Matthew 8

Matthew 8:1-4

In this chapter we have, 1. Christ’s cheering of a leper, vers. 1—4. 2. His curing a pally and fever, vers. 5—18. 3. His community with men that had a mind to follow him, vers. 19—22. 4. His controlling of the tempel, vers. 23—27. 5. His infing out devils, vers. 28—34.

1. WHEN he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2. And behold, there came a leper, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3. And Jesus put forth his hand and touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4. And Jesus saith unto him, “See thou tell no man, but go thy way, shew thyself to the spirit, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Struck with the power of his word, the multitude who had heard Christ preach, followed him when he came down from the mouns; and he had a fresh occasion offers to raise their admiration, and confirm their faith in him as a trachea sent from God; for they who follow on to know the Lord, shall set fresh manifestations of his power, grace, and glory, every step they advance. We have,

1. A miserable leper’s address to our Lord. The leprosy was esteemed by the Jews a disease immediately sent from God, incurable by human art, (2 Kings v. 7.) so desiring, as to exclude the unhappy object not only from the sanctuary, but, for the most part, from human converts and society; a lively figure of the fallen sinner, covered with guilt, full of corruption, excluded from God’s presence, cut off from the communion of the saints, incurable by any human means, himself unclean, and communicating defilement to all around him. Yet, deplorable as the case appears, blessed be God, it is not desperate; there is helm in Gilead, and a physician there. Beloved, there is a leper, who had himself perhaps heard our Lord preach, or drawn by the fame of his wondrous works, and worshipped him; either with deepest respect as a prophet, or endured with the knowledge of his divine character, and paying him due adoration; saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. He doubted not his power and all-sufficiency, and therefore cast himself on his mercy for a cure. And hence he is the emblem of the awakened sinner, brought to a light of his native misery. (1.) He cast himself down as the laws of Jesus in prayer, saying his guilty and polluted God before him. (2.) He looks up to him as able to save to the uttermost; nor dares disgrunt that his blood and righteousness can justify the most guilty, and his grace renew the vilest heart: but often he hesitates in the view of his own unworthiness, and fears whether the Lord will have respect to one so utterly unworthy. (3.) However, as he sets on hope any where else, he presents his desperate case, assured he must perish, unless the Lord hath respect to him. But none ever yet perished at the first of Jesus: but,

2. Jesus put forth his hand and touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean: and immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Such power accompanied his word and touch, as instantly effected the cure. And with like words of grace doth Jesus speak to every poor sinner who applies to him. His answer is even, I will; as ready as able to pardon and save the miserable and the desperate who come to him: be thou clean; thy guilt is cancelled, thy soul is delivered from the bondage of corruption; my blood, my grace are sufficient for thee, and freely extended to thee: and by faith his word is realized to the soul; the false deep old, guilt no more terrifies the conscience, nor hath corruption any longer dominion over the heart.

3. Our Lord charges him not to divulge the means of his cure, but to go immediately to the priests, obtain their acknowledgment of his being healed, and offer the sacrifices prescribed. And this he did for the man’s sake, left out of envy the priests should refuse to pronounce him clean; and that his offering might be a testimony of the fact to all, when it should be more publicly known how the cure was brought; as well as to cut off occasion from those who desired to represent our Lord as a heath of Moses’s laws, and thereby to prejudice the people against him. Now, Every soul cleansed by grace will not f. d.

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to offer the grateful sacrifice not only of his lips, but of his heart, to God; and will seek to approve himself, to his Redeemer’s glory, a living testimony of his power and grace.

5. ¶ And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, befancing him, 6. And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palfy, grievously tormented. 7. And Jesus said, I will come and heal him. 8. The centurion answered and said, Lord, ‘I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth: and to another, Come, and he cometh: and to my servant, Do this, and he doth it. 10. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found to great faith, no not in Israel. 11. And I say unto you, that ‘many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way, and ‘as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the self-fame hour.

