MATTHEW 8: 14-17
INSTANT HEALING AND IMMEDIATE SERVICE
[Isaiah 53:1-8]
After recounting the stories of an unnamed leper and an anonymous centurion, Matthew includes a brief account of a family member in Jesus’ inner circle. This is the third in the triplet of healing miracles which Matthew groups together. He groups them together because of the type of event more than when they occurred. The first healing was leprosy, then paralysis, and now fever. Jesus’ healings were the fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus holds power over all the diseases and afflictions of man (CIT). Jesus identification with man’s sufferings fully actuated in His substitutionary atonement on the cross gave Him authority over diseases and demons [and sins].
I. THE HEALING OF PETER’S MOTHER IN-LAW, 14-15.
II. THE HEALING OF MANY OTHERS, 16-17.
In verse 14 we encounter Peter’s mother-in-law debilitated with a severe fever. “When Jesus came into Peter’s home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever.”
From John 1:41 we learn that Peter came from Bethsaida, a fishing village on the north shore of Galilee just east of the Jordan. Mark 1:29 places the home of Peter in Capernaum, and 1 Corinthians 9:5 tells us that Peter was married. Jesus entered the home of Peter where Peter’s wife and children lived. [It’s possible that excavations in Capernaum have uncovered the foundations of this very house.] Jesus then found Peter’s mother-in-law lying sick in bed with fever after several unnamed friends or relatives request He heal her [as is learned from the parallel accounts in Luke 4:38 & Mark 1:30].
Notice Peter was married. It seems strange that our Catholic friends insists on a vow of poverty and celibacy of the clergy when Peter himself, whom they teach was the first pope, from whom the popes imagine themselves to be his successors, had a wife, a mother-in-law, and a house. It seems that the Apostles were married men with the exception of Paul.
Peter’s mother-in-law was bedridden with fever. Fever was considered a disease. [Our English word fever is from the German word feuer, fire, like the Greek πυρ]. The verb tense [perf. pass. ptc] indicates that she had been laying sick for some time. The fever was probably connected with malaria which was common in the area because of the marshes near the mouth of the Jordan.
Yes, believers become ill too (Elisha- 2 Kings 13:14; Hezekiah- 2 Kings 20:1; Dorcas - Acts 9: 36,37; Paul-Gal. 4:13, Ephaphrodites-Phil 2:25-27, Timothy-1 Tim. 5:23, 2 Tim. 4:20). Believers even get sick enough to die.
In verse 15 Jesus’ touch brought healing from the fever, but a further miracle was also evident. “touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him.”
In loving compassion the Great Physician touched her hand and there is healing in His touch. Our Lord several times worked miracles without touching and even from a distance, as He just did with the centurion’s servant. Usually though He performed some act such as touching which would make it evident to all that He was the cause of the miraculous cure.
To touch a person with fever was prohibited by Jewish law. In fact Jews rarely touched women [wanting to remain pure from menstrual impurity, Lev. 15:19]. Here again we see Jesus was actively invading the realm of Satan’s control in spite of Jewish custom or tradition.
The woman was also given strength to get up from her bed and immediately be involved in work, waiting (diēonei, “serving”) on the Lord and the many disciples who were still actively following Him. Not only did the fever leave her, but the weakness which follows fever left her also. She was at once prepared for active exertion. [The Greek tense (imperf. act ind) indicates that her service to Him was continuous]. Usually when a fever leaves, one’s body is weak for some time, but that was not true here. The immediate result of Jesus’ touch and words was that she arose and waited on Him.
The touch of Jesus transformed the situation from one in which He served her to one in which she served Him. You can tell a person who has been truly touched by Jesus because he or she will begin to minister. When the Lord touches you, you can’t help but say, “To whom can I reach out and help?”
Isn’t that what should happen? All those who have been touched by Jesus in some form or fashion should arise in gratitude and minister to Him and for Him. To not respond in service to Jesus’ healing is self-centered living from a self-centered life. We should each respond in service according to the gifts and calling He has given us.
Has God ever helped you through a dangerous or difficult situation? If so you should ask Him, “How can I express my gratitude to You?” Even if He has never touched you with His healing hand because of His promised rewards in His kingdom, we should all look for ways to serve Him and His followers now.
II. THE HEALING OF MANY OTHERS, 16-17.
Evidently these healings encouraged the residents of the area to bring many other afflicted people to Jesus later that evening (Mark 1:32–34; Luke 4:40–41). Jesus was capable not only of bringing healing from physical sickness, but also of exercising power over demonic forces as we learn in verse 16. “When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill.”
