Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Matthew » Chapter 8 » Verse 2

Matthew 8:2 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

2 And, G2532 behold, G2400 there came G2064 a leper G3015 and worshipped G4352 him, G846 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 if G1437 thou wilt, G2309 thou canst G1410 make G2511 me G3165 clean. G2511

Cross Reference

Matthew 18:26 STRONG

The servant G1401 therefore G3767 fell down, G4098 and worshipped G4352 him, G846 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 have patience G3114 with G1909 me, G1698 and G2532 I will pay G591 thee G4671 all. G3956

Matthew 15:25 STRONG

Then G1161 came she G2064 and worshipped G4352 him, G846 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 help G997 me. G3427

Mark 1:40-45 STRONG

And G2532 there came G2064 a leper G3015 to G4314 him, G846 beseeching G3870 him, G846 and G2532 kneeling down G1120 to him, G846 and G2532 saying G3004 unto him, G846 G3754 If G1437 thou wilt, G2309 thou canst G1410 make G2511 me G3165 clean. G2511 And G1161 Jesus, G2424 moved with compassion, G4697 put forth G1614 his hand, G5495 and touched G680 him, G846 and G2532 saith G3004 unto him, G846 I will; G2309 be thou clean. G2511 And G2532 as soon as he G846 had spoken, G2036 immediately G2112 the leprosy G3014 departed G565 from G575 him, G846 and G2532 he was cleansed. G2511 And G2532 he straitly charged G1690 him, G846 and forthwith G2112 sent G1544 him G846 away; G1544 And G2532 saith G3004 unto him, G846 See G3708 thou say G2036 nothing G3367 to any man: G3367 but G235 go thy way, G5217 shew G1166 thyself G4572 to the priest, G2409 and G2532 offer G4374 for G4012 thy G4675 cleansing G2512 those things G3739 which Moses G3475 commanded, G4367 for G1519 a testimony G3142 unto them. G846 But G1161 he went out, G1831 and began G756 to publish G2784 it much, G4183 and G2532 to blaze abroad G1310 the matter, G3056 insomuch that G5620 Jesus G846 could G1410 no more G3371 openly G5320 enter G1525 into G1519 the city, G4172 but G235 was G2258 without G1854 in G1722 desert G2048 places: G5117 and G2532 they came G2064 to G4314 him G846 from every quarter. G3836

Leviticus 13:44-46 STRONG

He is a leprous H6879 man, H376 he is unclean: H2931 the priest H3548 shall pronounce him utterly H2930 unclean; H2930 his plague H5061 is in his head. H7218 And the leper H6879 in whom the plague H5061 is, his clothes H899 shall be rent, H6533 and his head H7218 bare, H6544 and he shall put a covering H5844 upon his upper lip, H8222 and shall cry, H7121 Unclean, H2931 unclean. H2931 All the days H3117 wherein the plague H5061 shall be in him he shall be defiled; H2930 he is unclean: H2931 he shall dwell H3427 alone; H910 without H2351 the camp H4264 shall his habitation H4186 be.

Deuteronomy 24:8-9 STRONG

Take heed H8104 in the plague H5061 of leprosy, H6883 that thou observe H8104 diligently, H3966 and do H6213 according to all that the priests H3548 the Levites H3881 shall teach H3384 you: as I commanded H6680 them, so ye shall observe H8104 to do. H6213 Remember H2142 what the LORD H3068 thy God H430 did H6213 unto Miriam H4813 by the way, H1870 after that ye were come forth H3318 out of Egypt. H4714

2 Kings 7:3-4 STRONG

And there were four H702 leprous H6879 men H582 at the entering in H6607 of the gate: H8179 and they said H559 one H376 to another, H7453 Why sit H3427 we here until we die? H4191 If we say, H559 We will enter H935 into the city, H5892 then the famine H7458 is in the city, H5892 and we shall die H4191 there: and if we sit still H3427 here, we die H4191 also. Now therefore come, H3212 and let us fall H5307 unto the host H4264 of the Syrians: H758 if they save us alive, H2421 we shall live; H2421 and if they kill H4191 us, we shall but die. H4191

