Matthew 8

Matthew 8:1

WHen he was come down] And entred into one of the cities, Luke 5. 12.

great multitudes] Those that heard the former sermon, chap. 5. 1. and others added to them, before he came to the city where this miracle was wrought.

Matthew 8:2

And behold] Mark 1:40. Luke 5. 12.

worshipped him] By falling on his knees first, Mark 1:40. and then on his face, Luke 5:12. A signe of humility.

Lord, if thou wilt] He dares not ask to be healed, but leaves it to Christ, to do as he pleases, when he had laid open his case unto him. See his modestie! This is called, Asking, Luke 5:12. and it obtained what he desired, v. 3. See the like in Hezekiah, Isaiah 38:3.

thou canst make me clean] This shews his faith. Though his disease were incurable by men, yet he believes Christ can heal it.

Matthew 8:3

touched him] The law forbade to touch a leper, lest men should be infected by them; but Christ was above the law, and healed him by touching him. The lepers touching others, defiles; Christs touching him, cleanseth. See the like, Revelation 7:14.

saying] Not out of ostentation, to shew what he could do; but out of pity to the leper, Mark 1:41. and to shew his bounty.

I will] It is true as thou saidst, v. 1. I confirm it by healing thee.

be thou clean] A word of operative command, as Genesis 1:3, Let there be light.

immediately his leprosie was cleansed] An argument of Christs divine power, that could heal him suddenly by his command.

Matthew 8:4

See thou tell no man] Make no stay to tell it or talk of it with any, but dispatch thee to the priest, as Luke 10. 4. Or, do not publish or blaze abroad what I have done for thee, chap. 9. 30.

that Moses commanded] Leviticus 14:4.

for a testimony unto them] To confirm my divine power unto them, that they may believe in me, chap. 10. 18. and 24. 14. Mark 6:11. Or, for a testimony against them. To make them inexcusable, if they believe not, as Mark 13:9. Galatians 5:3. James 5:3.

Matthew 8:5

And when Jesus] Luke 7. 1.

there came unto him] Not in his own person, but by the elders of the Jews, Luke 7:3. (as John spake to Christ by his followers, chap. 11. 3.) So he is said to beseech him, Luke 7:3. to wit, by them he sent. Or, he came to him by humble request, as men are said to go to God, Hebrews 4:16. and Hebrews 7:25. and Hebrews 10:22. and 11. 6.

a centurion] A commander of a band of souldiers consisting of an hundred men, or, it may be, of more.

Matthew 8:6

lieth] Gr. is cast down, v. 14.

at home] This heathen mans care of his servant, keeping him in his own house, and looking out for cure for him, is an example for us to tender our sick servants.

Matthew 8:7

I will come] Our Saviour refuseth to go to the rulers house, being twice intreated by the ruler himself, Joh. 4. 47, 49. here he offers to go, being but sent unto by the centurion. The other (it may be) thought Christ could not heal, unlesse he came to him: this man knew he could.

Matthew 8:8

I am not worthy] The best men have lowest thoughts of themselves.

speak the word onely] See notes on v. 7.

Matthew 8:9

For I am a man under authority] If I, being under command of others, yet having others under my command, can thus do; thou, who hast absolute command, much more. Thus men should take occasion, from their own power over others, and their ready subjection to them, to take notice of Gods sovereign authority over themselves, and be ready to obey him in all things.

Go, and he goeth] Not questioning why or wherefore, but, without sticking or stay, oing what is enjoyned: so will this sicknesse be gone, at thy command.

Matthew 8:10

he marvelled] As man, and shewed some outward signe of admiration to others.

no not in Israel] Hence it appears, that the centurion was an heathen man, though a proselyte, in likelihood, Luke 7:5.

