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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 8:14 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 8:14 presents an episode from Jesus' life where He enters the home of Peter, one of His disciples.

On arrival, Jesus notices that Peter's mother-in-law is sick with a fever.

This particular narrative is part of a series of events that demonstrate Jesus' miraculous healing power.

The verse straightforwardly reports what Jesus observed and indicates the circumstances that lead to one of His miraculous healings. Beyond its literal meaning, the verse also displays Jesus' compassion and personal care for the family of His followers.

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Historical Context

This verse is set within the broader context of the Gospel of Matthew, which was written primarily for a Jewish audience.

The event occurs in Capernaum, a town on the North Shore of the Sea of Galilee, which served as Jesus' base during much of His ministry.

During Jesus' time, a fever was considered a serious ailment, as medical understanding and treatment options were limited.

Additionally, Peter's mother-in-law's sickness would have rendered her unable to perform her customary duties in a patriarchal society where household service was a significant aspect of a woman's role.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives offer varied insights into this verse.

A traditional Christian viewpoint may see this passage as underlining Jesus' divinity and His power to heal physical ailments.

It can also be considered evidence of His messianic mission because healing was one of the signs prophesied about the Messiah.

Some theologians may interpret this healing as symbolic of spiritual restoration, suggesting that just as Jesus healed physical illness, He also came to heal spiritual sickness.

Furthermore, a feminist theological perspective may focus on the inclusion of women in Jesus' ministry, as the healing of Peter's mother-in-law can be seen as an emancipatory act in a society which often marginalized women.

Practical Applications

The application of this verse in daily life can take multiple forms. It may inspire the faithful to turn to God in times of illness or distress, trusting in His power to heal and comfort.

Additionally, it encourages believers to care for the sick among us and to view acts of service as following Jesus' example.

Lastly, it shows the importance of hospitality and caring for family, as Peter's mother-in-law was ill at home, in a space that should be welcoming to Jesus and His disciples.

Cross-References

Mark 1:30-31: "But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her."
Luke 4:38-39: "And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her."

Language Study

The key words in this verse in the original Greek text include:

"Sick" (ἠσθένει - asthenei): often translated as being weak or without strength, referring to the mother-in-law's physical condition.
"Fever" (πυρετῷ - puretō): signifies a burning or fiery fever, likely indicating a severe ailment needing urgent attention.

The use of these terms points to a serious health concern, highlighting the gravity of the situation before Jesus performs His healing.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the Ancient Near East, healings were often associated with gods or miracle workers.

Comparisons can be made between Jesus’ healings and similar stories from other cultures, where deities or heroes perform miraculous cures.

Notably, Jesus' healings are distinguished by their lack of ritual or magical practices, often involving a simple word or touch.

In Judaism, healing miracles can also be found, such as those performed by prophets like Elijah and Elisha. These stories serve to validate the authority of the healer and their connection with the divine, a theme that carries into the Christian interpretation of Jesus' miracles.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understanding recognizes fever as a symptom of underlying conditions rather than a disease itself.

The bible does not specify the cause of the fever, but today's medicine would interpret the healing as the alleviation of whatever underlying condition caused the fever.

While the scientific method seeks natural explanations and empirical evidence for healing, faith perspectives often accept the supernatural nature of Jesus' miracles as matters of belief.

Commentaries

Commentators on this verse typically focus on the demonstration of Jesus' compassion and His power over sickness.

John Calvin notes the significance of Jesus entering the home of a disciple and offering a personal touch.

Matthew Henry comments on Jesus' ability to heal simply by touching the hand of Peter's mother-in-law, underlining the immediacy of Jesus' healing power.

Modern scholars like R.T.

France emphasize the passage's role in the narrative structure of Matthew, which showcases Jesus' authority through a collection of healing stories.

Matthew 8

Matthew 8

What does Matthew 8:14 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 8:14 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?