Matthew8

Matthew 8 details Jesus' powerful demonstrations of authority through a series of miracles. He cleanses a leper, heals a centurion's servant from a distance, and cures Peter's mother-in-law and many others. Jesus also calms a violent storm with a word and casts out devils from two men into a herd of swine, causing the swine to perish.

Jesus Descends and Cleanses a Leper

1
When he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. ​
2
Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.” ​
3
Yeshua stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. ​
4
Yeshua said to him, “See that you tell nobody, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” ​

The Faith of the Centurion

5
When he came into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking him, ​
6
and saying, “Lord, my servant lies in the house paralyzed, grievously tormented.”
7
Yeshua said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
8
The centurion answered, “Lord, I’m not worthy for you to come under my roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. ​
9
For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and tell another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and tell my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10
When Yeshua heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, “Most certainly I tell you, I haven’t found so great a faith, not even in Israel. ​
11
I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven, ​
12
but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” ​
13
Yeshua said to the centurion, “Go your way. Let it be done for you as you have believed.” His servant was healed in that hour.

Healings in Capernaum

14
When Yeshua came into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. ​
15
He touched her hand, and the fever left her. She got up and served him. ​
16
When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick;
17
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He took our infirmities, and bore our diseases.” ​

The Cost of Discipleship

18
Now when Yeshua saw great multitudes around him, he gave the order to depart to the other side. ​
19
A scribe came, and said to him, “Rabbi, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20
Yeshua said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” ​
21
Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”
22
But Yeshua said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” ​

Jesus Calms the Storm

23
When he got into a boat, his disciples followed him. ​
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Behold, a violent storm came up on the sea, so much that the boat was covered with the waves, but he was asleep. ​
25
They came to him, and woke him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We are dying!”
26
He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm. ​
27
The men marveled, saying, “What kind of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” ​

Exorcism in the Gergesene Region

28
When he came to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes, two people possessed by demons met him there, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that nobody could pass that way. ​
29
Behold, they cried out, saying, “What do we have to do with you, Yeshua, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” ​
30
Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding far away from them. ​
31
The demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of pigs.”
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He said to them, “Go!” They came out, and went into the herd of pigs: and behold, the whole herd of pigs rushed down the cliff into the sea, and died in the water. ​
33
Those who fed them fled, and went away into the city, and told everything, including what happened to those who were possessed with demons.
34
Behold, all the city came out to meet Yeshua. When they saw him, they begged that he would depart from their borders. ​

Study Notes for Matthew 8

Verse 1

This verse transitions the narrative from the Sermon on the Mount (Chs. 5-7) to Jesus’ demonstration of power and authority through miracles, confirming his messianic claims.

Verse 2

Leprosy (likely a variety of severe skin diseases) rendered a person ritually unclean and socially ostracized (Lev. 13:45-46). The leper's humility ('if thou wilt') is paired with absolute confidence in Jesus' power ('thou canst make me clean').

Verse 3

Touching a leper was forbidden under the Law. Jesus touches him first, demonstrating that his holiness is contagious and cleansing, rather than being defiled by the impurity of the sick.

Verse 4

Jesus respects the Mosaic Law, requiring the healed man to receive certification from the priest (Lev. 14). This served as legal proof of the miracle and a 'testimony' to the religious authorities of Jesus' authority.

Verse 5

A centurion was a Roman army officer commanding 80-100 men. The presence of this Gentile officer highlights the universality of Jesus' ministry, which Matthew emphasizes throughout his Gospel.

Verse 8

The centurion recognizes Jesus’ authority, understanding that Jesus commands sickness and health with the same effective power he wields over his own soldiers. This is a profound recognition of Jesus' divine nature.

Verse 10

Jesus 'marvelled,' emphasizing the unexpected and extraordinary nature of this Gentile's faith, which surpassed that found among the covenant people of Israel.

Verse 11

This verse is a pivotal statement on Gentile inclusion. Jesus affirms that people from all nations ('east and west') will join the eschatological banquet (the Kingdom of Heaven) alongside the patriarchs.

Verse 12

The 'children of the kingdom' refers to ethnic Israel who reject the Messiah. This severe warning contrasts the judgment awaiting the faithless with the welcome extended to faithful Gentiles.

Verse 14

Peter was married, confirming that early discipleship did not require celibacy. This healing takes place in Capernaum, Jesus’ adopted ministry base.

Verse 15

Her immediate action of 'ministering' (serving) upon healing demonstrates the completeness of her cure and the proper response to the grace of God.

Verse 17

Matthew explicitly links Jesus’ healing ministry to the Suffering Servant prophecy (Isaiah 53:4). Jesus’ physical healing ministry foreshadows his ultimate work of bearing the spiritual burden of sin on the cross.

Verse 18

Jesus seeks to withdraw from the crowds, perhaps to avoid escalating political fervor, or to instruct his disciples regarding the necessary commitment before crossing the Sea of Galilee.

Verse 20

'Son of man' is Jesus' preferred self-designation, emphasizing both his humanity and the authoritative, messianic figure prophesied in Daniel 7:13. This statement reveals the lack of earthly comfort inherent in following him.

Verse 22

This challenging statement emphasizes the absolute priority of following Jesus above all earthly and familial duties, including the sacred duty of burial. Discipleship demands immediacy.

Verse 23

This narrative demonstrates Jesus' authority over nature, a power reserved only for God in the Old Testament (Ps. 107:29).

Verse 24

The severity of the 'great tempest' terrified the disciples, many of whom were experienced fishermen. Jesus’ ability to sleep highlights his perfect peace and humanity.

Verse 26

Jesus addresses their lack of faith ('O ye of little faith') before addressing the storm itself, demonstrating that spiritual preparedness is more critical than physical safety. The resultant calm confirms his divine sovereignty.

Verse 27

The men's awe reinforces the theological point of the miracle: Jesus is not merely a prophet, but holds sovereign power over creation.

Verse 28

The Gergesenes (or Gadarenes/Gerasenes) was a predominantly Gentile region, signaled by the presence of swine (v. 30). Matthew often mentions two possessed men where Mark and Luke mention one.

Verse 29

The demons immediately recognize Jesus' messianic identity ('Son of God'). 'Before the time' refers to the final, predetermined judgment reserved for demonic forces.

Verse 30

The large herd of swine confirms the Gentile setting, as these animals were unclean under Jewish dietary law.

Verse 32

The destruction of the swine demonstrates the chaotic, destructive, and uncontrollable nature of the demonic forces once they were removed from the human hosts.

Verse 34

The local inhabitants feared Jesus' disruptive power and the resulting financial loss (the swine) more than they valued the spiritual and physical liberation of the possessed men, asking him to leave.

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