14 And when Jesus had come to Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law laid down and in a fever; 15 and he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she arose and served him. 16 And when the evening was come, they brought to him many possessed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all that were ill; 17 so that that should be fulfilled which was spoken through Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities and bore our diseases.
18 And Jesus, seeing great crowds around him, commanded to depart to the other side. 19 And a scribe came up and said to him, Teacher, I will follow thee whithersoever thou mayest go. 20 And Jesus says to him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven roosting-places; but the Son of man has not where he may lay his head. 21 But another of his disciples said to him, Lord, suffer me first to go away and bury my father. 22 But Jesus said to him, Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.
23 And he went on board ship and his disciples followed him; 24 and behold, [the water] became very agitated on the sea, so that the ship was covered by the waves; but he slept. 25 And the disciples came and awoke him, saying, Lord save: we perish. 26 And he says to them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then, having arisen, he rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 But the men were astonished, saying, What sort [of man] is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?
28 And there met him, when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, two possessed by demons, coming out of the tombs, exceeding dangerous, so that no one was able to pass by that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Son of God? hast thou come here before the time to torment us? 30 Now there was, a great way off from them, a herd of many swine feeding; 31 and the demons besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine. 32 And he said to them, Go. And they, going out, departed into the herd of swine; and lo, the whole herd [of swine] rushed down the steep slope into the sea, and died in the waters. 33 But they that fed them fled, and went away into the city and related everything, and what had happened as to those possessed by demons. 34 And behold, the whole city went out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged [him] to go away out of their coasts.
41 And again he began to teach by the sea. And a great crowd was gathered together to him, so that going on board ship he sat in the sea, and all the crowd were close to the sea on the land. 2 And he taught them many things in parables. And he said to them in his doctrine, 3 Hearken: Behold, the sower went forth to sow. 4 And it came to pass as he sowed, one fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 And another fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprung up out [of the ground] because it had no depth of earth; 6 and when the sun arose it was burnt up, and because of its not having any root, it withered. 7 And another fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8 And another fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and bore, one thirty, and one sixty, and one a hundred. 9 And he said, He that has ears to hear, let him hear. 10 And when he was alone, those about him with the twelve asked him [as to] the parables. 11 And he said to them, To you is given [to know] the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to them who are without, all things are done in parables, 12 that beholding they may behold and not see, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest it may be, they should be converted and they should be forgiven. 13 And he says to them, Do ye not know this parable? and how will ye be acquainted with all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word: 15 and these are they by the wayside where the word is sown, and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 And these are they in like manner who are sown upon the rocky places, who when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy, 17 and they have no root in themselves, but are for a time: then, tribulation arising, or persecution on account of the word, immediately they are offended. 18 And others are they who are sown among the thorns: these are they who have heard the word, 19 and the cares of life, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 And these are they who have been sown on the good ground, such as hear the word and receive it, and bear fruit; one thirty, and one sixty, and one a hundred [fold].
21 And he said to them, Does the lamp come that it should be put under the bushel or under the couch? [Is it] not that it should be set upon the lamp-stand? 22 For there is nothing hidden which shall not be made manifest; nor does any secret thing take place, but that it should come to light. 23 If any one have ears to hear, let him hear. 24 And he said to them, Take heed what ye hear; with what measure ye mete, it shall be meted to you; and there shall be [more] added to you. 25 For whosoever has, to him shall be given; and he who has not, even what he has shall be taken from him.
26 And he said, Thus is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast the seed upon the earth, 27 and should sleep and rise up night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth bears fruit of itself, first [the] blade, then an ear, then full corn in the ear. 29 But when the fruit is produced, immediately he sends the sickle, for the harvest is come.
30 And he said, How should we liken the kingdom of God, or with what comparison should we compare it? 31 As to a grain of mustard [seed], which, when it is sown upon the earth, is less than all seeds which are upon the earth, 32 and when it has been sown, mounts up and becomes greater than all herbs, and produces great branches, so that the birds of heaven can roost under its shadow.
33 And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear, 34 but without a parable spoke he not to them; and in private he explained all things to his disciples.