Matthew 9:28-29 STRONG

And G1161 when he was come G2064 into G1519 the house, G3614 the blind men G5185 came G4334 to him: G846 and G2532 Jesus G2424 saith G3004 unto them, G846 Believe ye G4100 that G3754 I am able G1410 to do G4160 this? G5124 They said G3004 unto him, G846 Yea, G3483 Lord. G2962 Then G5119 touched he G680 their G846 eyes, G3788 saying, G3004 According G2596 to your G5216 faith G4102 be it G1096 unto you. G5213

Mark 9:22-24 STRONG

And G2532 ofttimes G4178 it hath cast G906 him G846 into G2532 G1519 the fire, G4442 and G2532 into G1519 the waters, G5204 to G2443 destroy G622 him: G846 but G235 if G1536 thou canst G1410 do any thing, G1536 have compassion G4697 on G1909 us, G2248 and help G997 us. G2254 G1161 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto him, G846 If G1487 thou canst G1410 believe, G4100 all things G3956 are possible G1415 to him G846 that believeth. G4100 And G2532 straightway G2112 the father G3962 of the child G3813 cried out, G2896 and said G3004 with G3326 tears, G1144 Lord, G2962 I believe; G4100 help thou G997 mine G3450 unbelief. G570

Luke 5:12-14 STRONG

And G2532 it came to pass, G1096 when he G846 was G1511 G1722 in G1722 a certain G3391 city, G4172 G2532 behold G2400 a man G435 full G4134 of leprosy: G3014 who G2532 seeing G1492 Jesus G2424 fell G4098 on G1909 his face, G4383 and besought G1189 him, G846 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 if G1437 thou wilt, G2309 thou canst G1410 make G2511 me G3165 clean. G2511 And G2532 he put forth G1614 his hand, G5495 and touched G680 him, G846 saying, G2036 I will: G2309 be thou clean. G2511 And G2532 immediately G2112 the leprosy G3014 departed G565 from G575 him. G846 And G2532 he G846 charged G3853 him G846 to tell G2036 no man: G3367 but G235 go, G565 and shew G1166 thyself G4572 to the priest, G2409 and G2532 offer G4374 for G4012 thy G4675 cleansing, G2512 according as G2531 Moses G3475 commanded, G4367 for G1519 a testimony G3142 unto them. G846

Luke 17:12-19 STRONG

And G2532 as he G846 entered G1525 into G1519 a certain G5100 village, G2968 there met G528 him G846 ten G1176 men G435 that were lepers, G3015 which G3739 stood G2476 afar off: G4207 And G2532 they G846 lifted up G142 their voices, G5456 and said, G3004 Jesus, G2424 Master, G1988 have mercy G1653 on us. G2248 And G2532 when he saw G1492 them, he said G2036 unto them, G846 Go G4198 shew G1925 yourselves G1438 unto the priests. G2409 And G2532 it came to pass, G1096 that, as they G846 went, G5217 G1722 they were cleansed. G2511 And G1161 one G1520 of G1537 them, G846 when he saw G1492 that G3754 he was healed, G2390 turned back, G5290 and with G3326 a loud G3173 voice G5456 glorified G1392 God, G2316 And G2532 fell down G4098 on G1909 his face G4383 at G3844 his G846 feet, G4228 giving G2168 him G846 thanks: G2168 and G2532 he G846 was G2258 a Samaritan. G4541 And G1161 Jesus G2424 answering G611 said, G2036 Were there G2511 not G3780 ten G1176 cleansed? G2511 but G1161 where G4226 are the nine? G1767 There are G2147 not G3756 found G2147 that returned G5290 to give G1325 glory G1391 to God, G2316 save G1508 this G3778 stranger. G241 And G2532 he said G2036 unto him, G846 Arise, G450 go thy way: G4198 thy G4675 faith G4102 hath made G4982 thee G4571 whole. G4982

John 9:38 STRONG

And G1161 he said, G5346 Lord, G2962 I believe. G4100 And G2532 he worshipped G4352 him. G846

