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.
Matthew Chapter 8, part of the New Testament in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible, is a rich narrative that presents numerous miracles performed by Jesus Christ and the responses these miracles elicited from the people around him. The chapter contains a wealth of information about the nature of faith, the power of Christ's healing, and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. It is a testament to Jesus's divine authority, compassion, and willingness to reach out to those marginalized by society.
The chapter begins with the healing of a leper. The leper, demonstrating great faith, approaches Jesus and says, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean" (Matthew 8:2). Jesus, moved by the man's faith, touches him - an act considered taboo in that era due to the contagious nature of leprosy - and heals him, instructing him to show himself to the priest and make the offering prescribed by Moses as a testimony to his healing. This miracle serves to demonstrate Jesus's authority over disease and his willingness to engage with those who society considered unclean and untouchable. It also highlights the importance of faith in receiving healing from Christ.
The next miracle involves a Roman centurion, a Gentile, who seeks Jesus's help for his paralytic servant. The centurion's faith is such that he believes Jesus can heal his servant without even seeing him. This faith astonishes Jesus, who says, "Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel" (Matthew 8:10). Jesus heals the servant from afar, emphasizing his authority over space and distance. This event also foreshadows the acceptance of the Gentiles into the Kingdom of God through faith.
Jesus then heals Peter's mother-in-law of a fever, and she immediately gets up and serves him, demonstrating the proper response to Jesus's healing - service. That evening, many who were demon-possessed and sick were brought to Jesus, and he healed them all, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah: "He took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses" (Matthew 8:17). This series of healings underscores Jesus's authority over both physical illness and spiritual forces.
The chapter then transitions into a discussion of the cost of discipleship. Two would-be disciples approach Jesus, but he challenges them, emphasizing that following him requires total commitment and priority over all else. Jesus's words serve as a reminder that true discipleship may involve sacrifice and hardship, but it is a necessary part of following Christ.
The chapter concludes with two more miracles. First, Jesus calms a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee, demonstrating his authority over nature. The disciples, terrified by the storm, wake Jesus, who rebukes them for their little faith before calming the storm. This event serves as a lesson about the power of faith and Jesus's authority over all creation.
Finally, Jesus heals two demon-possessed men in the region of the Gadarenes. The demons recognize Jesus's divine authority and beg him to send them into a herd of pigs instead of the abyss. Jesus grants their request, and the pigs rush into the sea and drown. This miracle further underscores Jesus's authority over spiritual forces. However, the people of the Gadarenes, afraid of Jesus's power, ask him to leave their region.
Matthew Chapter 8 presents a series of miracles that demonstrate Jesus's divine authority over disease, distance, nature, and spiritual forces. These miracles serve as a testament to his divine nature and his fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. The chapter also highlights the importance of faith in receiving healing and the cost of discipleship. The responses to Jesus's miracles - ranging from service and astonishment to fear and rejection - offer valuable insights into the diverse reactions to Jesus's ministry and the challenges of discipleship.
The miracles in this chapter not only attest to Jesus's divine authority but also reveal his compassion and willingness to reach out to those marginalized by society, including lepers, a Roman centurion, and demon-possessed men. The chapter also emphasizes the inclusivity of Jesus's ministry, as he heals both Jews and Gentiles, fulfilling his mission to be a light to all nations.
In conclusion, Matthew Chapter 8 provides a rich narrative that underscores the power and authority of Jesus Christ, the importance of faith, and the cost of discipleship. It serves as a reminder of Jesus's compassion and willingness to reach out to all who seek him, regardless of their societal status or nationality. It is a testament to Jesus's divine authority and his fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, and it offers valuable lessons on faith, discipleship, and the responses to Jesus's ministry.
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