What does Luke 4:39 mean?

And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. Luke 4:39

Explanation

The verse Luke 4:39 depicts a miracle performed by Jesus Christ. The setting is the home of Simon Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples. Peter’s mother-in-law is suffering from a high fever. The illness at the time was potentially deadly, given the lack of advanced medical care. Jesus is described as standing over the sick woman and rebuking the fever, suggesting a command or authoritative order for the illness to leave. Notably, the fever is personified, allowing for it to be ‘rebuked’. This suggests that Jesus’s command has power over the illness, akin to power over demons or evil spirits which he also rebuked in other passages.

Luke’s account emphasizes the immediate response to Jesus’ command – the fever leaves, and the woman gets up at once and begins to serve them. This instantaneous healing not only demonstrates Jesus’ divine power but also restores the woman’s place in the social and domestic sphere of the time, as she resumes her role of serving guests.

Historical Context

Luke 4:39 belongs to the New Testament, which was written in a first-century context. During this time, Jewish culture predominated in Galilee, and the Jewish people were living under Roman occupation. Medical understanding was rudimentary compared to modern science, and illness could often be attributed to supernatural causes such as evil spirits or divine punishment.

In this societal context, the role of women was traditionally domestic, and the immediate return of Peter’s mother-in-law to serve the guests indicates her return to her societal role, suggesting a full restoration of her health and status within the household.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse is rich in meaning for different streams of Christianity. For some, it illustrates Jesus’ compassion as he cares for an individual’s suffering. It also demonstrates his divine authority to heal, which is a tangible sign of the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God, where illness and suffering are overcome.

Others interpret it in light of Christ’s victory over evil, symbolized by the fever’s personification and its ‘rebuke’. Additionally, the act of service by Peter’s mother-in-law can be seen as a response to God’s grace – a theme throughout Luke’s gospel where those who are healed or forgiven often respond in service or proclamation.

Practical Applications

In terms of practical application, this verse serves as an encouragement to believers in the power of prayer and faith. It reinforces the idea of turning to God in times of illness or trouble. Furthermore, the woman’s immediate response of service might inspire readers to respond to God’s healing and blessings in their lives with acts of service and hospitality towards others.

Luke 4:39 also challenges believers to see beyond the physical healings to understand the comprehensive restoration that Jesus brings – to individuals and communities – which encompasses physical, social, and spiritual dimensions.

Cross-References

• Matthew 8:14-15: “And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.”
• Mark 1:30-31: “But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.”
• Acts 9:36-42: Peter’s own miracle of healing Tabitha contributes to the theme of healing and service.
• James 5:14-15: Emphasizes prayer and faith in healing the sick, “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

Language Study

The original Greek term for “rebuked” is “epetimēsen” (ἐπετίμησεν), which is a form of the verb “epitimaō” that means to charge or admonish sternly, and by extension to rebuke.

The term for “fever” in Greek is “puretos” (πυρετός), which refers to the burning heat of a fever; this term is used in the medical context and here is given a sense of being an entity that can be addressed and commanded.

The immediate action described as “arose and ministered” uses the Greek “anastasa diēkonei” (ἀναστᾶσα διηκόνει), indicating a prompt and complete recovery, which emphasizes the miraculous nature of the healing.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In cultural and religious comparison, healing stories are not unique to the Christian tradition. In many ancient cultures, including Egyptian and Greek, healers and gods were thought to have the power to cast out illness. Similar to Jesus’ miracles, such healings were seen as signs of divine favor or power.

In Judaism, the tradition that Jesus was part of, it was believed that God was the ultimate source of healing. Prayers for recovery often involved invoking God’s mercy and power.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, fever is a symptom, not a disease itself; it is a sign of the body’s immune response to infection. In modern times, a fever would not be “rebuked” but rather monitored and treated based on its underlying cause. However, psychosomatic responses to stressors, including disease, are well-documented, which can suggest that a person’s belief in healing or relief can sometimes have a tangible effect on their state of health, paralleling the apparent immediacy of healing in this account.

Commentaries

Various biblical commentaries focus on different aspects of Luke 4:39.

Matthew Henry’s commentary emphasizes the compassion that Jesus showed by healing the woman and highlights the immediate service she provides as evidence of a true miracle.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary discusses the significance of Jesus’ power over illness and suggests that his healing ministry fulfills Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.

The New International Commentary on the New Testament provides cultural context, noting that the ability to perform household duties verified a woman’s health.

Commentators also explore the implications of the healing, considering Jesus’ authority over natural and supernatural and the appropriate response of service to God’s intervention in human lives.