Matthew 8
DODDMatthew 8:1-4
Jesus descending from the mount, cleanses a leper who applied to him for a cure. Mat. VIII. 1—4; Luke V. 12—16; Mark I. 40, to the end.
MAT. VIII. 1. NOW when Jesus had finished this large and excellent discourse, as he was coming down from the mountainᵃ on which he delivered it, great multitudes of people, impressed and charmed with what they had already heard, followed him to the town towards which he went, in hopes of farther instruction and edification. MAT. VIII. 1. WHEN he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
ᵃ As he was coming down from the mountain.] I think this a sufficient warrant for fixing this story where we introduce it; though it be contrary to the order in which many learned men have placed it. Neither Mark nor Luke are, in this respect, by any means so express in the connection of it. Yet an attentive reader will observe, that I have not in this instance transposed either of them. The erroneous opinion that Luke vi. contained the sermon on the mount, and fixed it to an order different from Matthew’s, is that by which so many have been led into a mistake here.
Christ e eaneth a leper.
And when he was just in the confines of a certain cityᵇ in the neighbourhood of that mountain, behold, a man full of leprosy, and dreadfully overrun with that sad disease, seeing Jesus, and having been informed of the many miraculous cures which he had done, came to him, most earnestly entreating him to have pity on his wretched case; and, first kneeling down to him, he then fell prostrate before him, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, though my distemper be to human power incurable (2 Kings v. 7,) yet I know assuredly that, if thou wilt, thou canst cleanse me from it.
And Jesus, pleased with so strong a degree of faith, performed the cure, and did it also in the most condescending manner; for, being moved with compassion at so melancholy a sight, he took him aside from the multitude,ᶜ and stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying unto him, I will that thy petition be granted, and from this moment therefore be thou clean. And the almighty power of his commanding word immediately took place, and as soon as he had spoken the leprosy departed from him; and it appeared by the alteration of his countenance that he was entirely cleansed from that loathsome and inveterate disease.
And Jesus had no sooner wrought this miracle, but having strictly charged him not to divulge the matter,ᵈ he dispatched him presently
Christ enjoins him silence, but he proclaims the
away; Saying unto him, as he departed from him, See that at present thou say nothing unto any one of my having performed this cure; but make it thy first business to go directly to Jerusalem, and there shew thyself to the priest whose office it is legally to pronounce thee clean; and offer the gift of birds and lambs, [and] all those things which Moses has commanded for thy purification (Lev. xiv. 1—32,) that it may be for a testimony to them that the cure is really perfected; and that, if I should ever be heard of as the author of it, they may see my regard even to the ceremonial precepts of the law. But such was the impression that was made upon the leper by so great an instance of Divine mercy to him, and he was so transported with joy at his miraculous deliverance, that he went out into the neighbouring country, and began to publish it much, and to proclaim the matter wherever he came.
And the more Jesus avoided the ostentation of such works, so much the more there went a fame of him abroad through all the country; and great multitudes from all parts came together to him to hear him preach the gospel, and to be healed of their infirmities by him.
And after some interval of time, the resort to him was so great that he could no longer openly enter into the city without drawing a multitude of attendants after him, but was obliged for a while to be chiefly without in desert places. And, to avoid the interruptions of the crowd, he
(Compare John v. 14, sect. xlvi.) But the word is generally used to signify the living of a strict injunction, or a solemn charge (as Phavorinus, Suidas, and Hesychius, have explained it,) I rather chuse to understand it of the strict charge that Christ gave to the leper not to divulge the manner of his cure, which is expressly mentioned in the following verse; and in which sense it is evident that the same word is used Mat. ix. 30, sect. lxxii; where the same charge is given to the two blind men that Christ restored to sight.
• See thou sayest nothing unto any one of my having performed this cure.] Christ probably designed by this, not only to avoid the shew of any ostentation of his miraculous power, but to prevent the malice of the
priests; who might have been unwilling to pronounce this leper clean, and have been ready to deny the cure if they were told that he was healed by one they were so strongly prejudiced against; or might perhaps have censured Christ as having usurped an office that belonged to them, and taken upon him to pronounce a leprous person clean. Christ therefore would not have him to make known the circumstances of his cure to any, till he had first of all been with the priest; and, upon this account, dispatched him presently away, or sent him off in haste, that he might reach Jerusalem before the priests had any information of this miracle; as seems to be implied in the force of those words in ver. 43, 1098. 1098. See Grotius on Mat. viii. 4, and Lightfoot’s Harmony, in loc.
Reflections on the need we have of Christ to heal us.
he withdrew him. frequently withdrew into the wilderness and sect. self into the wilderness, and prayed; chusing in these circumstances to spend some time in more than ordinary devotion, that he might engage a blessing on the truths he had so largely delivered, and obtain that success which this eagerness of the people seemed to promise to his gospel.
IMPROVEMENT.
Our souls are overspread with the leprosy of sin: and where should we apply for help but to the healing power and recovering grace of the great Redeemer! Be the malady ever so deep, spreading, or inveterate, we may surely adopt the words of the leper before us, and say, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And how much reason have we to hope his compassion will be moved in our favour, and his power exerted in our cure!
If we have received that favour, we are under the obligation of no command to conceal it. It is, on the contrary, our duty most gratefully to publish it abroad, for the honour of our Benefactor, and the advantage of those who may be encouraged to make the same application in humble hope of the same success.
But when will the happy time come that men shall be as solicitous about their spiritual welfare as about the health of this mortal body! Almighty Physician, exert thine energy in this instance as a token of farther favours! Convince men of their pollution and danger, and bow their stubborn knee, that it may bend in submissive and importunate supplication!
Let the compassionate air with which this cure was wrought, be considered by all spiritual physicians as a lesson of condescension and tenderness; and let the modesty with which it was conducted engage us to avoid every appearance of ostentation and vain glory.
To conclude; since Christ himself found it proper to retire into a desert place to pray when crowds of admirers were flocking in upon him, let it teach those who are engaged in the scenes of public business and fill them up with the greatest applause, yet resolutely to command some seasons for retirement; as remembering, that the more various and important our public labours are, the more evidently do we need to draw down succour by ardent prayer that we may be strengthened and prospered in them.
Christ returns again to apernaum.