35 And on that day, when evening was come, he says to them, Let us go over to the other side: 36 and having sent away the crowd, they take him with [them], as he was, in the ship. But other ships also were with him. 37 And there comes a violent gust of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it already filled. 38 And he was in the stern sleeping on the cushion. And they awake him up and say to him, Teacher, dost thou not care that we are perishing? 39 And awaking up he rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Silence; be mute. And the wind fell, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said to them, Why are ye [thus] fearful? how [is it] ye have not faith? 41 And they feared [with] great fear, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
51 And they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And immediately on his going out of the ship there met him out of the tombs a man possessed by an unclean spirit, 3 who had his dwelling in the tombs; and no one was able to bind him, not even with chains; 4 because he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn asunder by him, and the fetters were shattered; and no one was able to subdue him. 5 And continually night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying and cutting himself with stones. 6 But seeing Jesus from afar off, he ran and did him homage, 7 and crying with a loud voice he says, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not. 8 For he said to him, Come forth, unclean spirit, out of the man. 9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he says to him, Legion is my name, because we are many. 10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11 Now there was there just at the mountain a great herd of swine feeding; 12 and they besought him, saying, Send us into the swine that we may enter into them. 13 And Jesus [immediately] allowed them. And the unclean spirits going out entered into the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep slope, into the sea (about two thousand), and were choked in the sea. 14 And those that were feeding them fled and reported it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had taken place. 15 And they come to Jesus, and they see the possessed of demons sitting [and] clothed and sensible, [him] that had had the legion: and they were afraid. 16 And they that had seen [it] related to them how it had happened to the [man] possessed by demons, and concerning the swine. 17 And they began to beg him to depart from their coasts. 18 And as he went on board ship, the man that had been possessed by demons besought him that he might be with him. 19 And he suffered him not, but says to him, Go to thine home to thine own people, and tell them how great things the Lord has done for thee, and has had mercy on thee. 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him; and all wondered.
21 And Jesus having passed over in the ship again to the other side, a great crowd gathered to him; and he was by the sea. 22 And [behold] there comes one of the rulers of the synagogue, by name Jairus, and seeing him, falls down at his feet; 23 and he besought him much, saying, My little daughter is at extremity; [I pray] that thou shouldest come and lay thy hands upon her so that she may be healed, and may live. 24 And he went with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed on him. 25 And a certain woman who had had a flux of blood twelve years, 26 and had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent everything she had and had found no advantage from it, but had rather got worse, 27 having heard concerning Jesus, came in the crowd behind and touched his clothes; 28 for she said, If I shall touch but his clothes I shall be healed. 29 And immediately her fountain of blood was dried up, and she knew in her body that she was cured from the scourge. 30 And immediately Jesus, knowing in himself the power that had gone out of him, turning round in the crowd said, Who has touched my clothes? 31 And his disciples said to him, Thou seest the crowd pressing on thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her who had done this. 33 But the woman, frightened and trembling, knowing what had taken place in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said to her, Daughter, thy faith has healed thee; go in peace, and be well of thy scourge.
35 While he was yet speaking, they come from the ruler of the synagogue's [house], saying, Thy daughter has died, why troublest thou the teacher any further? 36 But Jesus [immediately], having heard the word spoken, says to the ruler of the synagogue, Fear not; only believe. 37 And he suffered no one to accompany him save Peter and James, and John the brother of James. 38 And he comes to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and sees the tumult, and people weeping and wailing greatly. 39 And entering in he says to them, Why do ye make a tumult and weep? the child has not died, but sleeps. 40 And they derided him. But he, having put [them] all out, takes with [him] the father of the child, and the mother, and those that were with him, and enters in where the child was lying. 41 And having laid hold of the hand of the child, he says to her, Talitha koumi, which is, interpreted, Damsel, I say to thee, Arise. 42 And immediately the damsel arose and walked, for she was twelve years old. And they were astonished with great astonishment. 43 And he charged them much that no one should know this; and he desired that [something] should be given her to eat.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 8:14-34
Commentary on Matthew 8:14-17
(Read Matthew 8:14-17)
Peter had a wife, yet was an apostle of Christ, who showed that he approved of the married state, by being thus kind to Peter's wife's relations. The church of Rome, which forbids ministers to marry, goes contrary to that apostle upon whom they rest so much. He had his wife's mother with him in his family, which is an example to be kind to our relations. In spiritual healing, the Scripture speaks the word, the Spirit gives the touch, touches the heart, touches the hand. Those who recover from fevers, commonly are weak and feeble some time after; but to show that this cure was above the power of nature, the woman was at once so well as to go about the business of the house. The miracles which Jesus did being noised abroad, many thronged to him. He healed all that were sick, though the patient was ever so mean, and the case ever so bad. Many are the diseases and calamities to which we are liable in the body; and there is more, in those words of the gospel, that Jesus Christ bore our sicknesses and carried our sorrows, to support and comfort us under them, than in all the writings of the philosophers. Let us not grudge labour, trouble, or expense in doing good to others.