Revelation 22:8-9 STRONG

And G2532 I G1473 John G2491 saw G991 these things, G5023 and G2532 heard G191 them. And G2532 when G3753 I had heard G191 and G2532 seen, G991 I fell down G4098 to worship G4352 before G1715 the feet G4228 of the angel G32 which G3588 shewed G1166 me G3427 these things. G5023 Then G2532 saith he G3004 unto me, G3427 See G3708 thou do it not: G3361 for G1063 I am G1510 thy G4675 fellowservant, G4889 and G2532 of thy G4675 brethren G80 the prophets, G4396 and G2532 of them which keep G5083 the sayings G3056 of this G5127 book: G975 worship G4352 God. G2316

Mark 5:6-7 STRONG

But G1161 when he saw G1492 Jesus G2424 afar off, G575 G3113 he ran G5143 and G2532 worshipped G4352 him, G846 And G2532 cried G2896 with a loud G3173 voice, G5456 and said, G2036 What G5101 have I G1698 to do G2532 with thee, G4671 Jesus, G2424 thou Son G5207 of the most high G5310 God? G2316 I adjure G3726 thee G4571 by God, G2316 that thou torment G928 me G3165 not. G3361

Revelation 19:10 STRONG

And G2532 I fell G4098 at G1715 his G846 feet G4228 to worship G4352 him. G846 And G2532 he said G3004 unto me, G3427 See G3708 thou do it not: G3361 I am G1510 thy G4675 fellowservant, G4889 and G2532 of thy G4675 brethren G80 that have G2192 the testimony G3141 of Jesus: G2424 worship G4352 God: G2316 for G1063 the testimony G3141 of Jesus G2424 is G2076 the spirit G4151 of prophecy. G4394

1 Corinthians 14:25 STRONG

And G2532 thus G3779 are G1096 the secrets G2927 of his G846 heart G2588 made G1096 manifest; G5318 and G2532 so G3779 falling down G4098 on G1909 his face G4383 he will worship G4352 God, G2316 and report G518 that G3754 God G2316 is G2076 in G1722 you G5213 of a truth. G3689

Acts 10:25 STRONG

And G1161 as G5613 Peter G4074 was G1096 coming in, G1525 Cornelius G2883 met G4876 him, G846 and fell down G4098 at G1909 his feet, G4228 and worshipped G4352 him.

Luke 4:27 STRONG

And G2532 many G4183 lepers G3015 were G2258 in G1722 Israel G2474 in the time G1909 of Eliseus G1666 the prophet; G4396 and G2532 none G3762 of them G846 was cleansed, G2511 saving G1508 Naaman G3497 the Syrian. G4948

Matthew 9:18 STRONG

While he G846 spake G2980 these things G5023 unto them, G846 behold, G2400 there came G2064 a certain G1520 ruler, G758 and worshipped G4352 him, G846 saying, G3004 G3754 My G3450 daughter G2364 is even now G737 dead: G5053 but G235 come G2064 and lay G2007 thy G4675 hand G5495 upon G1909 her, G846 and G2532 she shall live. G2198

Numbers 12:10 STRONG

And the cloud H6051 departed H5493 from off the tabernacle; H168 and, behold, Miriam H4813 became leprous, H6879 white as snow: H7950 and Aaron H175 looked H6437 upon Miriam, H4813 and, behold, she was leprous. H6879

2 Samuel 3:39 STRONG

And I am this day H3117 weak, H7390 though anointed H4886 king; H4428 and these men H582 the sons H1121 of Zeruiah H6870 be too hard H7186 for me: the LORD H3068 shall reward H7999 the doer of evil H6213 according to his wickedness. H7451

2 Kings 5:1 STRONG

Now Naaman, H5283 captain H8269 of the host H6635 of the king H4428 of Syria, H758 was a great H1419 man H376 with H6440 his master, H113 and honourable, H5375 because by him the LORD H3068 had given H5414 deliverance H8668 unto Syria: H758 he was also a mighty H1368 man H376 in valour, H2428 but he was a leper. H6879

2 Kings 5:27 STRONG

The leprosy H6883 therefore of Naaman H5283 shall cleave H1692 unto thee, and unto thy seed H2233 for ever. H5769 And he went out H3318 from his presence H6440 a leper H6879 as white as snow. H7950

