1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
The next two chapters are dedicated to recounting ten incredible miracles of Jesus that performed before the people. These demonstrations of power authenticate His teaching and announce His authority, deity and mission. The giving of the Old Law at Sinai was accompanied by astonishing supernatural signs, so it is fitting that the New Law be equally confirmed (see note on Mat 5:2). All of these miracles can be found in the other gospels, but Matthew organizes them in a section on their own and not in their chronological order.
Compiling related subject matter in a single section is a common writer’s technique, but Matthew groups his testimony more intensely than the other Evangelists. The Sermon on the Mount summarized virtually the entire teaching ministry of Jesus in a single three-chapter monologue, while chapters 8-9 relate His miracles. Chapter 10 is the missionary chapter. It describes the commissioning of the disciples to preach in the cities of Galilee, but intersperses details and prophecies of the Twelve’s later evangelistic efforts in Gentile lands. Other examples of Matthew’s style are chapter 23, which compiles in one long condemnation the many errors of the scribes and Pharisees, while chapter 24 covers prophecies of the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world.
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.
The ten miracles do not follow any particular pattern, but vary widely in form and range. This first miracle seems to correlate with Miriam’s punishment and later healing from that disease (Num 12:10-15), for under the Old Covenant there was nothing worse than contracting leprosy. Leprosy was a unique type of sin and the Law had solemn rules for the treatment of leprous persons (Lev 13-14). This scene of the Messiah cleansing a leper speaks of the arrival of that beautiful hope of promise – God taking away the sins of His people by marvelous acts of salvation in the establishment of the New Covenant (Is 27:9; Jer 31:34).
The healing of the leper also parallels the appropriate action of a sinner who comes to Christ and asks for divine forgiveness. The leper, first acknowledging his unclean condition, then came to Christ for healing. Humbly and submissively he petitioned Jesus, “Lord, if it is within Your will for my life, please make me clean again” (see Mat 7:7-8). And with a simple touch and word, Jesus made him immediately and completely whole. He did not just “reckon” him to be clean, but made him truly clean (see Luke 5:12-14). God cannot commune with a man with sinful impurities; he must first be cleansed (see Num 19). Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow (Is 1:18).
4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
Jesus never confessed openly to being the Messiah and forbade the disciples to reveal His identity (Mat 16:20). He also charged the devils to remain silent about His deity (Mark 3:11-12; Luke 4:41) and four times told the person He had healed to not proclaim that miracle (Luke 8:56; Mark 7:36-37; Mat 9:30; 12:16). I can think of two reasons for this curious mode of action. First, Jesus’ miracles always incited the wrath of the Pharisees and that often resulted in harsh consequences for the healed person (such as the blind man in John 9). Second, His miracles often provoked the fickle and emotionally-sensitive Jewish crowds to rash acts ranging from trying to lynch Him (Luke 4:29-30) to forcing Him to become their king (John 6:15). Their faulty concept of the prophesied Messiah had them looking for a powerful political figure that would deliver them from the Romans and return Israel to its former physical glory (see note Mat 15:21; 22:41). Because of these reactions, Jesus moved about constantly and withdraw after tense situations (Mat 12:15). In spite of Jesus’ instruction, the newly healed leper could not contain his joy, telling everyone he met of his miraculous healing (Mark 1:45; Luke 5:15).
For a testimony. Lepers were not allowed to participate in Judaism, but the Mosaic law did prescribe a careful sacerdotal ritual for any leper who was somehow healed (Lev 14). It required him to travel to Jerusalem and present himself to the priest and resulted in complete restoration into congregational worship and temple sacrifices. By observing the Mosaic rules, the cleansed leper was both substantiating his healing and demonstrating his obedience. Jesus could have healed the man simply by speaking the word, but instead, moved with compassion, He touched the man and healed him (Mark 1:41). According to the Law of Moses, that should have made Jesus unclean too. Another example that Jesus was not a normal man.
5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest 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 doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
The parallel account in Luke 7:1-10 says that the centurion had first asked the Jewish leaders to help his dying servant. Centurions were Roman captains in charge of the soldiers who policed the Jewish province. Although they were called soldiers, a centurion and his men functioned as policemen, firemen and emergency workers. They were stationed throughout the Roman Empire to keep peace and protect her citizens. The centurions mentioned in the New Testament are almost always portrayed as honorable and sincere men (Mat 27:54; Act 10:22; 23:17; 27:43).
This particular centurion lived in Capernaum, a relatively new and modern city where Jesus also lived. He had obviously heard of Jesus’ astonishing ability to heal and work miracles among the Jews (Mat 4:13; Mat 23:1-24), but being a foreigner in Israel, he was not privileged with the Jewish religion and belief in the true God of heaven. Nevertheless, his faith in a God that had the power to heal his servant was impressive. It exceeded the faith of the Jews.