6. 5—13. Capernaum was the place where our Lord had fixed his abode, and whither he returned after his journey thro’ Galilee; and there we are told,

7. The application made to him by a Roman centurion, the captain of a troop consisting of an hundred men. A soldier, from whom religion is least expected; but there are some faithful in all professions: a man of rank, few of whom were numbered among the followers of Jesus: not many (such or called), blessed the God, it is not said, not any: a Gentile too, and for a Gentile; for Christ came a light to lighten the Gentiles, as well as to be the glory of his people Israel. After fending mettengers to beg the help of Jesus, (Luke vii. 2.) he came himself, a humble supplicant on the behalf of his sick servant, afflicted with the palfy, and grievously tormented, commending his miserable case to the compactions of Jesus. And herein he threwed, (1.) His high respect for the Lord Jesus, and his dependence upon him. (2.) His great humanity towards his sick servant; not turning him out of doors because unable to work, but tenderly taking care of him, and seeking every means for his relief: a noble example; and which should also be an encouragement to servants to discharge their station with fidelity and honesty, as this will naturally endear them to their matters, see Luke vii. 2.

8. The answer Christ gave to his respect: I will come and heal him. Though a poor servant, diseased, a Gentile also, Jesus is an respecter of persons; and his mindless hearts must resemble him, ready on the first application to visit the means of their flock.

9. The deep humility and distinguished faith expressed by the centurion. Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof; so lowly were the thoughts he entertained of himself, so high his estimation of the dignity of the Redeemer. A gracious soul ever acknowledges himself thus less than the least of all God’s mercies. Nor does he think Christ’s presence necessary; so fast was his confidence in the power of Jesus, that he is affixed a single word will be sufficient to effect the cure, the most inveterate disease being entirely under the command of Jesus, and coming and going at his bidding: for if he, who was but an inferior officer, met with such ready obedience from his soldiers and servants, much more would a word from him, who had no superior, be obeyed. Learn hence, (1.) The character of a good servant; he obeys his master without answering again or hesitating. (2.) The nature of diseases; they are Christ’s servants; they come and go only as he orders, and execute that commission he gives them. (3.) The duty of every Christian; to be obedient in all things, to do what Jesus pleases to command, and cheerfully to suffer what he ordains.

10. The high approbation of the centurion expressed by our Lord on this occasion. When Jesus heard it he marvelled; not that he was surprised as with an unexpected thing, since this faith was his own gift; but he expressed himself as advancing what was so excellent and uncommon, that it might be more remarked by others; saying to his followers, Verily, I say unto you, I have not found to great faith, no not in Israel; none of that generation had given such proofs of faith as this Gentile. Note, The attainments of those who have enjoyed less means than others will condemn the unprofitableness, and rise up in judgment against the Sotheline and carelessness of such as, blessed with every advantage for their souls, have abused or neglected them.

11. Christ takes occasion from hence to foretell the calling of the Gentiles, and rejection of the Jews for their unbelief. Tho’ Vol. II.

the Jews, prejudiced to their nation, could not bear the thoughts that the heathen should share in the common salvation, our Lord assures them, that from all lands multitudes should be gathered unto him, and admitted to the same privileges, and have a place in the same kingdom as the most distinguished patriarchs: whilst, to their greater astonishment, they who boasted themselves as, exclusive of all others, the children of the kingdom, will, so far from having any part or list in it, be cast into outer darkness, as guests excluded from the bridal feast, and thrust out, where shall be waging and gnashing of teeth; the expeasible signs of most poignant anguish, which will especially be the case with damned souls in the place of torment. Note, (1.) We shall see many in the kingdom of heaven, whom we least expected to find there; and multitudes cast out, of whom we had the most confident expectations. (2.) It will profit a man nothing as the day of judgment to have been a professed member of Christ’s kingdom, and a nominal child of God, if he is not possessed of the spirit of adoption, and hath not approved his fidelity as a loyal subject. (3.) The torments of hell should be often remembered, to quicken us with greater diligence in fleeing from the wrath to come.

6. The servant is cured. Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way, and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. With a double grace the favour is conferred; his faith approved, whilst his request is granted; for infirmity the cure was wrought; his servant was healed in the self-fame hour. He that said, Let there be light, and there was light, need but lay, and it is done, in every other case. What confidence then should we repede in this almighty Saviour, and never in our deepest afflictions distrust his power or love?

7. 14—17. The great Physician is continually manifesting his healing power. We have,

8. Another cure wrought by him on Peter’s wife’s mother, who lay ill of a fever in Peter’s house. He was married we find, in opposition to the popish celibacy. His care of his aged relations bepook his gracious spirit. Jesus, who will never fall to repay the entertainment given him in our bascles, or in our hearts, by a touch rebuked the disorder, and instantly every symptom vanished, and her strength was perfectly restored; so that she was able to wait upon him and the youths, as an evidence of her cure, and a testimony of her gratitude. Note, They whom Christ heals, are bound to employ the strength and health he gives in his blessed service.

