Mattityahu 8

1 And when Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach came down from the mountain, many multitudes followed him.

2 And an ish metzorah (a leper) there was who approached him and fell down before Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, saying, Adoneinu, if you choose, you can make me tahor (clean).

3 And, having stretched out his hand, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach touched him, saying, I am willing. Be made tahor.

4 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him, See that you tell no one, but go and show yourself to the kohen and offer the korban about which Moshe gave mitzvah as an edut to them.

5 Now when Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach entered into Kfar-Nachum, a centurion approached him, begging him

6 and saying, Adoneinu, my servant has been bedridden in the house, paralyzed, in terrible tza’ar.

7 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him, I am coming. I will bring him refuah (healing).

8 The centurion answered, Adoneinu, I am not worthy that you might come under my roof, but only say the dvar, and my servant will receive the refuah (healing).

9 For I also am a man under marut (authority), having soldiers subordinate to myself, and I say to this one, Go! And he goes, and to another, Come! And he comes, and to my servant, Do this! And he does it.

10 And having heard this, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was amazed and said to those who followed him, Omein, I say to you, in no one in Yisroel have I found such great emunah.

11 And I say to you, that many from the mizrach (east) and the maarav (west) will come and will sit bimesibba (reclining at tish) with Avraham and Yitzchak and Yaakov in the Malchut HaShomayim.

12 But the Bnei HaMalchut will be thrown out into the outer choshech (darkness), where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.

13 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to the centurion, Go! According to your bitachon (trust), your emunah (faith), let it be for you. And his servant was given refuah (healing) punkt (exactly) at that hour.

14 When Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach entered the bais (house) of Kefa, he saw the chamot (mother-in-law, shviger) bedridden and fever stricken.

15 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach touched her hand, and the fever left her. She then began functioning as his mesharetet (servant, lady minister), serving Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.

16 And when erev (evening) had come, they brought to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach many possessed by shedim (evil spirits, demons), and he cast out the shedim with a dvar, and all the cholim (sick persons) he healed.

17 Thus was fulfilled what was spoken by Yeshayah the Navi, saying, ACHEN CHOLAYEINU HU NASA UMACHOVEINU SVALAM (Surely he took up our sicknesses and he carried away [T.N. like the Yom Kippur sa’ir l’Azazel scapegoat kapporah] our sorrows, YESHAYAH 53:4).

18 And when he saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.

19 A sofer (scribe, Torah teacher) approached Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach and said, Rebbe, I will follow you wherever you go.

20 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him, Foxes have holes and the OPH HASHOMAYIM (birds of heaven, IYOV 35:11) have nests, but the Ben HaAdam [Moshiach, DANIEL 7:13-14] does not have a place where he may lay his head.

21 And another of Moshiach’s talmidim said to him, Adoneinu, allow me first to go and bury my father.

22 But Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him, Follow me, and permit the mesim (spiritually dead ones without hitkhadshut, spiritually unregenerate ones) to bury their own mesim (deceased ones, niftarim).

23 And when he embarked into the sirah, Moshiach’s talmidim followed him.

24 And hinei! a great storm came up on the lake, so that the sirah (boat) was about to be covered by the waves. But Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was sleeping.

25 And Moshiach’s talmidim approached and woke him, saying, Adoneinu, hoshieinu! We are perishing!

26 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to them, Why are you fearful, you ones of little emunah? Then, arising, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm.

27 And the men were astonished, saying, What sort of man is this!? That even the winds and the sea obey him!

28 And when Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach came to the other side of the lake, in the land of the people of Gadara, he was met by two men possessed by shedim (demons); these men were coming out of the kevarim (tombs) of the burial caves and were so dangerous no one could pass by on that road.

29 And they screamed, saying, Mah lanu valach, Ben HaElohim? (What to us and to you, Ben HaElohim? T.N. i.e., What business do you have with us, Ben HaElohim) Have you come here to torture us before the time [of the Yom HaDin, the Day of Judgment]?

