Jesus breaks profound social taboos by physically touching the leper before healing him, reversing the typical sequence where cleansing precedes contact in Jewish purification rituals.
Matthew 8
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
1When he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
2Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”
3Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4Jesus said to him, “See that you tell nobody; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
The Faith of the Centurion
5When he came into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking him for help,
6saying, “Lord, my servant lies in the house paralyzed, grievously tormented.”
7Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
8The centurion answered, “Lord, I’m not worthy for you to come under my roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
9For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and tell another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and tell my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10When Jesus heard it, he marveled and said to those who followed, “Most certainly I tell you, I haven’t found so great a faith, not even in Israel.
11I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven,
12but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way. Let it be done for you as you have believed.” His servant was healed in that hour.
Jesus Heals Many
14When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever.
15He touched her hand, and the fever left her. So she got up and served him.
16When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
17that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
The Cost of Following Jesus
18Now when Jesus saw great multitudes around him, he gave the order to depart to the other side.
19A scribe came and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
21Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”
22But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
Jesus Calms the Storm
23When he got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
24Behold, a violent storm came up on the sea, so much that the boat was covered with the waves; but he was asleep.
25The disciples came to him and woke him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We are dying!”
26He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm.
27The men marveled, saying, “What kind of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Jesus Heals Two Men with Demons
28When he came to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes, two people possessed by demons met him there, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that nobody could pass that way.
29Behold, they cried out, saying, “What do we have to do with you, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
30Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding far away from them.
31The demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of pigs.”
32He said to them, “Go!” They came out and went into the herd of pigs; and behold, the whole herd of pigs rushed down the cliff into the sea and died in the water.
33Those who fed them fled and went away into the city and told everything, including what happened to those who were possessed with demons.
34Behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged that he would depart from their borders.
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Theme
Following the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew presents Jesus as the authoritative Messiah through a series of powerful miracles and teachings about discipleship. Jesus demonstrates his divine authority by healing a leper, a centurion's servant, and many others, while also calming a storm and casting out demons. Interwoven with these miraculous works are sobering teachings about the cost of following him, revealing that true discipleship requires complete commitment and sacrifice.
Context
This chapter transitions from Jesus' authoritative teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7) to demonstrating that same authority through miraculous works.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4 Jesus Cleanses a Leper A leper approaches Jesus with faith and is immediately healed, demonstrating Jesus' compassion and power over disease.
- 5-13 The Faith of the Centurion A Roman centurion's remarkable faith leads Jesus to heal his servant from a distance and prophesy about Gentile inclusion.
- 14-17 Jesus Heals Many Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law and many others, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy about the Messiah bearing our infirmities.
- 18-22 The Cost of Following Jesus Jesus warns potential disciples about the sacrificial nature of following him, emphasizing the priority of his calling.
- 23-27 Jesus Calms the Storm Jesus demonstrates his authority over nature by calming a violent storm, revealing his divine identity to his amazed disciples.
- 28-34 Jesus Heals Two Men with Demons Jesus casts out demons from two men, showing his power over the spiritual realm despite local opposition.
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
8:1–8:4 gospel narration tender
Jesus heals a leper who approaches him with faith and worship, demonstrating his power over disease while respecting Mosaic law.
person_contrast
Jesus breaks profound social taboos by physically touching the leper before healing him, reversing the typical sequence where cleansing precedes contact in Jewish purification rituals.
The Faith of the Centurion
8:5–8:13 gospel narration hopeful
A Roman centurion's great faith in Jesus' authority leads to his servant's healing and Jesus' teaching about inclusion in God's kingdom.
person_contrast
Jesus declares this Roman centurion possesses greater faith than anyone in Israel, making it the only Gospel passage where a Gentile's faith explicitly surpasses Jewish faith.
