8 The centurion G1543 answered G611 and G2532 said, G5346 Lord, G2962 I am G1510 not G3756 worthy G2425 that G2443 thou shouldest come G1525 under G5259 my G3450 roof: G4721 but G235 speak G2036 the word G3056 only, G3440 and G2532 my G3450 servant G3816 shall be healed. G2390
He sent H7971 his word, H1697 and healed H7495 them, and delivered H4422 them from their destructions. H7825
Then G1161 Jesus G2424 went G4198 with G4862 them. G846 And G1161 when he G846 was G568 now G2235 not G3756 far G3112 from G575 the house, G3614 the centurion G1543 sent G3992 friends G5384 to G4314 him, G846 saying G3004 unto him, G846 Lord, G2962 trouble G4660 not G3361 thyself: G4660 for G1063 I am G1510 not G3756 worthy G2425 that G2443 thou shouldest enter G1525 under G5259 my G3450 roof: G4721 Wherefore G1352 neither G3761 thought I G515 myself G1683 worthy G515 to come G2064 unto G4314 thee: G4571 but G235 say G2036 in a word, G3056 and G2532 my G3450 servant G3816 shall be healed. G2390
Take H3947 the rod, H4294 and gather H6950 thou the assembly H5712 together, thou, and Aaron H175 thy brother, H251 and speak H1696 ye unto the rock H5553 before their eyes; H5869 and it shall give forth H5414 his water, H4325 and thou shalt bring forth H3318 to them water H4325 out of the rock: H5553 so thou shalt give H8248 the congregation H5712 and their beasts H1165 drink. H8248
I G1473 indeed G3303 baptize G907 you G5209 with G1722 water G5204 unto G1519 repentance: G3341 but G1161 he that cometh G2064 after G3694 me G3450 is G2076 mightier than G2478 I, G3450 whose G3739 shoes G5266 I am G1510 not G3756 worthy G2425 to bear: G941 he G846 shall baptize G907 you G5209 with G1722 the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 and G2532 with fire: G4442
But G1161 he answered G611 and said, G2036 It is G2076 not G3756 meet G2570 to take G2983 the children's G5043 bread, G740 and G2532 to cast G906 it to dogs. G2952 And G1161 she said, G2036 Truth, G3483 Lord: G2962 yet G2532 G1063 the dogs G2952 eat G2068 of G575 the crumbs G5589 which G3588 fall G4098 from G575 their G846 masters' G2962 table. G5132
And G2532 Jesus G2424 rebuked G2008 him, G846 saying, G3004 Hold thy peace, G5392 and G2532 come G1831 out of G1537 him. G846 And G2532 when the unclean G169 spirit G4151 had torn G4682 him, G846 and G2532 cried G2896 with a loud G3173 voice, G5456 he came G1831 out of G1537 him. G846 And G2532 they were G2284 all G3956 amazed, G2284 insomuch that G5620 they questioned G4802 among G4314 themselves, G846 saying, G3004 What thing G5101 is G2076 this? G3778 what G5101 new G2537 doctrine G1322 is this? G5124 for G3754 with G2596 authority G1849 commandeth G2004 he even G2532 the unclean G169 spirits, G4151 and G2532 they do obey G5219 him. G846
And G2532 am G1510 no more G3765 worthy G514 to be called G2564 thy G4675 son: G5207 make G4160 me G3165 as G5613 one G1520 of thy G4675 hired servants. G3407
Then G3767 cometh he G2064 to G4314 Simon G4613 Peter: G4074 and G2532 Peter G1565 saith G3004 unto him, G846 Lord, G2962 dost G3538 thou G4771 wash G3538 my G3450 feet? G4228 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and G2532 said G2036 unto him, G846 What G3739 I G1473 do G4160 thou G4771 knowest G1492 not G3756 now; G737 but G1161 thou shalt know G1097 hereafter. G3326 G5023 Peter G4074 saith G3004 unto him, G846 Thou shalt G3538 never G1519 G165 G3364 wash G3538 my G3450 feet. G4228 Jesus G2424 answered G611 him, G846 If G3362 I wash G3538 thee G4571 not, G3362 thou hast G2192 no G3756 part G3313 with G3326 me. G1700
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Matthew 8
Commentary on Matthew 8 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 8
The evangelist having, in the foregoing chapters, given us a specimen of our Lord's preaching, proceeds now to give some instances of the miracles he wrought, which prove him a Teacher come from God, and the great Healer of a diseased world. In this chapter we have,
Mat 8:1-4
The first verse refers to the close of the foregoing sermon: the people that heard him were astonished at his doctrine; and the effect was, that when he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him; though he was so strict a Lawgiver, and so faithful a Reprover, they diligently attended him, and were loth to disperse, and go from him. Note, They to whom Christ has manifested himself, cannot but desire to be better acquainted with him. They who know much of Christ should covet to know more; and then shall we know, if we thus follow on to know the Lord. It is pleasing to see people so well affected to Christ, as to think they can never hear enough of him; so well affected to the best things, as thus to flock after good preaching, and to follow the Lamb withersoever he goes. Now was Jacob's prophecy concerning the Messiah fulfilled, that unto him shall the gathering of the people be; yet they who gathered to him did not cleave to him. They who followed him closely and constantly were but few, compared with the multitudes that were but followers at large.
