Matthew 4:23  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

	This passage in the Gospel of Matthew deals with the earthly ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. It summarizes the daily walk that Christ had on this earth. It encompasses the teaching ministry of Christ, the salvation ministry of Christ and the healing ministry of Christ. The same ministry that is fully part of our everyday walk with Him, today.
	One of the focuses of Matthew’s Gospel is that of seeing Jesus Christ as King. This is evident in the first chapter of the Gospel wherein Matthew details the genealogy of Jesus, tracing through the kingly bloodline from Abraham, through King David, unto His birth. The legal status of the right of Christ to be called the King of the Jews, being established, Matthew then proceeds forth with the kingdom authority established through the ministry of the King of kings and Lord of lords.
	In Chapters 8 + 9, Matthew gives 10 verbal portraits of the authority of Jesus Christ as evident during His earthly ministry. These are not chronological, neither are they a complete accounting of what Christ established and demonstrated both in the spiritual as well as the earthly realm, but each one is highly significant as to the authority of Christ as the King of all creation. They serve to illustrate and to remind us of the power, and the character and the awesomeness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
	This wonderful panorama of Christ, as painted by Matthew, can be considered under three headings. The first is that of His authority over disease, as expressed in verses 1-15 of Chapter 8. Disease was one of the greatest concerns of the Biblical era. The medical practices were almost non-existent, and even more deadly that the disease itself. The fear of all humanity, rich or poor, king or slave, was that a deadly disease would cut short an already short life-span. No one was immune to the ravages of the rampant waves of pestilence that could wipe out families and communities. The direst dread was of contracting a malady that would cause the sufferer to be banished for the sake of the rest of the family and the community. Leprosy was one such disease. It created outcasts who could only find refuge in the misery of other such inflicted ones. Leprosy meant not only death, but complete alienation and separation from friends, loved ones, strangers and all of society. Lepers who did not voluntarily seclude themselves in a pit of the direst of humanity, were driven from their homes by the fears of the rest of the community. 
	In verses 1-4, we have the picture of Christ healing the leprous man who sought after Him. One key aspect of this verse is recorded by Matthew, that we should not glide over too easily. It is the fact that Jesus touched this man. This a vital part of the ministry of Christ, not just then, but in our everyday walk with Him. It is utterly important in two respects. The first is the fact that this man needed to be touched. He had, in all likelihood, not felt the touch of another clean person for weeks, months, even years. We, as humans, need to feel the presence of those who love us. This is one reason that we are so apt to hug each other as we gather together in Christ. There is a communion that is established in sharing a physical contact with another person who so loves Christ. It is a natural expression of our Love of Christ to hug those whom we are joined together with in Christ.	Christ’s touch did much to bring this leprous man in right standing with God. He felt the very presence of the Son of God, and his need for an expression of the Love of God was met in the touch of Christ. How many of us have needed and received the touch of Christ in our beings? Sometimes He evidences Himself in the expression of love shown to us by one another in the body. Sometimes He touches us in our spirit, Spirit to spirit. Sometimes it is a healing touch of our physical infirmities. Sometimes it is an encouraging touch reminding us that He is always with us, as stated in Heb. 13:5 +6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
	The second truth of the healing of this leprous man is that Christ did not hesitate to touch him. Jesus had no fear of the disease which so infested this man’s body. Christ has complete authority  and complete control over all the elements of this creation, so to Him, there was no reason not to touch this dying man and to heal him completely of the disease which was raking his body. The touch was needed and the healing was given, and God was glorified in this man’s life, and in the lives of those who witnessed it.
	In verses 5-13, we have another example of Christ’s authority over disease as evidenced in the healing of the Roman soldier’s servant. This healing did not require a physical touch. The centurion simply stated that all that was necessary was for Christ to but speak healing, and the servant would be healed. The Word of the Lord is sufficient to bring about a complete healing of the individual, whether physical or spiritual in nature. Everything is under the authority of the very Word of God. We would do well to remind ourselves over and over again of the effective ministry of the Word of God, and not to take Him nor His Word for granted. As we are lead by Him, so His Word ministers in our beings and effectively serves to bring about the proper testimony of Christ to shine forth from our lives. We should cherish the opportunities that are ours to know Him in greater reality through the effective witness of the Holy Spirit in the Word of God.
