81 And when he had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came up to [him] and did him homage, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou art able to cleanse me. 3 And he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, I will; be cleansed. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus says to him, See thou tell no man, but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses ordained, for a testimony to them.
5 And when he had entered into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, beseeching him, 6 and saying, Lord, my servant lies paralytic in the house, suffering grievously. 7 And Jesus says to him, I will come and heal him. 8 And the centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not fit that thou shouldest enter under my roof; but only speak a word, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say to this [one], Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my bondman, Do this, and he does it. 10 And when Jesus heard it, he wondered, and said to those who followed, Verily I say unto you, Not even in Israel have I found so great faith. 11 But I say unto you, that many shall come from [the] rising and setting [sun], and shall lie down at table with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of the heavens; 12 but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 13 And Jesus said to the centurion, Go, and as thou hast believed, be it to thee. And his servant was healed in that hour.
71 And when he had completed all his words in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion's bondman who was dear to him was ill and about to die; 3 and having heard of Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, begging him that he might come and save his bondman. 4 But they, being come to Jesus, besought him diligently, saying, He is worthy to whom thou shouldest grant this, 5 for he loves our nation, and himself has built the synagogue for us. 6 And Jesus went with them. But already, when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent to him friends, saying to him, Lord, do not trouble thyself, for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof. 7 Wherefore neither did I count myself worthy to come to thee. But say by a word and my servant shall be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers, and I say to this [one], Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my bondman, Do this, and he does [it]. 9 And Jesus hearing this wondered at him, and turning to the crowd following him said, I say to you, Not even in Israel have I found so great faith. 10 And they who had been sent returning to the house found the bondman, who was ill, in good health.
11 And it came to pass afterwards he went into a city called Nain, and many of his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 And as he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she a widow, and a very considerable crowd of the city [was] with her. 13 And the Lord, seeing her, was moved with compassion for her, and said to her, Weep not; 14 and coming up he touched the bier, and the bearers stopped. And he said, Youth, I say to thee, Wake up. 15 And the dead sat up and began to speak; and he gave him to his mother. 16 And fear seized on all, and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet has been raised up amongst us; and God has visited his people. 17 And this report went out in all Judaea concerning him, and in all the surrounding country.
18 And the disciples of John brought him word concerning all these things:
19 and John, having called two of his disciples, sent to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that is coming, or are we to wait for another? 20 But the men having come to him said, John the baptist has sent us to thee, saying, Art thou he that is coming, or are we to wait for another? 21 In that hour he healed many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and to many blind he granted sight. 22 And Jesus answering said to them, Go, bring back word to John of what ye have seen and heard: that blind see, lame walk, lepers are cleansed, deaf hear, dead are raised, poor are evangelized; 23 and blessed is whosoever shall not be offended in me. 24 And the messengers of John having departed, he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken by the wind? 25 But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in delicate garments? Behold, those who are in splendid clothing and live luxuriously are in the courts of kings. 26 But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and [what is] more excellent than a prophet. 27 This is he concerning whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee; 28 for I say unto you, Among them that are born of women a greater [prophet] is no one than John [the baptist]; but he who is a little one in the kingdom of God is greater than he. 29 (And all the people who heard [it], and the tax-gatherers, justified God, having been baptised with the baptism of John; 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rendered null as to themselves the counsel of God, not having been baptised by him.) 31 To whom therefore shall I liken the men of this generation, and to whom are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the market-place, and calling one to another and saying, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. 33 For John the baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and ye say, He has a demon. 34 The Son of man has come eating and drinking, and ye say, Behold an eater and wine-drinker, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners; 35 and wisdom has been justified of all her children.
36 But one of the Pharisees begged him that he would eat with him. And entering into the house of the Pharisee he took his place at table; 37 and behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, and knew that he was sitting at meat in the house of the Pharisee, having taken an alabaster box of myrrh, 38 and standing at his feet behind [him] weeping, began to wash his feet with tears; and she wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed [them] with the myrrh. 39 And the Pharisee who had invited him, seeing it, spoke with himself saying, This [person] if he were a prophet would have known who and what the woman is who touches him, for she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said to him, Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee. And he says, Teacher, say [it]. 41 There were two debtors of a certain creditor: one owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty; 42 but as they had nothing to pay, he forgave both of them [their debt]: [say,] which of them therefore will love him most? 43 And Simon answering said, I suppose he to whom he forgave the most. And he said to him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And turning to the woman he said to Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house; thou gavest me not water on my feet, but she has washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with her hair. 45 Thou gavest me not a kiss, but she from the time I came in has not ceased kissing my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint, but she has anointed my feet with myrrh. 47 For which cause I say to thee, Her many sins are forgiven; for she loved much; but he to whom little is forgiven loves little. 48 And he said to her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that were with [them] at table began to say within themselves, Who is this who forgives also sins? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith has saved thee; go in peace.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 8:1-13
Commentary on Matthew 8:1
(Read Matthew 8:1)
This verse refers to the close of the foregoing sermon. Those to whom Christ has made himself known, desire to know more of him.
Commentary on Matthew 8:2-4
(Read Matthew 8:2-4)
In these verses we have an account of Christ's cleansing a leper, who came and worshipped him, as one clothed with Divine power. This cleansing directs us, not only to apply to Christ, who has power over bodily diseases, for the cure of them, but it also teaches us in what manner to apply to him. When we cannot be sure of God's will, we may be sure of his wisdom and mercy. No guilt is so great, but there is that in Christ's blood which atones for it; no corruption so strong, but there is that in his grace which can subdue it. To be made clean we must commend ourselves to his pity; we cannot demand it as a debt, but we must humbly request it as a favour. Those who by faith apply to Christ for mercy and grace, may be sure that he is freely willing to give them the mercy and grace they thus seek. And those afflictions are blessed that bring us to know Christ, and cause us to seek help and salvation from him. Let those who are cleansed from their spiritual leprosy, go to Christ's ministers and open their case, that they may advise, comfort, and pray for them.
Commentary on Matthew 8:5-13
(Read Matthew 8:5-13)
This centurion was a heathen, a Roman soldier. Though he was a soldier, yet he was a godly man. No man's calling or place will be an excuse for unbelief and sin. See how he states his servant's case. We should concern ourselves for the souls of our children and servants, who are spiritually sick, who feel not spiritual evils, who know not that which is spiritually good; and we should bring them to Christ by faith and prayers. Observe his self-abasement. Humble souls are made more humble by Christ's gracious dealings with them. Observe his great faith. The more diffident we are of ourselves, the stronger will be our confidence in Christ. Herein the centurion owns him to have Divine power, and a full command of all the creatures and powers of nature, as a master over his servants. Such servants we all should be to God; we must go and come, according to the directions of his word and the disposals of his providence. But when the Son of man comes he finds little faith, therefore he finds little fruit. An outward profession may cause us to be called children of the kingdom; but if we rest in that, and have nothing else to show, we shall be cast out. The servant got a cure of his disease, and the master got the approval of his faith. What was said to him, is said to all, Believe, and ye shall receive; only believe. See the power of Christ, and the power of faith. The healing of our souls is at once the effect and evidence of our interest in the blood of Christ.