2 Kings 15:5 STRONG

And the LORD H3068 smote H5060 the king, H4428 so that he was a leper H6879 unto the day H3117 of his death, H4194 and dwelt H3427 in a several H2669 house. H1004 And Jotham H3147 the king's H4428 son H1121 was over the house, H1004 judging H8199 the people H5971 of the land. H776

2 Chronicles 26:19-21 STRONG

Then Uzziah H5818 was wroth, H2196 and had a censer H4730 in his hand H3027 to burn incense: H6999 and while he was wroth H2196 with the priests, H3548 the leprosy H6883 even rose up H2224 in his forehead H4696 before H6440 the priests H3548 in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 from beside the incense H7004 altar. H4196 And Azariah H5838 the chief H7218 priest, H3548 and all the priests, H3548 looked H6437 upon him, and, behold, he was leprous H6879 in his forehead, H4696 and they thrust him out H926 from thence; yea, himself hasted H1765 also to go out, H3318 because the LORD H3068 had smitten H5060 him. And Uzziah H5818 the king H4428 was a leper H6879 unto the day H3117 of his death, H4194 and dwelt in H3427 a several H2669 H2669 house, H1004 being a leper; H6879 for he was cut off H1504 from the house H1004 of the LORD: H3068 and Jotham H3147 his son H1121 was over the king's H4428 house, H1004 judging H8199 the people H5971 of the land. H776

Matthew 2:11 STRONG

And G2532 when they were come G2064 into G1519 the house, G3614 they saw G2147 G1492 the young child G3813 with G3326 Mary G3137 his G846 mother, G3384 and G2532 fell down, G4098 and worshipped G4352 him: G846 and G2532 when they had opened G455 their G846 treasures, G2344 they presented G4374 unto him G846 gifts; G1435 gold, G5557 and G2532 frankincense, G3030 and G2532 myrrh. G4666

Matthew 4:9 STRONG

And G2532 saith G3004 unto him, G846 All G3956 these things G5023 will I give G1325 thee, G4671 if G1437 thou wilt fall down G4098 and worship G4352 me. G3427

Numbers 5:2-3 STRONG

Command H6680 the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 that they put out H7971 of the camp H4264 every leper, H6879 and every one that hath an issue, H2100 and whosoever is defiled H2931 by the dead: H5315 Both male H2145 and female H5347 shall ye put out, H7971 without H2351 the camp H4264 shall ye put H7971 them; that they defile H2930 not their camps, H4264 in the midst H8432 whereof H834 I dwell. H7931

Matthew 10:8 STRONG

Heal G2323 the sick, G770 cleanse G2511 the lepers, G3015 raise G1453 the dead, G3498 cast out G1544 devils: G1140 freely G1432 ye have received, G2983 freely G1432 give. G1325

Matthew 13:58 STRONG

And G2532 he did G4160 not G3756 many G4183 mighty works G1411 there G1563 because G1223 of their G846 unbelief. G570

Matthew 14:33 STRONG

Then G1161 they that were in G1722 the ship G4143 came G2064 and worshipped G4352 him, G846 saying, G3004 Of a truth G230 thou art G1488 the Son G5207 of God. G2316

Matthew 20:20 STRONG

Then G5119 came G4334 to him G846 the mother G3384 of Zebedee's G2199 children G5207 with G3326 her G846 sons, G5207 worshipping G4352 him, and G2532 desiring G154 a certain G5100 thing G3844 of him. G846

Matthew 26:6 STRONG

Now G1161 when Jesus G2424 was G1096 in G1722 Bethany, G963 in G1722 the house G3614 of Simon G4613 the leper, G3015

Matthew 28:9 STRONG

And G1161 as G5613 they went G4198 to tell G518 his G846 disciples, G3101 G2532 behold, G2400 Jesus G2424 met G528 them, G846 saying, G3004 All hail. G5463 And G1161 they came G4334 and held G2902 him G846 by the feet, G4228 and G2532 worshipped G4352 him. G846

Matthew 28:17 STRONG

And G2532 when they saw G1492 him, G846 they worshipped G4352 him: G846 but G1161 some doubted. G1365

Commentary on Matthew 8 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 8

Mt 8:1-4. Healing of a Leper. ( = Mr 1:40-45; Lu 5:12-16).