Jesus Heals Many
8:14–8:17 gospel narration
Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law and many others, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy about bearing our infirmities and diseases.
quotation_chain
Matthew uniquely reinterprets Isaiah 53:4's "carried our sorrows" as physical healing rather than spiritual suffering, transforming the Suffering Servant's metaphorical burden into Jesus's literal medical ministry.
The Cost of Following Jesus
8:18–8:22 gospel dialogue solemn
Jesus teaches about the cost of discipleship, emphasizing that following him requires complete commitment and sacrifice.
person_contrast
Jesus's self-designation as "Son of Man" appears in only 7% of his Matthew appearances, yet here it emphasizes his radical homelessness rather than his typical divine authority.
Jesus Calms the Storm
8:23–8:27 gospel narration triumphant
Jesus calms a violent storm, demonstrating his divine authority over nature and teaching his disciples about faith.
person_contrast
Jesus's divine authority over nature emerges through the rare Greek verb "epitimao" (rebuke), which he uses identically for demons, disease, and now the storm—revealing his cosmic dominion.
Jesus Heals Two Men with Demons
8:28–8:34 gospel narration
Jesus casts demons out of two men into a herd of pigs, demonstrating his power over evil spirits but causing the townspeople to ask him to leave.
person_contrast
The demons immediately recognize Jesus as "Son of God" while the townspeople who witness his miraculous power respond by asking him to leave their region.
Insights
Jesus declares this Roman centurion possesses greater faith than anyone in Israel, making it the only Gospel passage where a Gentile's faith explicitly surpasses Jewish faith.
Matthew uniquely reinterprets Isaiah 53:4's "carried our sorrows" as physical healing rather than spiritual suffering, transforming the Suffering Servant's metaphorical burden into Jesus's literal medical ministry.
Jesus's self-designation as "Son of Man" appears in only 7% of his Matthew appearances, yet here it emphasizes his radical homelessness rather than his typical divine authority.
Jesus's divine authority over nature emerges through the rare Greek verb "epitimao" (rebuke), which he uses identically for demons, disease, and now the storm—revealing his cosmic dominion.
The demons immediately recognize Jesus as "Son of God" while the townspeople who witness his miraculous power respond by asking him to leave their region.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Matthew 8:1 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 9:37 Lexical
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great multitude met him.
Matthew 20:29 Lexical
As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
Matthew 19:2 Lexical
Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.
Matthew 4:25 Lexical
Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him.
John 6:2 Lexical
A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick.
Matthew 8:2 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 1:40 Lexical
A leper came to him, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, “If you want to, you can make me clean.”
Luke 5:12 Lexical
While he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and b…
Luke 4:27 Lexical
There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the…
Luke 7:22 Lexical
Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the…
Matthew 10:8 Lexical
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.
Matthew 8:3 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 5:13 Lexical
He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him.
Mark 1:41 Lexical
Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be made clean.”
Mark 1:42 Lexical
When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him and he was made clean.
Luke 5:12 Lexical
While he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and b…
Matthew 14:31 Lexical
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Matthew 8:4 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 1:44 Lexical
and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing t…
Luke 5:14 Lexical
He commanded him to tell no one, “But go your way and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing accordin…
Hebrews 8:4 Lexical
For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the…
Matthew 5:24 Lexical
leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer yo…
Acts 7:44 Lexical
“Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make…
Matthew 8:5 1 reference
Matthew 8:8 1 reference
Matthew 8:9 1 reference
Matthew 8:10 2 references
Matthew 8:11 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 13:29 Lexical
They will come from the east, west, north, and south, and will sit down in God’s Kingdom.
Luke 13:28 Lexical
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s Kingdom, a…
Mark 12:26 Lexical
But about the dead, that they are raised, haven’t you read in the book of Moses about the Bush, how God spoke to him, sa…
Matthew 22:32 Lexical
‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living…
Matthew 1:2 Lexical
Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers.