Matthew 8:11

Many shall come] Our Saviour Christ takes occasion, from the commendation of the centurions faith, to speak of the calling of the Gentiles, and rejecting of the Jews.

from the east and west] From all parts, as Isaiah 12:12. and Isaiah 43:5. An allusion to the promise made to Jacob, Genesis 28:14.

shall sit down] A metaphor taken from banquets, where men of different conditions sit down and feast together, Isaiah 25:6. Matthew 22:2. Luke 22:30.

with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob] The Jews scorn to converse and eat with strangers now; but the time shall come, when strangers shall enjoy eternall happinesse with their ancestours, and they themselves shall be excluded.

Matthew 8:12

the children of the kingdom] As chap. 9. 15. of the bridechamber, who were born of those parents to whom the kingdom was promised; and, by vertue of the covenant, Romans 9:4. had they kept it, had had interest in it: or, to whom it belonged, if they had not made forfeiture of it.

into outer darknesse] The darknesse of hell, 2 Peter 2:4. Jude v. 6. compared to prisons, which were oftentimes out of the city, Acts 12:10. they should be in a state most remote from heavenly joy and blisse.

weeping] As Isaiah 55:14. for their own pain.

gnashing of teeth] A signe of envying at the felicity of Gods people, psal. 112. 10.

Matthew 8:13

Go thy way] Take no further care, thy request is granted. So 2 Samuel 14:8. Mark 5:34. and Mark 7:29. and Mark 10:52. Luke 7. 50. and 8. 48. John 4:50. and John 8:12.

As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee] Matthew 9:29.

in the self-same hour] John 4:53.

Matthew 8:14

And when Jesus] Mark 1 29. Luke 4. 38.

into Peters house] Peters house was in Bethsaida, John 1:44. unlesse he were born there, and lived at Capernaum; or, removed his dwelling after he was called to be an apostle, that he might the better attend on Christ: or else, that at Bethsaida was his own house, and this at Capernaum his mother-inlaws house, which he used to repair to, when he came thither.

of a fever] Gr. of a burning fever.

Matthew 8:15

He touched her hand] After he had been told of it, Mark 1:30. and besought to heal her, Luke 4. 38. and had stood over her, and rebuked the fever, as one that had authority over it, Luke 4. 39.

and ministred unto them] To shew her thankfulnesse, and that she was perfectly cured, John 5:8-9.

Matthew 8:16

When the even was come] Mark 1:32. Luke 4. 40.

with his word] The devils durst not stay, when he bid go, vers. 9.

all that were sick] Of all sorts, or all that came to him to be healed.

Matthew 8:17

That it might be fulfilled] It was in a sort fulfilled by his compassionatenesse of us, manifesting a kinde of participation with us in all our bodily infirmities, Hebrews 4:15. or, by taking away bodily diseases from men, which was a type of healing their souls; but it was principally fulfilled by bearing and taking away from us the punishment of our sins, by his passion on the crosse, John 1:29. 1 Pet. 2. 24.

by Esaias the prophet] Isaiah 53:4.

Matthew 8:18

great multitudes about him] So many, that he could not so conveniently converse with them, or attend what was needfull for himself or his own followers, Mark 3. 9, 10, 20. This seems to be the cause of the commandment following.

to the other side] For Capernaum was situate on the lake of Tiberias.

Matthew 8:19

And a certain scribe] Luke 9. 57.

whithersoever thou goest] I will leave all, to follow thee.

Matthew 8:20

The foxes have holes] He doth not say, Kings have palaces, but I have none; or, rich men have house and lands to entertain their followers, but I have none. He lays down his condition to be lower then the beasts and birds. So cold comfort should the Scribe finde in following him.

nests] Places of shelter and abode in trees, or elsewhere, Psalms 84:3. and Psalms 104:17.

the son of man] I that am of no repute, and that live in a mean and contemptible estate, as Judges 16:7; Judges 16:12. Psalms 49:2. and Psalms 62:9. and Psalms 82:7.

hath not where to lay his head] Either he lived in an hired house, or lodged with his disciples.