30 Now there was feeding far away from them a large herd of chazirim (swine).

31 And the shedim begged him, saying, If you cast us out, send us into the herd of chazirim.

32 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, Go away! So the shedim, coming out, went away into the chazirim. And, hinei, all the herd of chazirim rushed down the bank into the lake, and they perished in the water.

33 And the herdsmen of the chazirim fled, and, having gone away into the town, they told the whole story of what had happened to the men possessed by shedim.

34 And hinei! The whole town came out to meet Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach. And seeing him, they begged him to depart from their area.

Mattityahu 8 Commentary

Chapter 8

Multitudes follow Christ. (1) He heals a leper. (2-4) A centurion's servant healed. (5-13) Cure of Peter's wife's mother. (14-17) The scribe's zealous proposal. (18-22) Christ in a storm. (23-27) He heals two possessed with devils. (28-34)

Verse 1 This verse refers to the close of the foregoing sermon. Those to whom Christ has made himself known, desire to know more of him.

Verses 2-4 In these verses we have an account of Christ's cleansing a leper, who came and worshipped him, as one clothed with Divine power. This cleansing directs us, not only to apply to Christ, who has power over bodily diseases, for the cure of them, but it also teaches us in what manner to apply to him. When we cannot be sure of God's will, we may be sure of his wisdom and mercy. No guilt is so great, but there is that in Christ's blood which atones for it; no corruption so strong, but there is that in his grace which can subdue it. To be made clean we must commend ourselves to his pity; we cannot demand it as a debt, but we must humbly request it as a favour. Those who by faith apply to Christ for mercy and grace, may be sure that he is freely willing to give them the mercy and grace they thus seek. And those afflictions are blessed that bring us to know Christ, and cause us to seek help and salvation from him. Let those who are cleansed from their spiritual leprosy, go to Christ's ministers and open their case, that they may advise, comfort, and pray for them.

Verses 5-13 This centurion was a heathen, a Roman soldier. Though he was a soldier, yet he was a godly man. No man's calling or place will be an excuse for unbelief and sin. See how he states his servant's case. We should concern ourselves for the souls of our children and servants, who are spiritually sick, who feel not spiritual evils, who know not that which is spiritually good; and we should bring them to Christ by faith and prayers. Observe his self-abasement. Humble souls are made more humble by Christ's gracious dealings with them. Observe his great faith. The more diffident we are of ourselves, the stronger will be our confidence in Christ. Herein the centurion owns him to have Divine power, and a full command of all the creatures and powers of nature, as a master over his servants. Such servants we all should be to God; we must go and come, according to the directions of his word and the disposals of his providence. But when the Son of man comes he finds little faith, therefore he finds little fruit. An outward profession may cause us to be called children of the kingdom; but if we rest in that, and have nothing else to show, we shall be cast out. The servant got a cure of his disease, and the master got the approval of his faith. What was said to him, is said to all, Believe, and ye shall receive; only believe. See the power of Christ, and the power of faith. The healing of our souls is at once the effect and evidence of our interest in the blood of Christ.

Verses 14-17 Peter had a wife, yet was an apostle of Christ, who showed that he approved of the married state, by being thus kind to Peter's wife's relations. The church of Rome, which forbids ministers to marry, goes contrary to that apostle upon whom they rest so much. He had his wife's mother with him in his family, which is an example to be kind to our relations. In spiritual healing, the Scripture speaks the word, the Spirit gives the touch, touches the heart, touches the hand. Those who recover from fevers, commonly are weak and feeble some time after; but to show that this cure was above the power of nature, the woman was at once so well as to go about the business of the house. The miracles which Jesus did being noised abroad, many thronged to him. He healed all that were sick, though the patient was ever so mean, and the case ever so bad. Many are the diseases and calamities to which we are liable in the body; and there is more, in those words of the gospel, that Jesus Christ bore our sicknesses and carried our sorrows, to support and comfort us under them, than in all the writings of the philosophers. Let us not grudge labour, trouble, or expense in doing good to others.

