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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 8:19 mean?

Explanation

The verse Matthew 8:19 depicts a moment where a scribe, a person skilled in Jewish law and teaching, approaches Jesus and calls him "Master," demonstrating respect and recognition of his authority.

The scribe's declaration of intent to follow Jesus "whithersoever thou goest" signifies a willingness to become a disciple, ready to accompany Jesus wherever he might lead.

This statement could be seen both as the scribe's personal commitment and as an expression of literal movement, following Jesus' itinerant ministry, as well as a deeper metaphorical willingness to adhere to Jesus' teachings and lifestyle, irrespective of the challenges ahead.

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Historical Context

Matthew 8:19 occurs in the context of Jesus' early Galilean ministry.

During this period, Jesus was traveling, preaching, and performing miracles.

Scribes in Jewish society were learned individuals known for their ability to read, interpret, and teach the Scriptures.

The fact that a scribe, an established religious figure, approaches Jesus indicates the impact of Jesus' ministry on various societal strata.

This reflects an era of messianic expectation, socio-political turmoil under Roman occupation, and religious yearning for guidance.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse highlights several key themes:

Authority of Jesus: The scribe addresses Jesus as "Master," recognizing his spiritual authority.
Discipleship: The willingness to follow Jesus is at the core of discipleship, which entails commitment beyond mere words.
Cost of Discipleship: The scribe's statement foreshadows the demands of following Jesus, which can include leaving behind comfort and security.

Different theological traditions may focus on Jesus' role as teacher, the nature of discipleship, or the grace that enables individuals to follow Christ.

Practical Applications

This verse challenges individuals to reflect on their commitment to following Jesus in contemporary settings:

Self-examination: Believers can assess their own level of commitment and willingness to follow Jesus in various aspects of life.
Sacrifice: It suggests considering what one is prepared to sacrifice or leave behind in order to follow Jesus' teachings.
Discernment: It may also encourage discernment in understanding what true discipleship involves in a modern context.

Cross-References

Luke 9:57-62: Another account of individuals expressing desire to follow Jesus and Jesus' response.
Matthew 16:24: Jesus' teaching on the requirements of discipleship and carrying one's cross.
Matthew 19:21: Jesus advising a rich young ruler on what he must do to be perfect.

Language Study

"Scribe" (γραμματεύς, grammateus) in Greek can refer to a Jewish teacher of the Law.
"Master" (διδάσκαλος, didaskalos) is a term of respect, meaning teacher or instructor.
"Follow" (ἀκολουθήσω, akoloutheso) suggests not just physical following, but adherence to teachings and lifestyle.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader context of ancient Near Eastern cultures, disciples following a master or teacher is a common motif.

In Jewish tradition, disciples (talmidim) would follow rabbis to learn from their teachings and emulate their actions.

The scribe's offer resembles this tradition of discipleship but is set apart by the unique authority and nature of Jesus' ministry.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientifically, this verse does not directly intersect with physical or empirical disciplines.

However, psychological studies on belief, commitment, and behavior can provide insight into what motivates individuals like the scribe to make profound commitments to religious leaders or causes.

Commentaries

Commentators observe various facets of this interaction:

John Calvin underscores the zeal of the scribe but notes a possible lack of awareness of the trials of discipleship.
Matthew Henry discusses the nature of true discipleship as not being rooted simply in enthusiasm but in understanding and preparing for the sacrifices it entails.
The Expositor's Bible Commentary reflects on the nature of assertive declarations and the need for genuine sincerity and comprehension of commitment to Jesus’ mission.

Matthew 8

Matthew 8

What does Matthew 8:19 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 8:19 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?