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 8:6 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 8:6 features a plea from a Roman centurion to Jesus Christ to heal his servant who is suffering from paralysis and is in severe distress.

This verse captures the centurion's faith in Jesus' authority and power to heal. The centurion, despite his position of authority in the Roman military, shows humility and understanding of Jesus’ spiritual authority.

The verse conveys both the physical condition of the servant (paralysis and severe suffering) and the social dynamic at play (a Roman officer seeking help from a Jewish teacher). This juxtaposition implies an acknowledgment that Jesus' power transcends social and ethnic boundaries.

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Historical Context

This verse is part of a narrative set in Capernaum during the first century. At the time, Capernaum was a town on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.

It is significant because it was a Roman-occupied territory and the centurion was a representative of the occupying forces.

Centurions were commanders over a hundred soldiers and held significant social status in Roman society.

This interaction highlights the unusual event of a high-ranking Roman officer seeking help from a Jewish rabbi, which demonstrates Jesus’ reputation as a healer was acknowledged beyond Jewish communities.

Theological Insights

This verse is important theologically for several reasons.

First, it shows Jesus' ministry extending to Gentiles, which foreshadows the spread of Christianity beyond the Jewish community.

Second, it emphasizes faith in Jesus' power over disease.

The centurion believes Jesus can heal without even being physically present, indicating a belief in his divine authority.

The resulting healing reinforces the Christian doctrine of Jesus' miracle-working power.

Different denominational perspectives may emphasize various aspects, such as the centurion's faith as exemplary for Christians (a view held by many Protestant traditions), or the universality of Jesus’ ministry (as emphasized in Catholic and Orthodox teachings).

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse encourages individuals to demonstrate humility and faith in the midst of difficult circumstances.

It suggests that social status does not limit one's access to divine help, thereby promoting inclusivity within the faith community.

Furthermore, it challenges believers to trust in the spiritual over the physical, emphasizing the value of faith-driven prayer.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:28 - "Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.

And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."

Luke 7:2-10 - A parallel account where the centurion sends elders of the Jews to Jesus, asking for healing for his servant.
Acts 10:1-2 - The story of Cornelius, another centurion who exhibited faith, further illustrating the theme of Gentiles receiving God's favor.

Language Study

The key Greek word used in this verse is "παραλυτικός" (paralytikos), which means paralyzed or suffering from palsy. "δεινῶς βασανιζόμενος" (deinos basanizomenos) translates as "grievously tormented," pointing to acute suffering.

These terms underscore the severity of the servant's condition and the desperation of the request for help.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the Roman world, masters often discarded or neglected ill slaves. The centurion's concern for his servant contrasts with typical Roman practices, which may suggest a unique bond between them.

From a religious standpoint, this interaction parallels instances in other religious traditions where individuals of high status seek relief or insight from spiritual figures, regardless of cultural barriers.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science understands palsy or paralysis to be a loss of muscle function for one or more muscles, often resulting from damage to the nervous system.

While science today relies on medical interventions, this verse reveals a historical context where miraculous healing, rather than medical science, is sought and seen as plausible.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this verse often highlight the centurion's exceptional faith.

For example, Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the centurion's recognition of Jesus' divine authority through his understanding of command, as a military man knows a command can be performed by a subordinate.

The New International Commentary on the New Testament outlines the social and political implications, illustrating the power dynamic between a Roman centurion and a Jewish healer.

Lastly, the Expositor's Bible Commentary focuses on the inclusivity of Jesus's healing ministry and the foreshadowing of the gospel reaching the Gentiles.

Matthew 8

Matthew 8

What does Matthew 8:6 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 8:6 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?