Healing the Leper and the Centurion's Servant
Study note
Jesus heals a leper with a touch, breaking social and ceremonial barriers, then heals a Roman centurion's servant from a distance in response to the centurion's remarkable faith. The centurion's understanding of authority leads Jesus to declare he has not found such great faith in all of Israel. Jesus' statement that many will come from east and west to share in the kingdom foreshadows the inclusion of Gentiles in God's salvation plan.
1 As Jesus made his way down the mountain, huge crowds of people trailed behind him. When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
2 A man covered with leprosy approached and got down on his knees in front of Jesus. He said, "Lord, I know you have the power to heal me if you want to." And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
3 Jesus stretched out his hand and touched the man. He said, "I do want to. Be healed." In that instant, the leprosy disappeared from his body. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 Jesus told him, "Don't tell anyone about this. Go straight to the priest and let him examine you. Then bring the offering that Moses required in the law. That will prove to everyone that you are truly healed." 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 Jesus walked into Capernaum. A Roman officer came to him. He begged Jesus for help. And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
6 The officer said, "Lord, my servant is lying at home unable to move. He is in terrible pain." And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7 Jesus said, "I will go with you and make him well." And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
8 But the officer replied, "Lord, I don't deserve to have someone as important as you step inside my house. All you need to do is give the order from right here, and my servant will get better." 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 "I understand how authority works — I take orders from those above me, and I give orders to soldiers below me. When I say to one, 'Go,' he goes. When I say to another, 'Come,' he comes. When I tell my servant, 'Do this job,' he does it." 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 Jesus was amazed when he heard this. He turned to the people following him and said, "I am telling you the truth — I have not come across faith this strong anywhere in Israel." 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 "Let me tell you, people will come from the east and the west. They will sit at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." 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 some who expected a place in the kingdom will be thrown into the pitch-black darkness. There will be crying and grinding of teeth." But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
13 Then Jesus said to the officer, "Go home now. What you believed would happen will happen." That very same hour, his servant was completely healed. 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.
Healings at Peter's House
Study note
Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law with a simple touch, and she immediately rises to serve. That evening, many demon-possessed and sick people are brought to him, and he heals them all. Matthew sees this as fulfilling Isaiah's Servant Song: 'He took our weaknesses and carried our diseases,' connecting Jesus' healing ministry to the prophesied Suffering Servant.
14 Jesus went to Peter's house and found Peter's mother-in-law in bed, burning up with a fever. And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.
15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her right away. She got up and started preparing a meal for them. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
16 That evening, people brought many who had demons to Jesus. He drove the evil spirits out just by speaking. He healed every sick person who came to him. 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 This made true what Esaias the prophet wrote: "He took our weak spots. He carried off our sickness." That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
The Cost of Following Jesus
Study note
Two potential followers approach Jesus, and he responds with sobering honesty about the cost of discipleship. The Son of man has no permanent home, and following him must take absolute priority -- even over the deeply honored duty of burying one's father. These brief encounters reveal that commitment to Jesus may require radical sacrifice and a willingness to leave behind earthly security.
18 Jesus saw the huge crowd pressing in on him. He told his followers to get ready to sail across to the other side of the lake. Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
19 A religious teacher came up to him and said, "Teacher, I am ready to follow you anywhere you go." And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
20 Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens to sleep in, and birds have nests to go home to. But the Son of man does not even have a place to rest his head." 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 A different follower said to him, "Lord, let me go home first and bury my father." And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
22 Jesus said, "Come follow me now, and let others take care of that." But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
Jesus Calms the Storm and Casts Out Demons
Study note
Jesus' authority extends beyond healing to command over the forces of nature and the spiritual realm. When he calms a violent storm with a word, the disciples are forced to grapple with the question, 'What kind of man is this?' The casting out of demons from two fierce men in the region of the Gergesenes demonstrates his supreme power over evil, though the local residents tragically ask him to leave rather than welcoming his presence.
23 Jesus climbed into a boat, and his followers got in with him. And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
24 Out of nowhere, a violent storm hit the lake. Waves crashed over the sides and started filling the boat. But Jesus was sound asleep through it all. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
25 His followers shook him awake and screamed, "Lord, do something! We are about to drown!" And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
26 Jesus answered, "Why are you so scared? You have such little faith." Then he stood up and spoke to the wind and the waves, telling them to stop. Everything became perfectly calm. 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 His followers stared in shock and said to each other, "Who is this person? Even the wind and the waves do exactly what he tells them!" But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
28 When they reached the other shore and landed in the country of the Gergesenes, two men controlled by demons came out from the burial caves to meet them. These men were so dangerous that nobody dared to travel down that road. 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 The men screamed at Jesus, "What do you want from us, Jesus, Son of God? Did you come to punish us before the right time?" 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 Off in the distance, a great herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside. And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
31 The demons pleaded with Jesus, "If you are going to throw us out, at least send us into that herd of pigs." So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
32 Jesus said one word: "Go." The demons rushed out of the men and plunged into the pigs. The entire herd stampeded down the steep hillside straight into the lake, and every pig drowned. 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 The men watching over the pigs ran for their lives. They rushed into town and told everybody the whole story, including what happened to the demon-possessed men. 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 After hearing the news, the entire town marched out to find Jesus. The moment they saw him, they begged him to go away and leave their area. 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.