9. At even, it being a Sabbath-day, (See Mark i. 21.) and their days being reckoned from one fun-thing to the other, the people thronged the door with their sick, and those possessed of devils, Satan being at that time permitted to exercise uncommon dominion over men’s bodies, that the power of Jesus might more eminently appear. But whatever the diseases were, or however strong the possession of these unclean spirits, one word of Jesus effectually drove them out, and healed every disease.

10. The fulfilment of the Scripture herein is observed; for the prophecy, see, iii. 4. not only includes Christ’s suffering the punishment due to our sins, 1 Pet. ii. 24. but also his sympathizing tenderness towards us under the diseases that are the fruits of sin, and his gracious power exerted to deliver us from them.

11. ¶ Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. 19. And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 20. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 21. And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 22. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.

12. 18—22. Great multitudes being some time after (See Mark iv. 35.) collected together, more from curiosity or secular views, it is probable, than desirous of his divine instructions, our Lord commanded his disciples to remove to the other side of the lake, to avoid the crowd, to enjoy some needful retirement, to prove their obedience, or to spread the gospel in other places, whither those who were hearty in his cashe would follow him, and the

raft give it up. Horeupon we are informed of a conversation which passed with two persons who formed desirous to join him.

1. One of them was a scribe, who seemed to express great forwards, and, and resolution to follow Christ where ever he went; but his warmth soon cooled, when he understood that he must expect none of those worldly advantages with which he flattered himself from being an apostle of Jesus; since, instead of earthly grandeur and the conveniences of life, the Messiah, the Son of man, was more desirous even than the birds or foxes, and had not a place of his own to repose his weary head, or refresh himself with the sleep he now wanted after his toils. Now, (1.) Sudden flirts of zeal, and hasty resolutions, are far from being the best evidences of faithful adherence to Christ. (2.) Many are willing to follow Christ if they can get by him, who quickly cool in their ardour, when their worldly interest, character, or eats, must be denied for his sake. (3.) The poverty of the Lord Jesus, and his wants, should teach us in every state therewith to be content.

2. Another man, who had professed himself a disciple, and might be perhaps an appointed evangelist, wanted at this time to be excused from attending his matter. His plea was plausible; his father was either aged and sick, and he desired to stay with him till he should have discharged the last offices to him; or rather he was now dead, and wished to wait upon him to his grave before he went with Jesus; but Christ will not admit the excuse; he must leave all, and come; there were enough dead in trespass and sins, who might take care of the couple and the funeral, whilst a more urgent and nobler employment called for his service, even to follow Jesus and preach the gospel. Now, (1.) Worldly engagements, even about necessary things in our families, are apt to prove a great hindrance to our following Christ. (2.) They who want an excuse for declining duty will easily find it. (3.) There are times when God’s service may demand our attendance, and engage us to leave father, mother, house, and all; and he is not worthy of Christ who can set any thing in competition with him.

3. ¶ And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24. And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?

4. 23—27. Christ having issued his orders to cross the lake, his chosen disciples immediately obeyed and launched forth; for no dangers or difficulties will deter those from following Jesus, who know the blessedness of his service. Since their matter was with them, they counted, no doubt, they were perfectly safe; but for the trial of their faith, and the manifestation of his glory, we find them plunged into the greatest danger and distress.

5. No sinner were they got to sea, than a violent hurricane overtook them. The waves like mountains rolled, broke over them with dreadful roar; and their boat, filled almost with water, was ready instantly to founder in the deep: which Jesus, as if unconcerned and unacquainted with the danger, wears with his labour, fiercely slept. Note, (1.) They who follow Christ will meet with many a storm. (2.) Christ often seems to disregard his people when their dangers seem most imminent. (3.) The temptations permitted to overtake the faithful are designed not to harm them, but to exercise, strengthen, and brighten their grace.

6. With deep distress the affrighted disciples ran to their Lord, and with their cries awoke him, saying, Lord, save us, we perish; their care was desperate if he did not immediately interpose. Note, (1.) Awakened consciences feel their perilous condition, and see their inevitable destruction, without divine grace and help. (2.) Prayer will be then fervent and importunate, when the deep sensibility of danger raises the cry. (3.) They who come to Jesus must exercise faith in his sufficiency to save, though utterly despairing of help in themselves. (4.) Even doubts and fears will sometimes emerge with the prayer of faith.

