The King’s Kingdom: A Study of Matthew 8–13

A Study of Matthew 8–13 In this second volume of his study on Matthew, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores the transition from Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount to His miraculous ministry. This series highlights the King’s authority over disease, demons, and nature, while detailing the rising opposition from religious leaders and the specific requirements of true discipleship.

1. Out of the Crowd . . . a Leper!

• Overview: Jesus breaks social and ceremonial barriers by touching and healing a man with leprosy. This message emphasizes that the King’s compassion extends to those deemed “untouchable” by society.
• Key Fact: In the first century, lepers were required to remain at a distance; Jesus’ physical touch was a radical act of restoration that proved His authority over the Mosaic Law.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 8:1–4

2. Snapshots of Power, Far and Near

• Overview: A look at two distinct miracles: the healing of a Gentile centurion’s servant from a distance and Peter’s mother-in-law at home. It demonstrates that the King’s power is not limited by geography or ethnicity.
• Key Fact: The Centurion’s faith is the first instance in Matthew where a Gentile’s belief surpasses that of Israel, foreshadowing the global reach of the Gospel.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 8:5–17

3. How Not to Follow Jesus

• Overview: Jesus addresses two potential followers—one who is overly impulsive and another who is overly hesitant. Chuck explores the “hidden costs” of following the King.
• Key Fact: Discipleship requires a “no-turning-back” commitment that prioritizes the Kingdom of God over personal comfort and even traditional family obligations.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 8:18–22

4. Dealing with Demons

• Overview: After calming a physical storm on the sea, Jesus confronts a spiritual storm in the region of the Gadarenes by casting out a “Legion” of demons.
• Key Fact: This passage proves Jesus’ absolute sovereignty over the supernatural realm; even the demonic world must submit to the King’s command.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 8:23–34

5. A Soul-Searching Walk Alongside Jesus

• Overview: Through the healing of a paralytic and the calling of Matthew the tax collector, Jesus shows that His primary mission is the spiritual healing of “sin-sick” souls.
• Key Fact: Jesus’ association with tax collectors and “sinners” redefined holiness from ritual purity to mercy-driven engagement with the lost.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 9:1–13

6. A Nonstop Day of Miracles

• Overview: A rapid-fire account of Jesus raising a girl from the dead, healing a woman with a chronic hemorrhage, and restoring sight to the blind.
• Key Fact: This “day in the life” of Jesus illustrates that the King is never too busy to respond to desperate, persistent faith.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 9:18–34

7. Listen Well, Think Right, Talk Straight, Travel Light

• Overview: Jesus commissions the twelve apostles, giving them specific instructions on how to represent the King. Chuck highlights the importance of simplicity and urgency in ministry.
• Key Fact: The transition from “disciples” (learners) to “apostles” (sent ones) marks a pivotal shift in the expansion of the King’s message.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 9:35–10:15

8. Sheep among Wolves: What to Expect

• Overview: Jesus warns His followers that representing Him will lead to persecution and misunderstanding. This message offers a realistic view of the spiritual warfare inherent in Christian witness.
• Key Fact: The “fear of God” is presented as the biblical antidote to the “fear of man” when facing opposition for the sake of the Gospel.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 10:16–33

9. A Severe Checklist for Disciples

• Overview: Jesus speaks of the “sword” He brings—not for military conquest, but as a byproduct of the division that truth causes within families and societies.
• Key Fact: Taking up one’s cross is not about enduring minor irritations, but about a daily death to self-will in favor of the King’s will.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 10:34–11:1

10. When Disappointment Leads to Doubt

• Overview: John the Baptist, sitting in prison, begins to wonder if Jesus is truly the Messiah. Jesus responds not with rebuke, but with evidence of His works.
• Key Fact: Even the greatest figures of faith can experience doubt when God’s timing doesn’t align with their expectations.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 11:2–19

11. When Jesus Turned Up the Heat

• Overview: Jesus denounces the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum for their lack of repentance despite witnessing His miracles.
• Key Fact: To whom much is given, much is required; witnessing the light of Christ brings a greater responsibility to respond in faith.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 11:20–24

12. Get Some Rest

• Overview: One of the most beloved invitations in Scripture. Jesus invites the “weary and heavy-laden” to find spiritual rest by taking His yoke.
• Key Fact: Jesus’ “yoke” is an invitation to partnership and apprenticeship, providing a rhythm of grace that stands in contrast to religious legalism.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 11:25–30

13. Sabbath Lord vs. Religious Nitpickers

• Overview: Conflict arises when Jesus’ disciples pluck grain on the Sabbath. Jesus declares Himself “Lord of the Sabbath,” prioritizing human need over man-made traditions.
• Key Fact: Legalism focuses on the letter of the law to exclude, while Jesus focuses on the heart of the law to heal and provide.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 12:1–14

14. God’s Servant or Satan’s Pawn?

• Overview: When the Pharisees attribute Jesus’ power to Beelzebul (Satan), Jesus warns them about the “unpardonable sin”—the deliberate rejection of the Holy Spirit’s work.
• Key Fact: A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand; Jesus’ miracles were the definitive proof that the Kingdom of God had arrived.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 12:22–37

15. Severe Warnings Everyone Must Remember

• Overview: Jesus refuses to give a “sign” to the scribes and Pharisees, pointing instead to the “Sign of Jonah” as a prophecy of His own death and resurrection.
• Key Fact: Seeking external signs can often be a mask for an internal refusal to believe the truth already revealed.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 12:38–45

16. Miraculous Signs, Evil Spirits, Startling Statement

• Overview: While teaching, Jesus is told His mother and brothers are outside. He uses the moment to define His true family as those who do the will of God.
• Key Fact: Spiritual kinship in the Kingdom of Christ transcends biological and earthly ties.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 12:46–50

17. A Story for the Hard of Listening

• Overview: The Parable of the Sower (or the Soils). Jesus explains why the same message produces different results in different people.
• Key Fact: The condition of the “soil” (the human heart) determines the fruitfulness of the “seed” (the Word of God).
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 13:1–23

18. A World Full of Wheat and Weeds

• Overview: Through the Parable of the Tares, Jesus explains why evil is allowed to exist alongside good in the present age until the final judgment.
• Key Fact: It is God’s job, not ours, to perform the final “sorting” of the righteous and the unrighteous at the end of the age.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43

19. Get It? Got It? Good!

• Overview: A collection of short parables (Mustard Seed, Leaven, Hidden Treasure, Pearl) that describe the small beginnings and immense value of the Kingdom.
• Key Fact: The Kingdom of Heaven may start small and invisible, but its ultimate value is worth sacrificing everything to obtain.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 13:31–35, 44–52

20. Home, Cynical Home

• Overview: Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth but is rejected by those who think they “know” Him. Because of their unbelief, He does few miracles there.
• Key Fact: Familiarity can breed a cynicism that blinds us to the miraculous work of God in our own lives.
• Scripture Reference: Matthew 13:53–58