	Verses 14-15 speak of the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law from a fever that had beset her. Fevers, in that day could be deadly. The very fact that the power of the fever was broken, and that the mother-in-law was able to then minister unto the gathering bore fruit in the multitudes that gathered that evening for His healing touch. The reality is that when Christ ministers into our lives, when He touches us with His healing power, our lives are from that point on-ward a life of ministry unto others of the grace and the power and the mercy of God. Many are drawn by the evidenced touch of Christ. We do not have to seek them out, they are brought unto us by the effective ministry of the Holy Spirit to witness and to receive of the One Who now lives in us and has so completely touched our lives.
	The next verse, 8:23-9:8 bear witness to the authority of Christ over many realms. He is far more than a divine doctor. He has complete control over every aspect of creation. 
	Verses 23-27 of Chapter 8 carry the familiar story of the storm on the Sea of Galilee. The men on the boat were in desperation. They were in utter chaos and fearing for their very survival. The storm was raging at its uttermost and his disciples woke Him up from His sleep with words of their imminent demise. Christ spoke peace and peace reigned on that sea. The men marveled at the authority of Christ over even the physical realm. The lesson, however is that the physical storm also realties to the spiritual gales that so easily beset us. Through the most turbulent of times, whether physical or spiritual, peace reigns supreme in the presence of the Lord. He is the One in Whom to seek refuge in the midst of the storms. While all around us, the world may be falling apart at its seams, the blasts of fiery indignation and persecution might be leveled upon us, yet we are sure to find peace and comfort in the abiding presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is in control over anything and everything, PERIOD! Nothing, absolutely nothing is outside the authority of King Jesus.
	Verses 8:28-34 give further expression to this fact in the witness of even the powers of Hell. The demons, those fallen spiritual beings, recognized Jesus as the Son of God and His authority over them, and obeyed Him. Nothing is outside the realm of Christ’s power.
	Verses 1-8 of Chapter 9 shows an even more thrilling aspect of the authority of Christ the King. Therein we see the power of Christ to forgive the sins of humanity. This is a far greater power than that of the healing the sick, or of calming the seas or even of the commanding the legions of the spiritual realm. It is this power which sets Christ apart from all other powers and principalities. Only God Himself can command forgiveness to invade and to change a person. Only God can bring forth beauty from the ashes of humanity’s sins, by forgiving those sins and bringing man into the right-standing and relationship with God that was always intended for man to have with God. There is no greater power on earth than for the Love of God to be manifested in the life of a person, who has been forgiven and is now brought into the very family of God in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. None but Christ can accomplish that miracle of miracles, and He is so faithful to establish that authority in the lives of any and of all who will but seek after Him.
	The third heading of authority seen in these writings of Matthew are found in Chapter 9, verse 18-26. It is that of Christ’s authority over life and death.
	In the passage of verses 20-22, we have the example of the woman, who had lived for 12 years with a circulatory problem from which she could find no healing. Her body was racked with the pain of a chronic disorder that was slowly killing her. She wanted simply to touch the hem of His garment, and as she did so, she was healed. Her faith in Him was met by His love for her and she was healed in that instant.
	In verses 9:27-31, we have the account of the blind man whose eyes were healed. Whether physical blindness or spiritual blindness, the light of Christ is sufficient to bring sight to the blind, shining into every pit of darkness to expose and to heal the severest of the blind.
	Verses 9:32-34 the healing of the deaf man who was also possessed of a demon.
	Verse 9:23-26 the raising of the little girl from the dead.
	There is no situation that is impossible for Christ.
	He can be trusted with our very lives and everything that is a part of our lives.
He deserves our devotion as our king.
He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.