Matthew · chapter 8 of 28
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Matthew 8 gathers miracles that show the authority of Jesus: he heals a leper, the servant of a Roman centurion who believes his word, Peter's mother-in-law and many sick and demon-possessed people. He then warns about the cost of following him, calms a storm at sea with a word and frees two demon-possessed men in the region of the Gadarenes.
After the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus taught with authority, Matthew 8 and 9 show that same authority in action. The miracles of this chapter reach a leper, a foreigner, women, nature and demons, and raise the question that closes the scene at sea: who is this man.
When Jesus comes down from the mountain, a leper kneels and says that if he is willing, he can make him clean. Jesus touches him, says he is willing and the man is cleansed; he tells him to show himself to the priest. In Capernaum, a centurion asks him to heal his paralyzed servant. Jesus offers to come, but the centurion answers that a word is enough, since he understands authority. Jesus is amazed, says he has not found such faith in Israel, announces that many will come from east and west to sit with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the servant is healed at that hour.
Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law, who gets up and serves them. In the evening many demon-possessed and sick people are brought to him, and he heals them with his word, fulfilling Isaiah: he took our illnesses. A scribe says he will follow him anywhere, and Jesus answers that the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head; to another who wants to bury his father first he says to follow him.
Jesus gets into the boat and a great storm arises. The disciples wake him in terror; he rebukes their little faith, rebukes the winds and the sea, and there is a great calm. The men ask who this is that even winds obey. In the region of the Gadarenes two fierce demon-possessed men meet him. The demons ask to be sent into the herd of pigs; Jesus tells them to go, and the pigs rush into the sea. The herdsmen report what happened, and the whole town comes out to beg Jesus to leave their region.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
The leper kneels and says Jesus can make him clean if he is willing; Jesus touches him and says he is willing. Touching a leper would have made him ceremonially unclean, but here the purity of Jesus heals instead of being contaminated.
The centurion, a foreign officer, says he is not worthy to have Jesus come under his roof and that Jesus need only say the word. His trust in the authority of Jesus is what Jesus calls greater faith than he has found in Israel.
Jesus warns the one who wants to follow him that the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. Following him means giving up security and comfort, though he himself walks ahead.
Jesus rebukes the disciples' fear, calms the wind and the sea with a command, and the men ask who he is. The question leaves Jesus' identity open: only God rules the sea.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: He stretched out his hand, touched him and said he was willing for him to be clean. — Matthew 8:2-3
Answer: That Jesus only say the word. — Matthew 8:8
Answer: That he had not found such faith in Israel. — Matthew 8:10
Answer: She got up and served them. — Matthew 8:14-15
Answer: He told them they had little faith, got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. — Matthew 8:26
Answer: They asked to be sent into the herd of pigs; the pigs rushed into the sea and died. — Matthew 8:31-32
The miracles of this chapter invite us to come to Jesus as we are: with an illness that isolates us, with someone else's need, with fear in the middle of a storm. In a small group you can share what storm is being lived today and remember that Jesus is in the boat even when he seems to be asleep.
The centurion's faith also challenges us, since he trusted the word of Jesus without asking for proof. Ask in what area you need to trust what Jesus has said without yet seeing the result, and what you are willing to leave behind to follow him.
Matthew 8 shows Jesus with authority over disease, nature and demons, and leaves the reader asking who he is. Chapter 9 continues with more miracles and the call of Matthew, and shows how Jesus forgives sins and draws near to the marginalized.
The text does not give the reason, but Matthew and the other Gospels show that Jesus did not want his fame as a healer to hinder his message. The order to show himself to the priest fulfilled the law of Moses and served as a testimony that the man was clean.
Jesus announces that people from the nations will sit at table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom, while sons of the kingdom who do not believe will be cast out. It is a warning to those who trust only in their heritage and a promise for believing Gentiles, like the centurion.
Matthew does not explain. It has been understood as fear before the power of Jesus and as a reaction to the financial loss of the pigs. The contrast is striking: two men set free are at peace, but the town prefers that Jesus go away.