7. Jesus with calmness and majestic dignity arose, rebukes their fears, then bids the storm he still, and suddenly the foaming billows subside, the winds are bathed, the troubled waters now are smooth, and not a breath of air dimples the polished surface. Note, (1.) In the stormy foalous of temptation, many a fear distresses the faithful heart. (2.) Those may have true faith who have but little faith. (3.) The weakness of our faith, and the prevalence of our fears deserve rebukes, as they reflect dishonour upon the faithfulness, power, and grace of Jesus: whoever ever ye fearful? (4.) Though the storm of temptation be never so violent, no sinner that cleaves to Jesus shall ever

perish. (5.) Where the distress of the soul hath been peculiarly deep, and the trials uncommonly severe, there usually the strongest confessions, and the most delightful sensations follow, of joy and peace in believing.

4. The effect produced by the miracle was the astonishment of the mariners, or disciples who were in the ship, or of both. Never was such an amazing change known before; and this naturally leads them to express their admiration of this wonderful person, whom even winds and waves obeyed. Note, They who have experienced the power of a Saviour’s grace, in circumstances where every prospect seemed covered with darkness and despair, cannot but wonder and adore.

5. ¶ And when he was come to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two professed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29. And behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with them, Jesus thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? 30. And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. 31. So the devils brought him, saying, If thou call us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 32. And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine; and behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. 33. And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the professed of the devils. 34. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they brought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

6. 28—34. Continued miracles of mercy mark every step of the divine Redeemer.

The country of the Gergesenes, here mentioned, bordered on the side of the lake which they had crossed; and they were no sinner arrived, than a fresh occasion offers to display the power and grace of Jesus.

1. Two miserable objects met him, professed of devils, coming out of the tombs, the place where they took up their residence; driven thither by the wicked spirits who actuated them, to make their abode the more dreary and dismal; or to confirm the notion of spirits haunting their melancholy places; or by solitude to increase their ferocity, and render them more mischievous; for they were exceeding fierce, so that no man durft pass that way for fear of them. Note, When anger, malice, and revenge dwell in the bosom, there Satan’s power reigns, and men then turn worse than savages to their kind.

2. The devils address the Lord, as trembling at his presence, and fearful of being dispossessed. What have we to do with them, Jesus, thou Son of God? They well know his power and godhead, and their hopeless state: he never came to be a Saviour unto them, but their destroyer; and all their desire is, that he would let them alone, at least in the heathen world, if he drove them from Judea, and not come thither to torment them before the time. Torment eternal they expected; they were persuaded he would be their terrible judge, and they ask only a momentary respite before the last and dreadful day, when their misery will be complete. Note, (1.) The devils know and tremble. (2.) They who say to Jesus and his servants, What have we to do with them? depart from us; and reject the counsel of God against their own souls, must perish with friends of darkness.

3. Being unable to keep possession of the bodies of men, they desire to enter into a herd of swine that fed there; for even over these they could have no power without divine permission; and this they brought, either from their inmate pleasure in mischief, or rather from a crafty design to make Christ an unwelcome guest in that country; and Jesus, from whom none of their wives could be hid, permitted it; perhaps because these swine belonged to the Jews, who kept them for food in defiance of God’s laws, or for covetousness, to make merchandise of them; and he would thus punish their owners. Or he designed hereby to manifest his own divine power, to prove the reality of the miracle, and confound the Sadesman doctrine, which denied the existence of spirits good or evil. No sinner had these friends obtained their respect, than they drew us to their prey, and all the herd of swine madly rushed down a precipice into the sea, and were choked, to the great terror of those that kept them, who fled, and filled the city and country with the report. And so grieved were they at their loss, and affrighted with the apprehensions of greater judgement, that, instead of advising him for the miracle he had wrought on the two professed persons, or welcoming him to their country, they brought him to depart, like many other worldlings, who love their swine better than their souls. We may observe here, (1.) The restraint laid upon these spirits of wickedness; they cannot touch a swine without permission; and however malignant and fierce the devil

is, Jesus holds his chain, and in all his companions faith, Hitherto mayst thou go, and no farther. (2.) Where Satan rules in the children of disobedience, he falls not to drive them into many fooths and hurtful lurks, which necessarily drown both body and soul in perdition. (3.) By nothing doth the god of this world hold firmer possession of men’s hearts against Christ, than by suggesting the lurks and cruels to which his service may expose them, and bewitching them with the love of gain in preference to the love of God.