In these verses we have an account of Christ's cleansing a leper. It should seem, by comparing Mk. 1:40, and Lu. 5:12, that this passage, though placed, by St. Matthew, after the sermon on the mount, because he would give account of his doctrine first, and then of his miracles, happened some time before; but that is not at all material. This is fitly recorded with the first of Christ's miracles,
Mat 8:5-13
We have here an account of Christ's curing the centurion's servant of a palsy. This was done at Capernaum, where Christ now dwelt, ch. 4:13. Christ went about doing good, and came home to do good too; every place he came to was the better for him.
The persons Christ had now to do with were,
Now in the story of the cure of this servant, we may observe an intercourse or interchanging of graces, very remarkable between Christ and the centurion. See here,
The centurion's faith in the power of Christ he here illustrates by the dominion he had, as a centurion, over his soldiers, as a master over his servants; he says to one, Go, and he goes, etc. They were all at his beck and command, so as that he could by them execute things at a distance; his word was a law to them-dictum factum; well-disciplined soldiers know that the commands of their officers are not to be disputed, but obeyed. Thus could Christ speak, and it is done; such a power had he over all bodily diseases. The centurion had this command over his soldiers, though he was himself a man under authority; not a commander-in-chief, but a subaltern officer; much more had Christ this power, who is the supreme and sovereign Lord of all. The centurion's servants were very obsequious, would go and come at every the least intimation of their master's mind. Now,
Mat 8:14-17
They who pretend to be critical in the Harmony of the evangelists, place this passage, and all that follows to the end of ch. 9 before the sermon on the mount, according to the order which Mark and Luke observe in placing it. Dr. Lightfoot places only this passage before the sermon on the mount, and v. 18, etc. after. Here we have,
Mat 8:18-22
Here is,
We have here Christ's managing of two different tempers, one quick and eager, the other dull and heavy; and his instructions are adapted to each of them, and designed for our use.
Mat 8:23-27
Christ had given sailing orders to his disciples (v. 18), that they should depart to the other side of the sea of Tiberias, into the country of Gadara, in the tribe of Gad, which lay east of Jordan; thither he would go to rescue a poor creature that was possessed with a legion of devils, though he foresaw how he should be affronted there. Now.
Mat 8:28-34
We have here the story of Christ's casting the devils out of two men that were possessed. The scope of this chapter is to show the divine power of Christ, by the instances of his dominion over bodily diseases, which to us are irresistible; over winds and waves, which to us are yet more uncontrollable; and lastly, over devils, which to us are most formidable of all. Christ has not only all power in heaven and earth and all deep places, but has the keys of hell too. Principalities and powers were made subject to him, even while he was in his estate of humiliation, as an earnest of what should be at his entrance into his glory (Eph. 1:21); he spoiled them, Col. 2:15. It was observed in general (v. 16), that Christ cast out the spirits with his word; here we have a particular instance of it, which have some circumstances more remarkable than the rest. This miracle was wrought in the country of the Gergesenes; some think, they were the remains of the old Girgashites, Deu. 7:1. Though Christ was sent chiefly to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, yet some sallies he made among the borderers, as here, to gain this victory over Satan, which was a specimen of the conquest of his legions in the Gentile world.
Now, besides the general instance which this gives us of Christ's power over Satan, and his design against him to disarm and dispossess him, we have here especially discovered to us the way and manner of evil spirits in their enmity to man. Observe, concerning this legion of devils, What work they made where they were, and where they went.
Now,