Palsy refers to paralysis, and in this case it was accompanied by grievous suffering. The centurion was a compassionate man and took it upon himself to help his servant, even though as master of the house he could have disregarded the dying man and quickly installed another servant (Luke 7:2). He was also a humble, God-fearing man and spiritually-intelligent enough to recognize higher authority. Nevertheless, it is a remarkable testament to his faith that the centurion believed that Christ could heal and work miracles without even being present. To this point that had not happened.
A popular theology teaches that Man does not have faith on his own, but that God puts faith in those He chooses. That idea flies in the face of passages such as these, for note that Jesus found faith in this Gentile but did not find it in Israel. I do believe that God works to better develop a man’s faith, and sometimes there is very little faith to begin with. But to say that belief, faith and volition are not human attributes is to make him equal to the animals and that is no exaggeration. The Creation account shows that God had a different plan in mind for humankind as beings which would glorify Him in a different way than animalkind. He created Man with the capacity to think, reason and choose. Using those tools coupled with the help of the Spirit, a man is able to increase his faith.
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.
By this prophecy, Jesus confirms that His work would extend salvation to the Gentiles just as the Old Testament prophets had predicted (Is 11:10; Mal 1:11; Luke 2:32). A few years later, the very first Gentile to receive salvation was a centurion (Acts 10:1). Jesus’ words have been spectacularly fulfilled, for the little mustard seed has since grown into a mighty tree – untold millions have entered the Kingdom from every nation and people under heaven.
The children of the kingdom are the blood Jews who rejected Jesus as the Messiah and who God has therefore rejected as His chosen people (Mat 21:42-46). These verses picture the dual nature of the earthly Kingdom of Christ. The “visible” Kingdom is composed of general Christianity, all the churches and people who call themselves Christians. Many of these will not pass into the celestial Kingdom of the Father. They may have attended church faithfully and worked wonders in Christ’s name (Mat 7:21-24), but their disobedience and iniquity will earn them eternal punishment (Mat 13:41-43). The “invisible” Kingdom are those truly-saved, blood-bought and heaven-bound saints of Christ. Their identities are known only to God.
A surprising number of Christian groups claim to not believe in Hell, that place of eternal torments for the wicked (both angelic and human). Yet the Scriptures describe it in severe detail. And Christ the Loving and Benevolent One warns about it more than any other. See Mat 13:30, 42, 50; Luke 13:24-30; Mat 25:30; Mark 9:43-48; Mat 25:46.
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 selfsame hour.
The Scriptures say nothing more concerning this particular centurion. Did he later become a full-fledged Christian? I will say yes, for without doubt he was a seeker of God and truth (Mat 7:7). How could he forget this Man? I feel sure that he followed the life of Jesus after this powerful event. Given his great faith and reverent fear, surely he believed the accounts of His death and resurrection.
14 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. 15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
Peter was from Bethsaida (John 1:44), but seems to have taken residence in his wife’s hometown of Capernaum (Mat 17:24). The two towns were located close together on the shores of Galilee.
16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
Jesus worked many kinds of miracles while on earth, but the two most common were healing the infirm and casting out evil spirits. Given so many references in the Gospels, one wonders why there were so many demon-possessed people in Israel. See my note on Mat 8:28.
In these chapters we see Jesus with power to heal, cast out devils, control the forces of nature, know the inner thoughts of man, forgive sins and predict the future. Can a false prophet work miracles of healing like Jesus did? I think it very doubtful. Satan is a created being and can only operate as the Creator has allowed him. There is no hint that he has God’s ability to create nor even to act benevolently. Instead, his power is only to corrupt, distort, kill and tear down. True bodily healing, miracles of creation and other beneficial acts of the supernatural are possible only by God’s power. One of these ten miracles will demonstrate that healing a sick person and forgiving a man’s sins are equally divine actions. God alone can do them (Mat 9:4-6).
Except for Jesus Christ, the world has never seen a person who could heal diseases by a simple word. That does not mean Satan will not try, by sleight of hand and deception, to impress mankind with every kind of miraculous act. The Devil is the ultimate counterfeiter and liar. Pharaoh’s magicians were able to duplicate Moses’ first three miracles, but their subsequent efforts failed spectacularly and finally they confessed, This is the finger of God (Ex 8:19). Did they actually make their rods become snakes, turn the water into blood and cause frogs to come up on the land? Or was it a clever magician’s trick, perhaps aided by Satan? I think it was the latter. The lack of miraculous acts by Satan and his henchmen throughout history favors that view.
