with a word and healed all the sick. Jesus' healing work reveals not only the power of the Messiah, but also the love of God for each person.

2. Two would-be disciples (18-22)

As Jesus prepared to leave the crowds to concentrate on training his disciples, a man volunteered to be a disciple. He was moved by Jesus' love and thought that being a disciple was meaningful and secure employment. Jesus told him that he could offer no worldly security (20). Jesus invited another man to follow him. This man had urgent business to do first (21). Jesus told him that following Jesus must be a disciple's first priority.

Prayer: Lord, I want to follow you, trusting you alone to be my security; help me to make following you my first priority.

One Word: Follow Jesus