COMPASSION AND COMMITMENT.
Matthew 8:14-22.
MATTHEW 8:14-15. Peter’s House: The First Deacon.
(Matthew 8:14). The first thing that Jesus “saw” when He came into Peter’s house was Peter’s wife’s mother “laid, and sick of a fever.”
(That Peter had a wife puts to rest forever the argument about whether a Minister may have a wife or not.)
Jesus notices sick people, and has compassion on them.
(Matthew 8:15). Jesus now confronted the fever that had taken a hold of her, which was making her sick. No stern words here, but just a touch of her hand. The fever left, and “she arose” (thoroughly healed) “and ministered unto them.”
The word translated “ministered” comes from the same Greek root as the word “deacon.” This would make Peter’s wife’s mother the first “deacon” of the fledgling church.
MATTHEW 8:16-17. The People at the Door: Exorcisms and Healings.
(Matthew 8:16). When evening came, people brought “many” who were possessed of devils to Jesus. With all His divine authority, He “cast out” the spirits “with His word.” How powerful is His word!
He also healed “all” that were sick. We never hear of a sick person coming to Jesus, or being brought to Jesus, whom He could not or would not heal. ALL returned to their places the better for their encounter with Him.
(Matthew 8:17). “Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” This is in fulfilment of Isaiah 53:4 - ‘Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.’
He “took our infirmities” as His own, and vanquished them. He “bore our sicknesses” as His own, and defeated them all. He shares our griefs and carries our sorrows. What a Saviour!
MATTHEW 8:18-22. Preparing to Cross the Sea: Prioritising Commitments.
(Matthew 8:18). Jesus did not court popularity. The clamour of crowds was not about to keep Him from His true work. Even then, the divine Jesus KNEW that there were people in greater need on “the other side.”
Jesus put out the order “to depart unto the other side.” “The other side” is sometimes where the LORD calls His preachers to do their work for Him. The other side of the street, the other side of the tracks – or even the other side of the sea!
(Matthew 8:19-20). A certain scribe approached Jesus and promised, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus warned this would-be volunteer not to expect the comforts of home along the way. In this respect, on this journey, even the Son of man had nowhere to lay His head.
(Matthew 8:21). Another “disciple” requested that he be allowed first to bury his father. This may seem reasonable enough, but even the legitimate ties of family and the duties of convention should not hold us back from following Jesus. As Jesus says elsewhere, 'he that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me' (cf. Matthew 10:37).
(Matthew 8:22). Jesus’ curt response, “Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead” speaks to the man’s spiritual condition, and warns us to ‘seek first God’s kingdom’ (cf. Matthew 6:33), and to prioritise our commitments.