Verses 18-22 One of the scribes was too hasty in promising; he proffers himself to be a close follower of Christ. He seems to be very resolute. Many resolutions for religion are produced by sudden conviction, and taken up without due consideration; these come to nothing. When this scribe offered to follow Christ, one would think he should have been encouraged; one scribe might do more credit and service than twelve fishermen; but Christ saw his heart, and answered to its thoughts, and therein teaches all how to come to Christ. His resolve seems to have been from a worldly, covetous principle; but Christ had not a place to lay his head on, and if he follows him, he must not expect to fare better than he fared. We have reason to think this scribe went away. Another was too slow. Delay in doing is as bad on the one hand, as hastiness in resolving is on the other. He asked leave to attend his father to his grave, and then he would be at Christ's service. This seemed reasonable, yet it was not right. He had not true zeal for the work. Burying the dead, especially a dead father, is a good work, but it is not thy work at this time. If Christ requires our service, affection even for the nearest and dearest relatives, and for things otherwise our duty, must give way. An unwilling mind never wants an excuse. Jesus said to him, Follow me; and, no doubt, power went with this word to him as to others; he did follow Christ, and cleaved to him. The scribe said, I will follow thee; to this man Christ said, Follow me; comparing them together, it shows that we are brought to Christ by the force of his call to us, ( Romans 9:16 ) .

Verses 23-27 It is a comfort to those who go down to the sea in ships, and are often in perils there, to reflect that they have a Saviour to trust in and pray to, who knows what it is to be on the water, and to be in storms there. Those who are passing with Christ over the ocean of this world, must expect storms. His human nature, like to ours in every thing but sin, was wearied, and he slept at this time to try the faith of his disciples. They, in their fear, came to their Master. Thus is it in a soul; when lusts and temptations are swelling and raging, and God is, as it were, asleep to it, this brings it to the brink of despair. Then it cries for a word from his mouth, Lord Jesus, keep not silence to me, or I am undone. Many that have true faith, are weak in it. Christ's disciples are apt to be disquieted with fears in a stormy day; to torment themselves that things are bad with them, and with dismal thoughts that they will be worse. Great storms of doubt and fear in the soul, under the power of the spirit of bondage, sometimes end in a wonderful calm, created and spoken by the Spirit of adoption. They were astonished. They never saw a storm so turned at once into a perfect calm. He that can do this, can do any thing, which encourages confidence and comfort in him, in the most stormy day, within or without, ( Isaiah 26:4 ) .

Verses 28-34 The devils have nothing to do with Christ as a Saviour; they neither have, nor hope for any benefit from him. Oh the depth of this mystery of Divine love; that fallen man has so much to do with Christ, when fallen angels have nothing to do with him! ( Hebrews 2:16 ) . Surely here was torment, to be forced to own the excellence that is in Christ, and yet they had no part in him. The devils desire not to have any thing to do with Christ as a Ruler. See whose language those speak, who will have nothing to do with the gospel of Christ. But it is not true that the devils have nothing to do with Christ as a Judge; for they have, and they know it, and thus it is with all the children of men. Satan and his instruments can go no further than he permits; they must quit possession when he commands. They cannot break his hedge of protection about his people; they cannot enter even a swine without his leave. They had leave. God often, for wise and holy ends, permits the efforts of Satan's rage. Thus the devil hurries people to sin; hurries them to what they have resolved against, which they know will be shame and grief to them: miserable is the condition of those who are led captive by him at his will. There are a great many who prefer their swine before the Saviour, and so come short of Christ and salvation by him. They desire Christ to depart out of their hearts, and will not suffer his word to have place in them, because he and his word would destroy their brutish lusts, those swine which they give themselves up to feed. And justly will Christ forsake all that are weary of him; and say hereafter, Depart, ye cursed, to those who now say to the Almighty, Depart from us.