The Word of the King and Demons (Matthew 8:16-17)

by roderickbarnes Uncategorized

The Word of the King

The Word of the King and Demons

Passage: Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 1:32-39

16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”

Matthew 8:16 — The people have come to have hope for the seriously sick. By “seriously” I mean those whose maladies went deeper than physical disease. Worse than a body that is broken is a temple that has been taken over and is being tyrannized by an unclean spirit. People in this condition are held hostage in their own tent; in fact, the body no-longer belongs to them but is possessed and controlled by a demon. The demon-possessed are not living but existing; their physical, social, and spiritual lives have been been altered. What does that entail? Well, it varies. But when a person is demon possessed there are some things that are mentioned in the Scriptures:

    • Exceptional Strength and Durability (Mark 5:1-5) – A side effect of demonic possession can be strength and ruggedness exceeding that of human beings. The demon-possessed man mentioned by Mark had often been bound with shackles and chains (Mark 5:3). However, the man pulled them apart and broke the shackles in pieces (Mark 5:4).
    • Unusual Insights Based On Monitoring and Sharing (Acts 16:16-17) – Paul and his companions were followed by a demon-possessed girl who had insights into the mission and message of the team (Acts 16:16-17). Spirits are familiar with Jesus and certain saints; Christians that do damage to demonic realms become notorious among the principalities that are against the Lord (Acts 19:15). Fortune telling is actually the outworking of an evil spirit telling a person things that they have learned or observed as they travel to and fro throughout the earth seeking someone to devour (Job 1:6-7; 1 Peter 5:8); they monitor people (especially saints) looking for opportunities to do damage.
    • Deranged Thinking (Mark 5:5) – Under the influence of an evil spirit the man mentioned above was observed crying out and cutting himself with stones (Mark 5:5). This type of self-harm was the outworking of an unclean spirit that was not supposed to be there.
    • Loss of Faculties (Matthew 9:32-33) – At times the manifestation of a demonic presence was a loss of a basic ability. One man loss the power of speech. When the demon was removed the man was no longer mute.
    • Contentious and Combative toward Community (Matthew 8:28) – An unclean spirit works through the possessed persons and influences saints to disrupt community, create division, and create confusion (James 3:13-16).

Notice that the casting out of demons is distinguished from healing all who were sick (Matthew 8:16). It is wrong to say that what are called demons in the narrative should be regarded in modern times as mere medical issues. General sicknesses and demonic activity are separate in manifestation and treatment.

Failure to recognize the difference between general disease and demonic possession when trying to help can lead to further harm. Why? The difference is significant: (1) demons are sentient beings determined to deceive people and defy the will of God (John 10:10) and (2) diseases are defects in the body, the effects of pathogens, or other problems for which the explanation (if not the cause) is natural. Dealing with demons using modern medicine is like trying to handle a hostage situation with cough drops.

Matthew 8:17 — To what end does Jesus do this? That is, why is He healing people and casting out demons? Matthew, more than any other gospel writer, explicitly mentions that an event or action taken by Jesus was in fulfillment of a prophecy. He does this between 20 to 25 times. In this case, the actions of the Man from Nazareth are to be seen as the realization of something spoken over 700 years prior by Isaiah the prophet.

Let us notice three things about what is taking place.

    1. The Simplicity (Matthew 8:16) – Matthew would have his reader know that Jesus did not struggle to free people from demon-possession. In contrast with the exorcisms performed by the priests, there was no complicated ritual. He says that He cast out the spirits with a word (Matthew 8:16). The unusual authority of Jesus is hereby put on display; the spirits, says Matthew, are entirely subject to Him. If we are to regard the narrative as being both simple and accurate, Jesus did not use many words to exorcise the unclean spirits; he used a [single] word (λόγῳ – noun, dative, singular, masculine). Maybe He said, “Out!” And that, when the King is speaking, is all that is needed.
    2. The Silencing (Luke 4:40-41) – The evil spirits recognize Jesus. But Jesus will not allow them to speak. Why? Insofar as they speak the truth about His identity they gain credibility that will be used for evil thereafter. Jesus will not allow the demons to give people the false impression that He (1) associates with them, (2) accepts their testimony, or (3) approves of their activities. This practice of distancing Himself from spirits of disobedience will be taken up by the apostle Paul (Acts 16:16-18).
    3. The Significance (Isaiah 53:4) – In the physical and spiritual realm Jesus is delivering. People are being delivered from disease and demon-possession. To what end? The work is not merely a wonder. It is a sign. Recall the words of the angel to Jesus’ earthly father: You shall call His name Yeshua for He shall yoshia His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). The passage in Isaiah also makes repeated mention of the healing ministry of the servant of God (Isaiah 53:4-6, 10-12); in that chapter it is a healing from the consequences of transgressions and indwelling sin (Isaiah 53:5,8,11-12).

Jesus delivered from diseases and, with a word, from demons to demonstrate that He was delivering from the destructive outworking of disobedience.

Failing to believe in the significance and sufficiency of His work leaves me still working to accomplish what I can’t do. Believing this word leads to me receiving the medicine that is the Son of Man and His work to make me healthy. There is a balm in Gilead (Jeremiah 8:22); let us apply it.

Questions for Discussion

    1. Have I seen activity in my life or around me that suggests that demons are at work causing problems?
    2. Am I still trying to treat the symptoms and sickness of of sin with something other that the medicine provided by God (John 8:36)?
    3. When I look at Matthew 4:1-11 and Matthew 8:16-17, what does it say about dealing with demons (1 John 4:4)?