Matthew 8:13-17

Eph. i. 6. 2 Pet. i. 17.

13. Then cometh Jesus ‘from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him. 14. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and cometh thou to me? 15. And Jesus answering, said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thou is to be cometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he followed him. 16. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw ’the Spirit of God defending like a dove, and lighting upon him. 17. And ’lo, a voice from heaven, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Christ, who had hitherto lived in obscurity, began now to enter upon his glorious work, and, in order thereto, comes to John to be baptized, whose preaching had raised men’s expectations concerning the glorious person of whom he broke. Not that Christ needed this baptism, but he would show his approbation of it, as well as receive that public testimony that John on this occasion was appointed to bear to him.

1. John, who knew Jesus by divine revelation, John’s 33 apparent unwilling to admit his matter to the guidance of baptism which he administered. He who had no sin, could surely need no repentance. Besides, counting himself unworthy or pouring water upon him, from whom himself needed the greater baptism of the Spirit, he would humbly have excused himself from the office. I have need to be baptized of thee, and need since to me? Note, (1.) The most holy souls are ever the most humble. (2.) Christ’s condemnation are so amazing, that one faith sometimes is ready to stagger at the view of them. (3.) The greatest saints and prophets have need of the baptism of Jesus; both of the sprinkling of his blood to cleanse their consciences, and of the influences of his Spirit to purify their hearts; and they are always most sensible of their wants. (4.) They who preach repentance to others, had need be deeply concerned to be baptized with the Holy Ghost themselves, left, after having been the means of saving others, they themselves should be cast away.

2. The Lord over-rules John’s objection. In his present state of humiliation it became him to submit to this among other divine institutions, that he might in all things be a pattern of righteousness, and therefore John must for the present comply. Nor does he any longer hesitate, but admitted him to baptism accordingly, fully satisfied in the will and wisdom of his Lord. Note, (1.) It is becoming to countenance and encourage every good work; and those who may be higher in wisdom and grace than their teachers, are bound nevertheless to attend their ministry, and set an example to others. (2.) Christ fulfilled all righteousness, ceremonial as well as moral, and by his obedience is become the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (3.) There are often reasons for the divine procedure, concerning which we must be content to be ignorant. Thus through not even, but then both have hereafter.

3. God is pleased to bear a signal attestation to the glory of the Redeemer on this occasion. Immediately as he went up from the town’s brink, or from the water, where he had been baptized, the heavens were opened, a chasm being made in the firmament, as if the everlasting doors were wide unfolded, and John, as well as Jesus, beheld the visible defense of the Holy Ghost upon him, in a hovering dove-like motion, and it rested upon or over his head. He being constituted the great prophet of his people, as the man Christ Jesus, had the Spirit without mention of his power, and in him, as the head of his church, all fulminated dwells, that he may from thence communicate both gifts and graces to his members according to their wants. And besides the visible appearance here described, an audible voice was heard from the excellent Glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. God’s Son, not by creation as angels, or by adoption as the saints, but by a situation peculiar to himself, being self-casteless and eternal as the Father, yet thanking in this relation towards him. Beloved, because the appeals image of his person, and being now become incarnate for our redemption, according to the eternal counsels, therefore God the Father delighted in him, expressing his entire satisfaction in his undertaking: in whom I am well pleased, which he never could say of any of the sons of men before, all having sinned and come short of the glory of God. Jesus alone is the one glorious chandler on which God can look with approbation, whose righteousness is perfect, and for whose sake it is, as having made the atonement, that any of the sons of men can find appropriate before God. Because he is well pleased with Jesus, he hath now opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers in him, and whosoever cometh to God by him shall be in no wise cast out.

Thus, whilst every other chapel, confessed in idols, from the first man to the last, must be God’s abhorrence, since altogether born in sin, we may not withstanding be sure of acceptance in this beloved, and shall be regarded as complete in him, when we by faith receive him as God hath set him forth to us, in our wisdom, righteousness, identification, and redemption: our all in all.