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 8:2 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 8:2 is a concise verse from the Gospel of Matthew that describes an encounter between Jesus and a leper.

In the narrative, the leper approaches Jesus with reverence ("worshipped him"), which denotes a recognition of Jesus' authority.

The leper's plea, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean," expresses both his belief in Jesus' power to heal and his submission to Jesus' will.

The word "clean" refers not just to the physical healing from leprosy, but potentially also to the social and religious restoration, as lepers were considered unclean and were marginalized in Jewish society.

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Historical Context

At the time this verse was set, leprosy was a term used for a variety of skin diseases, many of which were feared because they were highly contagious and incurable by the medical knowledge of the time.

According to the Mosaic Law, a person with leprosy was considered ceremonially unclean and had to live outside the community.

Their return to society required a priest's certification of healing and complex ceremonial purification.

In this context, the leper's approach to Jesus was both an act of desperation and one of violating social norms, as lepers were required to keep their distance from the healthy.

Theological Insights

This verse offers several theological insights: 1.

The leper's address to Jesus as "Lord" implies a recognition of Jesus' divine authority. 2.

The leper's statement of faith, "thou canst make me clean," is a declaration of Jesus' healing power. 3.

His submission to Jesus' will, "if thou wilt," reflects a theology of dependence on God’s will for healing and intervention.

Theologically, this interaction exemplifies the themes of faith, purity, mercy, and the breaking down of societal and religious barriers through Jesus' ministry.

Practical Applications

The encounter between Jesus and the leper can inspire individuals to approach God with a humble heart, acknowledging His sovereignty and submitting to His will.

It also encourages believers to show compassion and outreach to those marginalized by society.

Another application includes understanding the importance of faith in God's power to heal and restore, even when faced with difficult circumstances.

Cross-References

Mark 1:40-41: “And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”
Luke 5:12-13: “And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”
Leviticus 13-14: Various laws concerning leprosy and purification.
Psalm 103:3: “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;”
Isaiah 53:4: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”

Language Study

Worshipped him: The original Greek term is προσκυνέω (proskuneō), often translated as "to worship," "to bow down," or "to do reverence."
Lord: The use of the term Κύριος (Kyrios) is significant, as it is also used to translate the Hebrew name for God, YHWH, showing a recognition of Jesus' divine status.
Thou canst make: The verb δύναμαι (dynamai) implies ability or power, reinforcing the belief in Jesus' miraculous healing abilities.
Make me clean: "Clean" from the Greek καθαρίζω (katharizō), which has both physical and ceremonial connotations of purification.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This verse can be compared with other ancient religious texts and myths where individuals afflicted with disease or impurity seek healing from deities. Ancient religions often had purification rites for various forms of uncleanness.

However, the personal and compassionate response Jesus offers stands in contrast to the more transactional or ritualistic approaches to divine healing seen in other ancient cultures.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science understands leprosy (Hansen's disease) as a bacterial infection, treatable with antibiotics.

Historical interpretations of "leprosy" likely covered a range of skin conditions.

Today's readers should be careful not to conflate ancient leprosy with Hansen's disease without careful analysis.

The narrative can be appreciated for its compassionate language and social impact rather than medical accuracy.

Commentaries

Various biblical commentators offer insights into this verse: 1.

Matthew Henry observes the leper's approach as expressing both faith and humility, as well as an understanding of Christ's divine power and sovereign will. 2.

John Calvin notes the leper's faith as being mixed with fear and reverence, which is why he did not demand healing but left it to Jesus’ will. 3.

William Barclay highlights the double miracles of the story: the cure of the leper and the breaking down of the barriers that kept lepers out of society, demonstrating Jesus' concern for both physical ailment and social alienation.

Matthew 8

Matthew 8

What does Matthew 8:2 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 8:2 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?