The time of this miracle seems too definitely fixed here to admit of our placing it where it stands in Mark and Luke, in whose Gospels no such precise note of time is given.

1. When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

2. And, behold, there came a leper—"a man full of leprosy," says Lu 5:12. Much has been written on this disease of leprosy, but certain points remain still doubtful. All that needs be said here is that it was a cutaneous disease, of a loathsome, diffusive, and, there is reason to believe, when thoroughly pronounced, incurable character; that though in its distinctive features it is still found in several countries—as Arabia, Egypt, and South Africa—it prevailed, in the form of what is called white leprosy, to an unusual extent, and from a very early period, among the Hebrews; and that it thus furnished to the whole nation a familiar and affecting symbol of SIN, considered as (1) loathsome, (2) spreading, (3) incurable. And while the ceremonial ordinances for detection and cleansing prescribed in this case by the law of Moses (Le 13:1-14:57) held forth a coming remedy "for sin and for uncleanness" (Ps 51:7; 2Ki 5:1, 7, 10, 13, 14), the numerous cases of leprosy with which our Lord came in contact, and the glorious cures of them which He wrought, were a fitting manifestation of the work which He came to accomplish. In this view, it deserves to be noticed that the first of our Lord's miracles of healing recorded by Matthew is this cure of a leper.

and worshipped him—in what sense we shall presently see. Mark says (Mr 1:40), he came, "beseeching and kneeling to Him," and Luke says (Lu 5:12), "he fell on his face."

saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean—As this is the only cure of leprosy recorded by all the three first Evangelists, it was probably the first case of the kind; and if so, this leper's faith in the power of Christ must have been formed in him by what he had heard of His other cures. And how striking a faith is it! He does not say he believed Him able, but with a brevity expressive of a confidence that knew no doubt, he says simply, "Thou canst." But of Christ's willingness to heal him he was not so sure. It needed more knowledge of Jesus than he could be supposed to have to assure him of that. But one thing he was sure of, that He had but to "will" it. This shows with what "worship" of Christ this leper fell on his face before Him. Clear theological knowledge of the Person of Christ was not then possessed even by those who were most with Him and nearest to Him. Much less could full insight into all that we know of the Only-begotten of the Father be expected of this leper. But he who at that moment felt and owned that to heal an incurable disease needed but the fiat of the Person who stood before him, had assuredly that very faith in the germ which now casts its crown before Him that loved us, and would at any time die for His blessed name.

3. And Jesus—or "He," according to another reading,—"moved with compassion," says Mark (Mr 1:41); a precious addition.

put forth his hand, and touched him—Such a touch occasioned ceremonial defilement (Le 5:3); even as the leper's coming near enough for contact was against the Levitical regulations (Le 13:46). But as the man's faith told him there would be no case for such regulations if the cure he hoped to experience should be accomplished, so He who had healing in His wings transcended all such statutes.

saying, I will; be thou clean—How majestic those two words! By not assuring the man of His power to heal him, He delightfully sets His seal to the man's previous confession of that power; and by assuring him of the one thing of which he had any doubt, and for which he waited—His will to do it—He makes a claim as divine as the cure which immediately followed it.

And immediately his leprosy was cleansed—Mark, more emphatic, says (Mr 1:42), "And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed"—as perfectly as instantaneously. What a contrast this to modern pretended cures!

4. And Jesus—"straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away" (Mr 1:43), and

saith unto him, See thou tell no man—A hard condition this would seem to a grateful heart, whose natural language, in such a case, is "Come, hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul" (Ps 66:16). We shall presently see the reason for it.

but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded—(Le 14:1-57).

for a testimony unto them—a palpable witness that the Great Healer had indeed come, and that "God had visited His people." What the sequel was, our Evangelist Matthew does not say; but Mark thus gives it (Mr 1:45): "But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to Him from every quarter." Thus—by an over-zealous, though most natural and not very culpable, infringement of the injunction to keep the matter quiet—was our Lord, to some extent, thwarted in His movements. As His whole course was sublimely noiseless (Mt 12:19), so we find Him repeatedly taking steps to prevent matters prematurely coming to a crisis with Him. (But see on Mr 5:19, 20). "And He withdrew Himself," adds Luke (Lu 5:16), "into the wilderness, and prayed"; retreating from the popular excitement into the secret place of the Most High, and thus coming forth as dew upon the mown grass, and as showers that water the earth (Ps 72:6). And this is the secret both of strength and of sweetness in the servants and followers of Christ in every age.

