Matthew 8

When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

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.

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.

And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.

And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

What does Matthew 8:1 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 8:1 describes the scene immediately following Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, which is one of the most famous teachings in the New Testament, encompassing chapters 5 through 7 of the Gospel of Matthew.

As Jesus descends from the mountain, He is followed by large crowds.

This indicates that His teachings resonated deeply with those who heard them.

On a literal level, the verse portrays Jesus as a figure who attracts great multitudes, implying His growing popularity and influence as a teacher and healer.

On a deeper level, the verse could symbolize the idea that the teachings of Jesus are profound and powerful, leading many to seek Him out for wisdom and guidance.

The descent from the mountain can also be seen as a transition from a place of divine revelation back into the realm of everyday life, where Jesus' teachings would soon be put into practice.

This sets the stage for the miraculous events and healings that will follow in chapter 8, affirming Jesus’ authority and divinity.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Matthew is believed to have been written in the late 1st century, primarily for a Jewish audience.

The mountain, often a symbolic place for divine revelation in Jewish tradition (e.g., Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai), serves as the backdrop for the Sermon on the Mount.

In this context, Jesus is portrayed in a way that mirrors Moses, but He is also presented as someone greater than Moses, indicating a new era in God's relationship with humanity.

The great multitudes that followed Jesus reflect the historical context of the Jewish people under Roman occupation, who were desperately longing for a Messiah , a savior who would deliver them from their oppressors and restore their kingdom.

The popularity of Jesus might have been fueled by these Messianic expectations.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse is significant to several branches of Christian thought:

Traditional Orthodox and Catholic viewpoints might emphasize the divine authority of Jesus as He descends from the mountain, much like Moses did, indicating that His teachings carry the weight of divine law.
Protestant interpretations may focus on the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy through Jesus and see the multitudes as indicative of the broad reach of the Gospel, which is meant for all people, not just the Jews.
Liberation theology might view the crowds following Jesus as the marginalized seeking liberation and justice, with Jesus' teachings providing a framework for social and spiritual emancipation.

Each perspective finds in the crowd's following Jesus a different aspect of His mission and message.

Practical Applications

This verse encapsulates the attraction of Jesus’ message and can inspire individuals to reflect on their openness to spiritual teachings and their application in daily life.

It can encourage believers to seek a closer relationship with Jesus, heed His teachings, and follow Him not just in times of solitude and reflection but also in the challenges of everyday life.

Furthermore, it calls for inclusivity and outreach, as Jesus did not turn away the multitudes that sought Him.

In a modern context, this could translate into the need for believers to be welcoming and compassionate in their communities.

Cross-References

Matthew 5-7: These chapters describe the Sermon on the Mount, detailing the teachings that so many people responded to.
Exodus 19-20: These chapters tell of Moses on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, creating a parallel to Jesus delivering His sermon on the mountain.
Matthew 4:25: "And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan."
Luke 6:17: "And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people..."

Language Study

Analyzing key words in the original Greek language of the New Testament provides additional depth:

"Multitudes" (Greek: "οχλοι", transliteration: "ochloi") refers to a large group of people, emphasizing the scale of Jesus' impact.
"Followed" (Greek: "ηκολουθήσαν", transliteration: "ekolouthēsan") has a connotation of accompanying or being a disciple, implying a commitment to learning from Jesus' teachings.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the comparative study of religion, mountains are often regarded as places of divine revelation or spiritual experience across various traditions.

For example, in Hinduism, several mountains are considered sacred and are associated with various gods.

In Greek myths, Mount Olympus was the home of the gods.

The act of Jesus teaching on the mountain might suggest a universal motif where mountains serve as a bridge between the divine and the mundane.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the attraction of crowds could be examined through the lens of social psychology, exploring why great multitudes would be drawn to a charismatic leader like Jesus.

Factors such as the social and political climate, the psychological needs of the oppressed, or the charisma of Jesus Himself might all have played a role.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians offer diverse interpretations of this verse:

Some commentaries focus on the didactic climax of the Sermon on the Mount, highlighting that Jesus’ words necessitate a response from the listeners and the descent from the mountain represents a transition into a section of Matthew's Gospel where Jesus' teachings are manifested in His actions.
Others note the significance of the mountain as a symbol of divine revelation and draw parallels between Jesus and Moses.
Still others examine the response of the crowds within the socio-political context of the time, suggesting that Jesus was seen as a figure of hope against Roman oppression.

While interpretations may differ, there is a general consensus that this verse serves as a transitional moment, emphasizing the impact of Jesus’ teachings and the beginning of His active ministry.

Matthew 8

Matthew 8

What does Matthew 8:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 8:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?