Matthew devotes two chapters to sharing Jesus miracles. Immediately following the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew writes that the people were astonished as Jesus spoke as “one having authority” (Matthew 7:29). Matthew then goes on in chapters 8 and 9 to show that Jesus not only has authority over the law and matters of their souls, but He also has authority over sickness, nature, the spiritual world, and death. In this study, we’ll be looking at Jesus’ healing of the sick in these two chapters.
Sickness and disease was the #1 concern of most people in the world at the time of Jesus. The reality of sickness and death was a daily fear that is lost on most of us living today. The life expectancy in America today is near 80 years old. We have medication for the vast majority of our ailments and when there is something we don’t have treatment for, we expect it’s only a matter of time until we do. We’re surprised or even shocked when someone dies before old age. That wasn’t the case even 100 years ago. In 1920 the life expectancy was in the early 50’s. Just 20 years earlier at the turn of the century it was around 44 years old. At the time of Jesus, people lived on average to be around age 30. If a person made it to 20, they would make it to age 50 on average. The primary reason for the short life spans was disease.
THE LEPER
Matthew 8:1-2- When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord if You are willing, You can make me clean”.
Matthew shares the story of the leper first. There are only three verses devoted to this healing and it’s easy to read it and blow on by. But there is a lot happening in this account of Jesus healing of this man.
When the leper approached Jesus, he did so expressing complete faith and humility. He bowed before Jesus in humility and instead of expectantly asking Jesus to heal him, he just makes a statement: “Lord if you’re willing, you can make me clean”. This man knows Jesus is able and he expresses that faith in him.
Matthew 8:3-4- Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “see that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.
Leprosy was highly contagious and it ruined lives. Someone afflicted with the illness would not only be sick, they would be considered ceremonially unclean. Lepers were quarantined into leprosy colonies where they wouldn’t be able to infect anyone else. They lost everything. Lepers lost their jobs, they couldn’t have contact with family or friends so they lost their social lives, and they were considered unclean by the mosaic law, so
until they were cleansed they couldn’t go to the temple and worship. Often, they became beggars if family didn’t send means for them.
Jesus is able to heal this man’s deep affliction immediately! All it took was for Jesus to touch him. It wasn’t a medical healing; He didn’t prescribe a medication or preform a procedure. He simply touched him and miraculously healed the leper.
Jesus then gives the man specific instructions. When a leper returned to health, they were to go through a significant cleansing ritual with the temple priests to be ceremonial cleansed and restored to society. This ritual was part of the Law of Moses and can be found in Leviticus 13 and 14. Jesus tells the man to go through that process and not tell anyone about how he was healed. There are two reasons for Jesus command. First, it was for this man’s good. It’s possible that they would deny this man the cleansing ceremony if he told them how he was healed. But the second reason is more important. Jesus says do it “as a testimony to them” (Matt. 8:4). Jesus wanted the priests to see the man was clean and hear testimony to what He had done!
The Matthew account of this story doesn’t tell us if the man obeyed, but Mark does. Mark 1:40-45 tells us the man ran through the street telling everyone, to the extent that Jesus had to leave and go to the next town.
THE CENTURION
A high level Roman soldier working in Capernaum approaches Jesus with a request. A Centurion was a commanding officer of the Roman military who was in charge of 100 soldiers. They were educated, physically and mentally tested and found worthy. They were also well connected and respected and appointed to their position by Caesar himself. Not only was this man, not a Jew, he was an important person in the occupying Roman force. And he comes to Jesus.
Matthew 8:5-6- And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, and saying “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.”
Jesus agrees to go to the man’s home and heal his servant (Matt. 8:7). But the centurion has a surprising response.
Matthew 8:8- But the Centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed…”
This roman commanding officer places himself under Jesus in humility and shows great faith, just like the leper. This man knew that if Jesus entered his home it would be a problem for Him. Jews were not allowed to enter a gentile’s home. Despite his great position, he tells Jesus that he is unworthy to have the Lord in his home. He goes on in the very next verse to say he understands authority, since he himself has it in the Roman
military and that he understands Jesus authority. The centurion knows who Jesus is (Matt. 8:9)! He tells Jesus, just say the word and his servant will be healed. He knows Jesus has the power to heal from a distance, he doesn’t have to touch him or be in his presence. What a wonderful understanding he has of Jesus’ power! And Jesus recognizes this mans great faith.
Matthew 8:10- Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.”
What an amazing statement! Jesus says this gentile man; this roman soldier has the greatest faith of anyone in Israel.
Jesus goes on to say in the next two verses that many gentiles will take part in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus also condemns unbelieving Jews. This is the same message John the Baptist gave his audience in Matthew 3 when he challenged the Jews not to rely on their heritage as children of Abraham to get to the kingdom.
Matthew 8:13- And Jesus said to the Centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment.
CONCLUSION
Matthew gives us three more stories of people Jesus healed in Matthew 8 and 9. Jesus healed Peter’s mother in law (Matt. 8:14-15). He healed the bleeding woman by her simply reaching out and touch His cloak (Matt. 9:20-12). And, He makes two blind men see (Matt. 9:27-31). In each of these accounts the healing was immediate and obvious. In each of these accounts, except for Peters’ mother in law, we’re shown the faith and humility of those approaching Him.
Jesus has complete authority over disease. At His command in each of these accounts, the disease leaves the afflicted person immediately.
Matthew is writing to a primarily Jewish audience. Every miracle Jesus works is done for a purpose. Jesus did not come to heal the sick just for the sake of healing the sick or making the world a better place. Jesus healed in order to validate His message and give evidence for who He was claiming to be. It’s not by chance that Matthew followed the message of the previous three chapters in the book, The Sermon on the Mount, with the accounts of these miracles. The miracles validate the messenger and His message. Jesus is the Messiah!