Matthew Chapter 8

At a Glance

  • Matthew 8 marks a turning point where Jesus’ authoritative teaching translates into a cascade of miraculous healings and demonstrations of power.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • Matthew 8 sits within the Gospel’s growing demonstration section, where Jesus’ word brings immediate, tangible transformation.
  • - Jesus’ Authority and Compassion: Healing power reveals God’s mercy and a new kind of kingship.
  • - Universal Scope of the Kingdom: Gentile faith is welcomed; God’s blessing extends beyond Israel.

Chapter Overview

Matthew 8 marks a turning point where Jesus’ authoritative teaching translates into a cascade of miraculous healings and demonstrations of power. The chapter begins with Jesus cleansing a leper, followed by a powerful miracle in which he heals the centurion’s servant from a distance, marveling at the man’s faith. Jesus’ authority extends to Peter’s mother-in-law, and soon many from the town bring the demon-possessed and the sick. Jesus heals all who are brought to him, and the chapter emphasizes that Jesus fulfills Scripture by healing and delivering—often pointing to the universality of his mission (Gentile faith alongside Jewish expectation). The narrative then expands to two dramatic episodes: a storm-calming on the sea and the casting out of demons from two men among the tombs in Gerasa, illustrating Jesus’ sovereignty over nature and unclean spirits. The underlying motif is Jesus’ authority as the authoritative Son of God who brings restoration, peace, and the dawning realization that the Kingdom disrupts the status quo of illness, oppression, and fear.

Historical & Literary Context

Matthew 8 sits within the Gospel’s growing demonstration section, where Jesus’ word brings immediate, tangible transformation. The miracles function as signs that point to the inbreaking of the Kingdom and the authority of Jesus over disease, nature, and spiritual powers. The narrative also continues to highlight Jesus’ outreach beyond Israel, foreshadowing the inclusion of Gentiles (as seen in the centurion incident). The genre is apocalypse-narrative mixed with miracle stories typical of the Gospel’s early chapters, designed to elicit faith and reframe readers’ understanding of messianic power. The structure—healing on the ground, a distant healing, and a sea-crossing crisis—emphasizes that Jesus’ presence brings order where chaos reigns and that faith, even from a non-Israelite, is commended.

Key Themes

- Jesus’ Authority and Compassion: Healing power reveals God’s mercy and a new kind of kingship.

- Universal Scope of the Kingdom: Gentile faith is welcomed; God’s blessing extends beyond Israel.

- Authentic Prayerful Trust: The calming of the storm models trust in Jesus amid life’s tempests.

- Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance: Exorcisms illustrate the defeat of demonic powers.

- Fulfillment Dreams: The miracles fulfil God’s redemptive purposes foretold in Scripture.

Modern Application

Matthew 8 invites readers to trust in Jesus’ authority in the face of illness, fear, and spiritual oppression. It validates pastoral care and compassionate action—reaching out to those who are marginalized (the leper), and recognizing that faith, not ritual closeness to power, moves God’s heart. The centurion’s faith challenges believers to cultivate humility and confident belief even across cultural or religious boundaries. The storm at sea speaks to modern anxieties: when life’s waves threaten to overwhelm, turning to Jesus—through prayer, community support, and faithful action—offers true peace. The scenes with exorcism remind readers that spiritual realities are real and that the source of true healing is God’s power released through Jesus. In daily life, this chapter encourages approaching suffering and spiritual distress with practical care, prayerful dependence, and a confidence that God’s Kingdom disrupts brokenness with grace.

- Isaiah 53 (healing and salvation)

- Mark 5 (similar demon-possessed man)

- Luke 7:1-10 (centurion’s faith)

- Psalm 107:28-30 (God calms the storm)

- Jesus (centerpiece of healing and authority)

- Moses (as mediator and leader who confronts power)

- Peter (as eyewitness and messenger of Jesus’ deeds)

Chapter Text

1

When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

2

And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

3

And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

4

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.

5

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

6

And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

7

And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

8

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.

9

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.

10

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.

11

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.

12

But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

13

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.

14

And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.

15

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

16

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:

17

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

18

Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

19

And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

20

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.

21

And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

22

But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

23

And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

24

And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

25

And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

26

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.

27

But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

28

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.

29

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?

30

And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

31

So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

32

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.

33

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.

34

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.

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