The healing of Peter’s mother occurred after they had arrived from the synagogue (Mk 1: 21-28). When the Sabbath had ended at sunset the people brought to Jesus, who probably stood outside Peter’s door, many who were demon-possessed. Evil spirits were possessing many lives yet the demons were driven out with a single word of command. The exorcism of the evil spirits was “by a word” (8:8) from Jesus.
The kingdom of God was asserting its power in a special way. Satan’s dominion was being pulled down as never before for Christ had bound the strong man (Mt. 12:29). Debilitating evil was defeated by the power and authority of God’s Word.
People were brought to Jesus with every manner of sickness. Jesus’ authority is further stressed by the statement that he healed “all” who were ill. He healed them all, or literally, “healed all who had it bad.” No matter what sickness, how severe, or how humanly incurable or terminal, all were healed. Though the gospels only record some examples, our Lord’s healings were very numerous. He healed every manner of disease and sickness.
Verse 17 gives a summary statement about Jesus’ day of healing. “This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases.”
This summary statement (4:23–24; 9:35) strikingly leads Matthew to apply the prophecy of Isaiah 53:4 to the healing ministry of Jesus. This is the sixth time the words that it might be fulfilled have been cited by Matthew to indicate prophetic fulfillment by Jesus (1:22-23; 2:5-6, 17,18, 23; 4:14-16). [The words used are evidently Matthew’s own translation.]
His taking our infirmities (astheneias) and carrying our diseases (nosous) was finally accomplished on the cross in His death. But in anticipation of that event, Jesus performed many definite acts of healing in His ministry. By casting out demons, Jesus demonstrated His power over Satan, ruler of the demon world (Mt. 9:34; 12:24). [Walvoord, John & Zuck, Roy. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983, S. 37.]
[Infirmities are bodily weaknesses. Carried away [ἓλαβεν, ἐβάστασεν - βασταζω, bastazo] can mean lift, carry, endure, alleviate. In Matthew 3:11 it is translated take off (sandals). What does this verse mean? Since it is fulfilled before the cross or His atonement for sin, it may mean that He suffered vicariously throughout His life on earth for the hurts and pains of those He encountered or healed. By identification with the plight of man He entered into the sorrows of those He came to rescue. He healed them because He identified so deeply with the afflicted (Mt. 9:36; 14:14; 20:34; Mk. 1:41; 5:19). The passage speaks of the cost which brought about the healings of Christ. Christ compassion caused Him to empathized with the pain, suffering and weakness of people. He poured Himself out on their behalf as His healing power which carried away their infirmities caused Him physical exhaustion repeatedly.]
That “He bore our sicknesses” does not mean that we will not be sick any more than Paul’s statement “death no more has dominion over us” means that we will not physically die. If Jesus healed us of all bodily imperfections we would be like Adam before the fall. We would no longer get sick and people would come to Jesus for earthy health instead of for spiritual health.
The passage does not mean that believers are exempt from infirmities of the flesh. Often to be sure God does heal people, a blessing which frequently arrives in answer to prayer (Jas. 5: 14-15). But even if God allows infirmities there is comfort (Ps. 27, 42; Jn. 14:1-3; Rom. 8:35-39; Phil 4: 4-7, 2 Tim. 4: 6-8; Heb. 4:16). The phrase seems to refer to Christ suffering as a substitute (like the whole Isaiah passage). He is here suffering for man before being lead away to crucifixion to make atonement for the sins of man. [MacClaren, Alexander. Expositions of Holy Scriptures. Matthew 1-8, Vol 6. 1978. Baker Book House. Grand Rapids, MI. p. 394.]
CONCLUSION
The sun which set upon an expectant crowd of suffering and affliction arose the next morning upon a city from which disease had been lifted away. The majority went on their way, not finding the far greater blessing of forgiveness for sins. They were satisfied. The load of life had been lightened and that was all they were after.
Yet we here tonight have returned to give thanks to Jesus who has done so much for us. What can we do for Him who has done so much for us? We can minister to Him in praise and thanksgiving and minister to His afflicted body, the Church, and to a sick world.
Through a single touch Jesus healed. With a single word evil spirits fled. One day God will speak the Word and there will be no more sickness and death. Jesus’ healing miracles are a taste of what the whole world will one day experience in God’s kingdom.
