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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 8:20 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 8:20 presents Jesus' response to a scribe who had expressed a desire to follow Him.

The verse contrasts the natural security and shelter that animals have with the uncertainty and impermanence that characterized Jesus' ministry on earth. Literally, it means Jesus did not have a consistent place to sleep or live; He moved from place to place as He taught and ministered to people.

The deeper meaning reflects the sacrifices associated with discipleship. To follow Jesus may require forgoing worldly comforts and security. It also serves as a representation of Jesus' earthly ministry, He was not seeking a kingdom on earth, but was focused on a spiritual kingdom and mission.

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Historical Context

During the time of Jesus' ministry, it was common for religious teachers to travel and rely on the hospitality of others.

The mention of foxes and birds can also signify the transient and unpredictable nature of Jesus' ministry.

Unlike animals that have specific homes, Jesus relied on the support of those who would host him.

This statement is situated in the context of Jesus' response to a scribe, which implies that Jesus was challenging the scribe to consider the cost of discipleship before making a commitment to follow Him.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse is interpreted in light of the incarnation and the nature of Jesus as both divine and human. It speaks to the humility of Jesus, who, though being God, chose a life devoid of material comforts to fulfill the redemptive mission.

From different theological standpoints, this verse can be seen as:

A call to spiritual readiness and sacrifice.
An expression of Jesus' identification with the marginalized.
A reflection on the transient nature of material life as compared to eternal spiritual values.

Practical Applications

This verse can be applied in daily life to:

Encourage believers to reflect on their own commitment to following Christ and the sacrifices it may entail.
Inspire acts of hospitality towards those in need.
Encourage a focus on spiritual wealth over material wealth.

Cross-References

Luke 9:58: "And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head."
2 Corinthians 8:9: "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."
Philippians 2:7: "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:"

Language Study

The term "Son of man," is significant and requires analysis.

In the original Greek, it is "ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου" (ho huios tou anthropou), a term Jesus used to refer to Himself, which conveys both His humanity and a reference to His messianic role as prophesied in the Old Testament (e.g., Daniel 7:13-14).

The phrase "lay his head" from Greek "κλίνῃ τὴν κεφαλήν" (klinē tēn kephalēn) indicates a place to rest or sleep, emphasizing the lack of a permanent residency or comfort.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, hospitality and the provision of shelter were vital elements of societal norms.

The lack of a home could be seen as an indication of social detachment, which resonates with the various spiritual leaders and founders of religions who have often sought detachment from worldly possessions.

Comparatively, in other religious traditions, such as Buddhism, founders also led lives without permanent homes as part of their teaching and spiritual mission, emphasizing a detachment from material possessions.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific or sociological perspective, this verse might prompt interest in the effects of transient lifestyles on individuals and groups.

Research on nomadic communities or those who live with minimal possessions could provide modern-day parallels to the lifestyle described by Jesus in this verse.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have provided insights into this verse:

Some like John Calvin have emphasized the self-denial and hardships involved in discipleship mentioned in this verse.
William Barclay notes that the saying underscores the total commitment required to be a follower of Christ.
Modern commentaries might see this as a look at the social structures of the time and how Jesus’ lifestyle as a wandering rabbi set Him apart from other teachers and leaders.

Matthew 8

Matthew 8

What does Matthew 8:20 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 8:20 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?