Commentary on Matthew 8:18-22
(Read Matthew 8:18-22)
One of the scribes was too hasty in promising; he proffers himself to be a close follower of Christ. He seems to be very resolute. Many resolutions for religion are produced by sudden conviction, and taken up without due consideration; these come to nothing. When this scribe offered to follow Christ, one would think he should have been encouraged; one scribe might do more credit and service than twelve fishermen; but Christ saw his heart, and answered to its thoughts, and therein teaches all how to come to Christ. His resolve seems to have been from a worldly, covetous principle; but Christ had not a place to lay his head on, and if he follows him, he must not expect to fare better than he fared. We have reason to think this scribe went away. Another was too slow. Delay in doing is as bad on the one hand, as hastiness in resolving is on the other. He asked leave to attend his father to his grave, and then he would be at Christ's service. This seemed reasonable, yet it was not right. He had not true zeal for the work. Burying the dead, especially a dead father, is a good work, but it is not thy work at this time. If Christ requires our service, affection even for the nearest and dearest relatives, and for things otherwise our duty, must give way. An unwilling mind never wants an excuse. Jesus said to him, Follow me; and, no doubt, power went with this word to him as to others; he did follow Christ, and cleaved to him. The scribe said, I will follow thee; to this man Christ said, Follow me; comparing them together, it shows that we are brought to Christ by the force of his call to us, Romans 9:16.
Commentary on Matthew 8:23-27
(Read Matthew 8:23-27)
It is a comfort to those who go down to the sea in ships, and are often in perils there, to reflect that they have a Saviour to trust in and pray to, who knows what it is to be on the water, and to be in storms there. Those who are passing with Christ over the ocean of this world, must expect storms. His human nature, like to ours in every thing but sin, was wearied, and he slept at this time to try the faith of his disciples. They, in their fear, came to their Master. Thus is it in a soul; when lusts and temptations are swelling and raging, and God is, as it were, asleep to it, this brings it to the brink of despair. Then it cries for a word from his mouth, Lord Jesus, keep not silence to me, or I am undone. Many that have true faith, are weak in it. Christ's disciples are apt to be disquieted with fears in a stormy day; to torment themselves that things are bad with them, and with dismal thoughts that they will be worse. Great storms of doubt and fear in the soul, under the power of the spirit of bondage, sometimes end in a wonderful calm, created and spoken by the Spirit of adoption. They were astonished. They never saw a storm so turned at once into a perfect calm. He that can do this, can do any thing, which encourages confidence and comfort in him, in the most stormy day, within or without, Isaiah 26:4.
Commentary on Matthew 8:28-34
(Read Matthew 8:28-34)
The devils have nothing to do with Christ as a Saviour; they neither have, nor hope for any benefit from him. Oh the depth of this mystery of Divine love; that fallen man has so much to do with Christ, when fallen angels have nothing to do with him! Hebrews 2:16. Surely here was torment, to be forced to own the excellence that is in Christ, and yet they had no part in him. The devils desire not to have any thing to do with Christ as a Ruler. See whose language those speak, who will have nothing to do with the gospel of Christ. But it is not true that the devils have nothing to do with Christ as a Judge; for they have, and they know it, and thus it is with all the children of men. Satan and his instruments can go no further than he permits; they must quit possession when he commands. They cannot break his hedge of protection about his people; they cannot enter even a swine without his leave. They had leave. God often, for wise and holy ends, permits the efforts of Satan's rage. Thus the devil hurries people to sin; hurries them to what they have resolved against, which they know will be shame and grief to them: miserable is the condition of those who are led captive by him at his will. There are a great many who prefer their swine before the Saviour, and so come short of Christ and salvation by him. They desire Christ to depart out of their hearts, and will not suffer his word to have place in them, because he and his word would destroy their brutish lusts, those swine which they give themselves up to feed. And justly will Christ forsake all that are weary of him; and say hereafter, Depart, ye cursed, to those who now say to the Almighty, Depart from us.