Miracles in Matthew: Part Two
Jesus Heals Many Matthew 8:14-15
Recounting the miracles that took place in Capernaum on this day, Matthew continues to demonstrate Jesus’ authority over disease and death. Furthermore, Matthew is alluding to the purpose of Jesus’ authority on earth. He is here to heal and to restore!
“And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.” Matthew 8:14-15 ESV
Jesus enters Peter’s home and sees his mother-in-law deeply ill. With only a touch from the Lord, she was completely restored. Unlike previous miracles, He did not exchange words with her before healing. He softly touched her hand. Jesus met her plight with gentleness and compassion, laying His hand on hers.
Like leprosy, fever was considered a disease in Jewish law, and touching one with infection was forbidden. Again, Jesus shows He is above the law. He is able to touch her because He cannot be infected. His authority to heal surpasses the nature of disease and therefore the bounds of Jewish law. He is the ultimate Healer.
Immediately, the fever left her. Matthew personifies the fever to show that it cannot exist with Jesus and must flee at His presence. He has divine authority in our world and in the spiritual world.
Restored with energy and life, Peter’s mother-in-law jumped to her feet to serve the guest in her home.
After being gravely sick for what may have been days, we can imagine she was barely aware of her surroundings before the fever left her. Rather than waiting to understand what had occurred, who Jesus was, or why He was in her home, she jumped to her feet and served Him. How quick are we to serve others and the Lord without first asking questions?
“That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.’”Matthew 8:16-17 ESV
Later in the evening, Matthew tells us that the people of Capernaum brought the sick and demon-possessed to Jesus for healing.
Just as He healed the leper, the centurion’s servant, and Peter’s mother-in-law, He also healed all who were brought to Him that evening. In Israelite tradition, physical illness and sin are connected. Jesus being the healer of ailments and diseases points to the deeper symbolism of His being the healer of our souls.
With only His words, demons ran in obedience to Him. The people saw and heard that Jesus has authority over the spiritual realm. What could have been the first day of the week, the day after the Sabbath, began with Jesus acting in His divinity as King of Kings.
Some scholars speculate that this day was the Sabbath because in Jewish tradition, a new day began in the evening. People in Capernaum were waiting to bring their sick and possessed to Jesus until evening had come, which could be because that day had been the Sabbath. The people knew the law forbade work on the Sabbath, but they did not yet understand Jesus’ authority over it. Jesus had already healed Peter’s mother-in-law.
Matthew sheds light on Jesus being our Messiah as he quotes the prophet Isaiah.
“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5 ESV
Jesus indeed fulfills this scripture and is our Lord’s Suffering Servant, as foretold in the Old Testament. He was sent by God to heal and restore us from the decay of sin so that we may spend eternity with Him.
Every bit of Scripture is God-breathed. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of your Word and the opportunity we have to dive deeper into these verses and learn more about your heart for us!
https://youtu.be/IJY0VdepR8g?si=BYlm5thKMNpf4tXP
Written By:
Catherine Carl Cagnina