Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Matthew 8
Matthew 8:2-3And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
By touching a man with leprosy, Jesus breaks social and religious rules to show that His love and power can reach anyone, no matter how 'unclean' they feel.Matthew 8:10When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.
Jesus is amazed by the faith of a Roman soldier, showing that God's kingdom is open to everyone who trusts Him.Matthew 8:26-27And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
Jesus demonstrates that He is the Lord of nature by silencing a storm with a single command, leaving His followers in awe of His identity.
Historical & Cultural Context
From the Mountain to the Multitudes
After finishing the Sermon on the Mount in the previous chapters, Jesus descends to the valley where real-life problems await. He is immediately met by a man with leprosy, a disease that made people outcasts in that culture. Instead of pulling away, Jesus reaches out, showing that His kingdom brings physical and social restoration. This sets the stage for a series of encounters where Jesus proves His power over various human struggles.
Authority Over Distance and Nature
As Jesus enters the town of Capernaum, the focus shifts from physical touch to the power of His spoken word. He meets a Roman centurion, an officer in the occupying army, who displays more faith than anyone Jesus had met in Israel. This encounter highlights that Jesus's authority is not limited by distance or nationality. The scene then moves to a private home and eventually to a boat on a stormy sea, expanding the scope of His power.
The King in Action
In Matthew 8:1-34, we see Jesus moving through Galilee, performing miracles that validate His teaching. The chapter begins with personal healings and ends with a dramatic display of power over the elements and the spiritual world.
Touching the Untouchable (Matthew 8:1-4)
1 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.
2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean."
3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them."
Commentary:
Jesus heals a leper with a touch, showing His power to restore those rejected by society.
The Faith of a Soldier (Matthew 8:5-13)
5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him,
6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.”
7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
8 The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.
9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.
11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,
12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
Commentary:
Jesus heals a centurion's servant from afar, praising the soldier's incredible faith.
Healing at Home (Matthew 8:14-17)
14 And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever.
15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.
16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases."
Commentary:
Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law and many others, fulfilling ancient prophecies about the Messiah.
The Cost of the Call (Matthew 8:18-22)
18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.
19 And a scribe came up and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
Commentary:
Jesus explains that following Him requires total commitment and may involve personal sacrifice.
Peace in the Storm (Matthew 8:23-27)
23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.
24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.
25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.”
26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
Commentary:
Jesus calms a violent storm with a command, showing His authority over nature.
Related Verse Analysis
Power Over Darkness (Matthew 8:28-34)
28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.
29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them.
31 And the demons begged him, saying, "If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs."
32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters.
33 And the herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men.
34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
Commentary:
Jesus casts out dangerous demons into a herd of pigs, but the local people ask Him to leave.
The King's Power and the World's Response
Universal Authority
This chapter repeatedly shows that Jesus has power over everything: physical disease, the laws of nature, and spiritual forces. Whether He is touching a leper or speaking to the wind, His word is final and effective.
The Nature of True Faith
Matthew contrasts the 'little faith' of the disciples during the storm with the 'great faith' of the Roman centurion. True faith is shown as a total reliance on Jesus's word and a recognition of His supreme rank.
The Inclusion of the Outsider
By healing a leper and a Gentile soldier's servant, Jesus demonstrates that His kingdom is for everyone, not only the 'clean' or the 'religious.' He actively seeks out and responds to those who were traditionally excluded from the community.
Applying the Authority of Jesus to Your Life
Like the leper in Matthew 8:2, you can come to Jesus with total honesty and humility. You don't have to fix yourself before you talk to Him. His touch brings the healing and cleanness you seek.
When the disciples were in the storm in Matthew 8:26, Jesus pointed out that their fear was a sign of 'little faith.' You can find peace by remembering that Jesus is in control of the 'storms' in your life, even when it feels like He is silent or asleep.
Following Jesus, as seen in Matthew 8:22, means making Him your highest priority. It involves trusting His authority more than your own comforts and being willing to go wherever He leads, even if the path is difficult.
The King Who Rules and Restores
Matthew 8 reveals that Jesus is the King who has come to reclaim every inch of His creation. From the microscopic level of a fever to the cosmic level of a storm, nothing is outside of His control. The message is clear: the same authority that calmed the sea is available to bring peace and healing to our lives. We are invited to move beyond mere amazement and into a life of active, trusting faith.
What This Means for Us Today
Faith is more than believing facts about Jesus. It is trusting His authority amid our mess. Whether we are facing a personal 'storm' or feeling like an 'outsider,' Matthew 8 reminds us that Jesus is both powerful enough to help and compassionate enough to care.
- Is there a 'storm' in your life right now where you need to trust Jesus's authority?
- Are you trying to fix yourself before coming to Jesus, or will you let Him touch your 'unclean' places today?
- What is one area of your life where you need to say, 'Lord, only say the word'?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Connections Across Scripture
The prophecy Matthew quotes to explain that Jesus's healing ministry was part of His mission as the Suffering Servant.
A parallel account of Jesus calming the storm, providing additional details about the disciples' reaction.
Contains a detailed parallel account of the healing of the centurion's servant.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think Jesus chose to touch the leper instead of speaking a word of healing from a distance?
- The centurion believed Jesus could heal with a word. In what areas of your life do you find it hardest to trust that Jesus's word is enough?
- Why did the people in the country of the Gadarenes ask Jesus to leave after He performed a miracle? What might prevent us from welcoming Jesus into our lives today?