Small Group Discussion week 25

The Gospel of Matthew
Week 25 – Jesus Continues to Heal
Transition:
Last week we saw Jesus’ calling of Matthew (the writer of this gospel) to follow Him, Jesus’
explanation to the Pharisees about why He ate with tax collectors and sinners, and why His ministry culture was
significantly different than that of John the Baptizer. At the conclusion of that section, Jesus made it clear to His
audience (the disciples of John) that His ministry was different than John’s because it was completely new and
separate from his.

Context:
This week we look at a passage where Jesus heals four people in three different scenarios. In each
case, the need for the healing is unlike the others. In one, it is a young girl who has died; in another it is a woman who has been ill for 12 years; next, it is two blind men; and in the final scene Jesus heals a demon-possessed man who is mute. Jesus’ identity continues to cause division among the people. In fact, the views couldn’t be more divergent.

Opening Questions:
• Describe a time when you and someone else both witnessed the same event but had different explanations
for what happened. If you haven’t had this experience, try to imagine a situation where it could happen. What
reasons can you think of to explain why people have irreconcilable perspectives about the same event?
• Share a time when you were driven to your knees before God. What happened? Why did it happen? What
did you learn about God? What did you learn about yourself? Why do you think God does/allows this?

Scripture/Storying:
Matthew 9:18-34

Discipleship Questions:
• In the first scenario (v18-26), a ruler asks Jesus for the seemingly impossible—to bring his dead daughter
back to life. What is something seemingly impossible that you have prayed to God for and that He answered
(by doing what you asked)? What impact did this have on you? What impact did it have on others who knew
about it?
• Also in the first scenario, as Jesus is on His way to the ruler’s home, a woman who had been suffering from a
terrible affliction touches the fringe of Jesus’ garment believing she would be healed. And Jesus, aware of
her doing this, says to her, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” What does Jesus mean that
her faith made her well? What principle do you draw from this that applies to your own life?
• In the second scenario, two blind men follow Jesus and cry out to Him as “the Son of David.” What does this
mean to them? What does it mean to you? How does it influence how you live?
• Jesus asks these two men, “Do you believe that I am able to do this (give them sight)?” Why do you think He
asks them this question? (He had not asked it to anyone else so far in the gospel.) Why do you think He tells
them not to let anyone else know about their healing?
• In the last scenario, Jesus heals a mute man by casting out demons from him. In this case, the man’s faith is
not mentioned. What’s your explanation for why faith is mentioned in some scenarios, but not others?
• While the crowds marveled at this last miracle, the Pharisees claimed that Jesus cast out demons by the
power of the prince of demons (Satan). In what ways have you noticed people misdiagnose Jesus’ true
nature today? What can we do to help people know Jesus accurately/truly?
• What do you learn about Jesus’ character from these different healings? In what ways does steadfast
confidence in Jesus’ true character influence your everyday life? (Think of real and specific examples.)

Prayer time:
Pray that we will continue to grow in our faith in Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of David.