Mt 8:5-13. Healing of the Centurion's Servant. ( = Lu 7:1-10).

This incident belongs to a later stage. For the exposition, see on Lu 7:1-10.

Mt 8:14-17. Healing of Peter's Mother-in-law and Many Others. ( = Mr 1:29-34; Lu 4:38-41).

For the exposition, see on Mr 1:29-34.

Mt 8:18-22. Incidents Illustrative of Discipleship. ( = Lu 9:57-62).

The incidents here are two: in the corresponding passage of Luke they are three. Here they are introduced before the mission of the Twelve: in Luke, when our Lord was making preparation for His final journey to Jerusalem. But to conclude from this, as some good critics do (as Bengel, Ellicott, &c.) that one of these incidents at least occurred twice—which led to the mention of the others at the two different times—is too artificial. Taking them, then, as one set of occurrences, the question arises. Are they recorded by Matthew or by Luke in their proper place? Neander, Schleiermacher, and Olshausen adhere to Luke's order; while Meyer, De Wette, and Lange prefer that of Matthew. Probably the first incident is here in its right place. But as the command, in the second incident, to preach the kingdom of God, would scarcely have been given at so early a period, it is likely that it and the third incident have their true place in Luke. Taking these three incidents up here then we have,

I. The Rash or Precipitate Disciple (Mt 8:19, 20).

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—Few as there were of the scribes who attached themselves to Jesus, it would appear, from his calling Him Teacher, that this one was a "disciple" in that looser sense of the word in which it is applied to the crowds who flocked after Him, with more or less conviction that His claims were well founded. But from the answer which he received we are led to infer that there was more of transient emotion—of temporary impulse—than of intelligent principle in the speech. The preaching of Christ had riveted and charmed him; his heart had swelled; his enthusiasm had been kindled; and in this state of mind he will go anywhere with Him, and feels impelled to tell Him so. "Wilt thou?" replies the Lord Jesus. "Knowest thou whom thou art pledging thyself to follow, and whither haply He may lead thee? No warm home, no downy pillow has He for thee: He has them not for Himself. The foxes are not without their holes, nor do the birds of the air lack their nests; but the Son of man has to depend on the hospitality of others, and borrow the pillow whereon He lays His head." How affecting is this reply! And yet He rejects not this man's offer, nor refuses him the liberty to follow Him. Only He will have him know what he is doing, and "count the cost." He will have him weigh well the real nature and the strength of his attachment, whether it be such as will abide in the day of trial. If so, he will be right welcome, for Christ puts none away. But it seems too plain that in this case that had not been done. And so we have called this the Rash or Precipitate Disciple.

II. The Procrastinating or Entangled Disciple (Mt 8:21, 22).

As this is more fully given in Luke (Lu 9:59), we must take both together. "And He said unto another of His disciples, Follow Me. But he said,"

Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead—or, as more definitely in Luke, "Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God" (Lu 9:60). This disciple did not, like the former, volunteer his services, but is called by the Lord Jesus, not only to follow, but to preach Him. And he is quite willing; only he is not ready just yet. "Lord, I will; but"—"There is a difficulty in the way just now; but that once removed, I am Thine." What now is this difficulty? Was his father actually dead—lying a corpse—having only to be buried? Impossible. As it was the practice, as noticed on Lu 7:12, to bury on the day of death, it is not very likely that this disciple would have been here at all if his father had just breathed his last; nor would the Lord, if He was there, have hindered him discharging the last duties of a son to a father. No doubt it was the common case of a son having a frail or aged father, not likely to live long, whose head he thinks it his duty to see under the ground ere he goes abroad. "This aged father of mine will soon be removed; and if I might but delay till I see him decently interred, I should then be free to preach the kingdom of God wherever duty might call me." This view of the case will explain the curt reply, "Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God." Like all the other paradoxical sayings of our Lord, the key to it is the different senses—a higher and a lower—in which the same word "dead" is used: There are two kingdoms of God in existence upon earth; the kingdom of nature, and the kingdom of grace: To the one kingdom all the children of this world, even the most ungodly, are fully alive; to the other, only the children of light: The reigning irreligion consists not in indifference to the common humanities of social life, but to things spiritual and eternal: Fear not, therefore, that your father will in your absence be neglected, and that when he breathes his last there will not be relatives and friends ready enough to do to him the last offices of kindness. Your wish to discharge these yourself is natural, and to be allowed to do it a privilege not lightly to be foregone. But the kingdom of God lies now all neglected and needy: Its more exalted character few discern; to its paramount claims few are alive: and to "preach" it fewer still are qualified and called: But thou art: The Lord therefore hath need of thee: Leave, then, those claims of nature, high though they be, to those who are dead to the still higher claims of the kingdom of grace, which God is now erecting upon earth—Let the dead bury their dead; but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And so have we here the genuine, but Procrastinating or Entangled Disciple.