Matthew 8:12 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 22:13 Lexical
Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That…
Matthew 25:30 Lexical
Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Luke 13:28 Lexical
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s Kingdom, a…
Matthew 13:50 Lexical
and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 24:51 Lexical
and will cut him in pieces and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth…
Matthew 8:13 3 references
Lexicals 3
Matthew 15:28 Lexical
Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed…
Matthew 17:18 Lexical
Jesus rebuked the demon, and it went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.
John 4:53 Lexical
So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” He believed, as did his whole…
Matthew 8:14 3 references
Lexicals 3
Mark 1:30 Lexical
Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.
Acts 10:17 Lexical
Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sen…
Matthew 4:18 Lexical
Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net i…
Matthew 8:15 2 references
Matthew 8:16 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 4:24 Lexical
The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and…
Mark 1:34 Lexical
He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, becaus…
Mark 1:32 Lexical
At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by demons.
Mark 6:13 Lexical
They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick and healed them.
Matthew 10:1 Lexical
He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal e…
Matthew 8:17 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 12:17 Lexical
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
Matthew 4:14 Lexical
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
Matthew 2:23 Lexical
and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets that he w…
Matthew 13:35 Lexical
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter…
Matthew 27:9 Lexical
Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “They took the thirty pieces of silver, t…
Matthew 8:19 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 9:57 Lexical
As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, “I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord.”
Mark 12:32 Lexical
The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he;
Matthew 19:16 Lexical
Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
Mark 12:28 Lexical
One of the scribes came and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, “Whi…
John 12:26 Lexical
If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there my servant will also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will…
Matthew 8:20 1 reference
Matthew 8:21 3 references
Lexicals 3
Luke 9:59 Lexical
He said to another, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”
Luke 9:61 Lexical
Another also said, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house.”
Mark 14:12 Lexical
On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us…
Matthew 8:22 1 reference
Matthew 8:23 5 references
Parallels 1
Lexicals 4
Luke 8:22 Lexical
Now on one of those days, he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples, and he said to them, “Let’s go over to the…
Matthew 14:22 Lexical
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitud…
Mark 8:10 Lexical
Immediately he entered into the boat with his disciples and came into the region of Dalmanutha.
Mark 6:45 Lexical
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent…
Matthew 8:24 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 4:37 Lexical
A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled.
Matthew 14:24 Lexical
But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
Acts 16:26 Lexical
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors…
Mark 4:1 Lexical
Again he began to teach by the seaside. A great multitude was gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat in the sea…
Matthew 28:2 Lexical
Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky and came and rolled away the stone…
Matthew 8:26 4 references
Lexicals 4
Mark 4:39 Lexical
He awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was a great calm.
Luke 8:24 Lexical
They came to him and awoke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are dying!” He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging of…
Mark 4:41 Lexical
They were greatly afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
John 6:18 Lexical
The sea was tossed by a great wind blowing.
Matthew 8:27 1 reference
Matthew 8:28 5 references
Parallels 2
Lexicals 3
Acts 19:16 Lexical
The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out…
Matthew 15:22 Lexical
Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My d…
Matthew 22:10 Lexical
Those servants went out into the highways and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding wa…
Matthew 8:29 1 reference
Matthew 8:30 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 5:11 Lexical
Now on the mountainside there was a great herd of pigs feeding.
Luke 8:32 Lexical
Now there was there a herd of many pigs feeding on the mountain, and they begged him that he would allow them to enter i…
Mark 5:13 Lexical
At once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two thousa…
Luke 8:33 Lexical
The demons came out of the man and entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were…
Luke 15:15 Lexical
He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
Matthew 8:31 4 references
Lexicals 4
Mark 5:11 Lexical
Now on the mountainside there was a great herd of pigs feeding.
Luke 8:32 Lexical
Now there was there a herd of many pigs feeding on the mountain, and they begged him that he would allow them to enter i…
Mark 5:13 Lexical
At once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two thousa…
Luke 8:33 Lexical
The demons came out of the man and entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were…
Matthew 8:32 2 references
Matthew 8:33 2 references
Matthew 8:34 2 references
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Lemma
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