Matthew 8:15

And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

And {G2532} he touched {G680} her {G846} hand {G5495}, and {G2532} the fever {G4446} left {G863} her {G846}: and {G2532} she arose {G1453}, and {G2532} ministered {G1247} unto them {G846}.

He touched her hand, the fever left her, and she got up and began helping him.

So He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve Him.

And he touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she arose, and ministered unto him.

Matthew 8:15 (KJV) describes a powerful moment of healing and immediate restoration in the ministry of Jesus Christ. This verse highlights Jesus' authority over sickness and the immediate impact of His touch, leading to a grateful response of service.

Context

This event occurs early in Jesus' Galilean ministry, immediately after His descent from the mountain where He delivered the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1). Following the miraculous cleansing of a leper and the extraordinary healing of the centurion's servant (Matthew 8:5-13), Jesus enters Peter's house in Capernaum. There, He finds Peter's mother-in-law afflicted with a severe fever, indicating that even those closest to His disciples were not exempt from physical ailments.

Key Themes

  • Jesus' Compassion and Authority: The act of touching her hand demonstrates Jesus' personal care and willingness to engage directly with human suffering. His touch is not merely symbolic; it is the conduit of divine power that instantly dissipates the fever. This highlights His complete authority over disease, requiring no elaborate rituals or lengthy prayers, just a simple touch.
  • Immediate and Complete Healing: The phrase "the fever left her" emphasizes the instantaneous nature of the cure. There was no recovery period or lingering weakness. She was restored to full health immediately, which is crucial for the next part of the verse. This instantaneous healing is a hallmark of many of Jesus' miracles, underscoring His divine power (Matthew 9:35).
  • Restoration to Service: Her immediate response, "she arose, and ministered unto them," is a profound demonstration of gratitude and restored capacity. Rather than resting or reveling in her healing, she immediately uses her renewed strength to serve her guests and, presumably, Jesus and His disciples. This act of service, or diakoneō (Greek for 'to minister' or 'to serve'), signifies a practical and humble expression of thankfulness and a return to normal life, empowered by divine intervention. It suggests that divine blessings often enable us to serve others (Ephesians 2:10).

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "ministered" is diakoneō (διακονέω), from which we get terms like "deacon." It signifies serving, waiting on tables, or generally attending to the needs of others. This term emphasizes practical, humble service. Her immediate action after healing was not to seek comfort for herself but to attend to the needs of those around her, showcasing a spirit of selfless gratitude.

Practical Application

Matthew 8:15 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Jesus Cares About Our Everyday Ailments: This healing was not of a dramatic, life-threatening illness but a common fever. It reminds us that Jesus' compassion extends to all our physical and emotional struggles, great and small.
  • Divine Healing Empowers for Service: When God blesses us, whether through physical healing, spiritual renewal, or any other provision, it is often with a purpose: to enable us to serve Him and others more effectively. Our gratitude should naturally lead to acts of service.
  • A Model of Gratitude: Peter's mother-in-law's immediate response of ministering is a beautiful example of how we should respond to God's grace and goodness in our lives—with active and grateful service.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Kings 13:21

    And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band [of men]; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

  • Luke 4:38

    And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.

  • Luke 4:39

    And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

  • Luke 8:54

    And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

  • Mark 1:41

    And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth [his] hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

  • Matthew 14:36

    And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

  • Matthew 9:29

    Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

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