PrevMatthew 8:16Next

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 8:16 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 8:16 chronicles a series of healing miracles performed by Jesus Christ, emphasizing His authority and compassion.

As evening falls, people brought many who were demon-possessed to Jesus.

Rather than engaging in elaborate rituals, Jesus cast the evil spirits out with a simple command, "His word." This act of exorcising demons is presented as a demonstration of Jesus' supernatural power and divine authority.

Moreover, Jesus' healing of "all that were sick" shows His willingness to heal and restore every individual who came to Him, reflecting the inclusive nature of His ministry.

The verse suggests a physical, spiritual, and emotional restoration brought about by Jesus' intervention.

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Matthew 8:16 is set in the early period of Jesus' ministry around the region of Galilee in the first century AD.

After delivering the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus enters into a series of miraculous acts, including healing and exorcism.

During this time, belief in demonic possession and physical illnesses thought to have spiritual causes was commonplace.

Healing and exorcism were integral aspects of Jesus' ministry, confirming His claims to divine authority and fulfilling Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Messiah's healing powers.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse is loaded with significance.

For some Christian denominations, it's a strong testament to Jesus' divinity and His role as the Messiah prophesied in Isaiah 53, which speaks of one who would bear our sicknesses.

Others see it as an example of the kingdom of God breaking into the present world, where Jesus overcomes the forces of evil, represented by the devils, and restores creation to its intended wholeness.

For yet other traditions, such as those emphasizing the continuationism of spiritual gifts, this verse may be cited to support the belief that miracles continue in the present day.

Practical Applications

In daily life, Matthew 8:16 can inspire believers to invoke the name and authority of Jesus in the face of adversity, sickness, or spiritual warfare. It also encourages acts of compassion towards those in need, as Jesus did not turn away any who came to Him.

Furthermore, the personal application might involve trusting in Jesus' power to restore and heal, both physically and spiritually, by seeking His intervention through prayer and faith.

Cross-References

Mark 1:34: "And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him."
Luke 4:40-41: "Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God.

And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ."

Psalm 107:20: "He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions."

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text of this verse include:

"Possessed with devils" (Greek: δαιμονιζομένους, daimonizomenous): The term signifies those who were afflicted or controlled by demons.
"Cast out" (Greek: ἐξέβαλεν, exebalen): This term reflects a dynamic action, denoting a forceful expulsion of the demons.
"His word" (Greek: λόγῳ, logō): This signifies the authoritative spoken command of Jesus, which held power in itself without the need for any ritual or incantation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, including the Jewish culture of that time, there existed beliefs in malevolent spirits causing illness and misfortune. Exorcistic practices were not unique to Christianity and can be found in various forms across different cultures.

However, in the biblical account, the authority and simplicity of Jesus' exorcism set Him apart from other healers or exorcists of His day, who might have used elaborate rituals or incantations.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific standpoint, the phenomena described as "possession" might be understood in terms of psychological or neurological disorders.

However, the healing miracles of Jesus remain outside the realm of scientific explanation.

While some attempt to find natural explanations for biblical miracles, others maintain that miracles, by definition, are supernatural interventions that supersede natural law.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have offered various interpretations of this verse.

Albert Barnes notes Jesus' healing power was not limited by the number or the severity of the cases.

John Calvin emphasizes the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy and sees in this account a display of Christ's mercy.

Matthew Henry draws attention to the fulfillment of Scripture and Jesus' command over unclean spirits, underscoring His divine authority.

These views highlight the significance of Jesus' miracles in affirming His identity and mission in the world.

Matthew 8

Matthew 8

What does Matthew 8:16 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 8:16 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?