Matthew 8:21

said unto him] After that Christ had called him, Luke 9. 59.

first] Before I follow thee.

to go, and bury my father] Stay till my father be dead, that I may perform the last office to him, and then I will attend upon thee.

Matthew 8:22

Follow me] Christ called him to preach the Gospel, Luke 9. 60. and in such a case parents, and all were to be left, Chap. 4. 20, 22.

let the dead bury their dead] Let them that are dead in sin, bury them that are dead for sin, 1 Timothy 5:6. It is an allusion to priests and Nazarites, who were forbidden to be present at funerall exequies, Leviticus 10:6. Numbers 6:6.

Matthew 8:23

when he was entred] Though he gave commandment to go over, verse 18. yet the disciples took not shipping, till he was gone in himself.

Matthew 8:24

And behold] Mark 4:37. Luke 8. 23.

the ship was covered with the waves] The waves rising, and with the violence of the winde driven, and dashing over it.

he was asleep] To shew the truth of his humane nature, and the weaknesse of the faith of his disciples.

Matthew 8:25

we perish] It seems, they spake it by way of expostulation, with a manifestation of much affrightment: Carest thou not that we perish? Mark 4:38. and therefore he justly checks them, verse 26.

Matthew 8:26

O yee of little faith, Chap. 6. 30.

rebuked the windes] Not that the windes understood him, but to shew his authority over them, John 11:43. His rebuke being as well an actuall and effectuall, as a verball and vocall rebuke. So Psalms 9:5. and Psalms 68:30. and Psalms 106:9.

Matthew 8:27

the men] That rowed in this ship, or were in the other vessels, Mark 4:36.

Matthew 8:28

And when he was come] Mark 5:1. Luke 8. 26.

of the Gergesens] Some think them to be a remnant of the Gergashites, mentioned, Genesis 10:16. They are called Gadarens, by the other Evangelists, either because the city had two names, or else both those cities stood neer together on the lake of Tiberias, and the countrey was called, sometime by the name of the one, sometime of the other.

there met him] So great was Christs power over them, that they were enforced to run to him, which rather would have run away from him, Mark 5:6.

out of the tombs] Or, from among them. They were made out of the cities, and so large, sometimes, that men might hide themselves in them. These were solitary places, whither the devils carried the possessed out of the society of others.

exceeding fierce] The devil fils them, whom he possesseth, with cruelty.

Matthew 8:29

they cryed out] Before Christ medled with them, so much were they afraid of him.

What have we to do with thee] Why comest thou here to us, who have no dealings with thee? 2 Samuel 16:10. 2 Chronicles 35:20. John 2:4.

Jesus thou Son of God?] Either this confession is made by the devils out of fear, being over-ruled by Christ, or else out of malice, to make the world to suspect it to be false, because it comes from Satan.

to torment us before the time] This is our time to torment others. Why dost thou come to torment us before the day of judgement? Either they feared that Christ would now send them to hell to abide there, or rather it was a torment in their account to be cast out of those whom they possessed. As Luke 8:28-29.

Matthew 8:30

a good way off] On an hill, as Mark and Luke testifie.

an herd of many swine] Some think these people were of those whom the kings of Assyria had placed in Israel long before. Others, that they were a kinde of Greeks, having a mixt religion, and so kept swine. Others, that there was a colony of the Romans in those parts.

Matthew 8:31

the devils besought him] They could not go into swine, without his leave, much lesse into men.

into the herd of swine] When they cannot hurt the men themselves, they desire to hurt their goods. See the like, Job 1:10-11.

Matthew 8:32

into the sea] Into the lake of Gennezareth.

Matthew 8:33

fled] For fear.

told every thing] Thus the miracle came to be famous.

Matthew 8:34

they besought him] They offer no violence to him. They knew there was no dealing that way with him that could work miracles.

depart out of their coast] Lest they should suffer any further losse by his being there. Thus they prefer their swine before Christ, as Esau his pottage, before his birth-right, Genesis 25:34.