The next case is recorded only by Luke:

III. The Irresolute or Wavering Disciple (Lu 9:61, 62).

Lu 9:61:

And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell which are at home at my house.

Lu 9:62:

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. But for the very different replies given, we should hardly have discerned the difference between this and the second case: the one man called, indeed, and the other volunteering, as did the first; but both seemingly alike willing, and only having a difficulty in their way just at that moment. But, by help of what is said respectively to each, we perceive the great difference between the two cases. From the warning given against "looking back," it is evident that this man's discipleship was not yet thorough, his separation from the world not entire. It is not a case of going back, but of looking back; and as there is here a manifest reference to the case of "Lot's wife" (Ge 19:26; and see on Lu 17:32), we see that it is not actual return to the world that we have here to deal with, but a reluctance to break with it. The figure of putting one's hand to the plough and looking back is an exceedingly vivid one, and to an agricultural people most impressive. As ploughing requires an eye intent on the furrow to be made, and is marred the instant one turns about, so will they come short of salvation who prosecute the work of God with a distracted attention, a divided heart. The reference may be chiefly to ministers; but the application at least is general. As the image seems plainly to have been suggested by the case of Elijah and Elisha, a difficulty may be raised, requiring a moment's attention. When Elijah cast his mantle about Elisha, which the youth quite understood to mean appointing him his successor, he was ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen, the last pair held by himself. Leaving his oxen, he ran after the prophet, and said, "Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and [then] I will follow thee." Was this said in the same spirit with the same speech uttered by our disciple? Let us see. "And Elijah said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee." Commentators take this to mean that Elijah had really done nothing to hinder him from going on with all his ordinary duties. But to us it seems clear that Elijah's intention was to try what manner of spirit the youth was of:—"Kiss thy father and mother? And why not? By all means, go home and stay with them; for what have I done to thee? I did but throw a mantle about thee; but what of that?" If this was his meaning, Elisha thoroughly apprehended and nobly met it. "He returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen (the wood of his ploughing implements), and gave unto the people, and they did eat: then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him" (1Ki 19:19-21). We know not if even his father and mother had time to be called to this hasty feast. But this much is plain, that, though in affluent circumstances, he gave up his lower calling, with all its prospects, for the higher and at that time perilous, office to which he was called. What now is the bearing of these two cases? Did Elisha do wrong in bidding them farewell with whom he was associated in his early calling? Or, if not, would this disciple have done wrong if he had done the same thing, and in the same spirit, with Elisha? Clearly not. Elisha's doing it proved that he could with safety do it; and our Lord's warning is not against bidding them farewell which were at home at his house, but against the probable fatal consequences of that step; lest the embraces of earthly relationship should prove too strong for him, and he should never return to follow Christ. Accordingly, we have called this the Irresolute or Wavering Disciple.

Mt 8:23-27. Jesus Crossing the Sea of Galilee, Miraculously Stills a Tempest. ( = Mr 4:35-41; Lu 8:22-25).

For the exposition, see on Mr 4:35-41.

Mt 8:28-34. Jesus Heals the Gergesene Demoniacs. ( = Mr 5:1-20; Lu 8:26-39).

For the exposition, see on Mr 5:1-20.