We read of several demon-possessed people in the NT, but none were able to do supernatural miracles. Some commentators opine that Satan instigated the mighty wind and waves that threatened the lives of Christ and His disciples. If so, God first allowed him that power (Job 1:12-22). As for so-called fortune-tellers, we know that Satan cannot really see into the future, or he would never have crucified Christ (1Cor 2:8). Of course, he knows his own plans for the future and those he might reveal for his wicked designs against God and His people.
Without doubt, Satan’s power is in the realm of corruption, decay and death. Yet, even then we do not see him with the authority to make someone physically sick at his will. In the case of Job for instance, God particularly granted him the ability to afflict Job with sickness. Satan and his demons are able to enter and control humans, but again only as God gives them permission. Once within a person, demons can exercise power over the body to restrict speech (Mat 9:32-33), or even speaking with the man’s tongue (Mat 8:29), etc. Satan does have great power in the spirit world which humans cannot see or fully understand. He is engaged in a terrible spiritual war against the human mind and soul. He can afflict our minds with trials of fear, depression, doubt and even mental illness. He can tempt us with a wide range of sins of flesh and spirit. These have huge influences and consequences in the physical, for what is within expresses itself without.
If Satan can use deceptive acts for his corruptive purposes he certainly will and the Scriptures warn us to be wary of his devices. The apostle Paul alerted the early church concerning that Wicked…whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders (2Thes 2:8-9). Note that these are lying wonders, or false miracles. Some will say, “but what about all power and signs – aren’t these supernatural miracles of deceit?” Well, can Satan manipulate the physical laws of the universe so as to do miraculous acts like turning a tree into a house? Or is he restricted to act within the laws that God created back at the beginning? I don’t think there is any doubt that if Satan could indeed turn a tree into a house, he would do so. Then he would have some false prophet claim magical powers and lead men to worship him. Maybe Satan does have such power, but if so, God does not presently allow him to use it. Regardless, never in all recorded history do we read of any man who was able to perform truly miraculous deeds at his will. Yes, at various times in history supernatural signs and wonders did occur, but their scarcity argues against Satan having the authority to freely do supernatural miracles. Corruption and sin is his specialty.
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
This quotes Isaiah 53:4, Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, although it does not follow a word-for-word rendering of either the Masoretic or Septuagint texts. The ideas are similar however, and even more so when we understand that the Hebrew word for griefs is often translated diseases. While the Old Testament passage is typically understood in the spiritual sense of Christ bearing mankind’s sins and sorrows to the cross of Calvary (1Pet 2:24; Is 53:4 LXX), Matthew applies it to Jesus healing the physical infirmities of many. This illustrates a frequent feature of Old Testament prophecies, namely, a dual meaning or double fulfillment. Often (as here) there is both a physical and a spiritual aspect to the prophecy. Isaiah 42:7 for instance, foretells of Messiah opening blind eyes, releasing prisoners and freeing from darkness those in bondage. Those were fulfilled both physically and spiritually (literally and figuratively). The words infirmities and sicknesses (as also griefs and sorrows) can be understood in the spiritual sense or in the physical. Matthew here takes them in the latter sense. Jesus’ healing ministry is also foretold in Jeremiah 33:6 and Ezekiel 47:9.
18 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.
Many people followed Jesus for the hope of physical gain and not for spiritual healing (see John 6:25-27). For that reason apparently, Jesus allowed only His closest disciples to daily accompany Him. This also prevented any political uprising from developing based on His ministry (John 6:15). Here was a scribe who promised to follow Christ wherever He went. Perhaps Jesus’ response reflects what He saw in this man’s heart: “If you follow Me, don’t expect an easy, comfortable life!” Has this changed for Christians today? Many live as if Jesus has given them the right to a calm and leisurely life of uninterrupted happiness. The New Testament paints a different picture, saying that those who would enter the Kingdom will suffer persecution and much tribulation (2Tim 3:12; Acts 14:22).
The Son of man. This is Jesus’ earthly title of Himself. While He could have called Himself, the Son of God, He preferred to let His actions proclaim His identity. Besides, there was no dearth of witnesses announcing Him to be God’s Son. Satan and his demons so named Him (Mat 4:6; 8:9), as also did Peter and the disciples (Mat 14:33; 27:54). Finally, on the night before His death, Jesus testified to the high priest that He was the Son of God (Mat 26:63-64). For that blasphemy they crucified Him. Thirty times in the book of Matthew, Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of man (a common OT phrase that emphasizes humankind). There is however, a unique and powerful Messianic prophecy in Dan 7:13-14 that points to this very title of Christ. In a vision, Daniel saw a personage like the Son of man descending in the clouds of heaven and setting up an everlasting Kingdom. This fits with many other prophecies of the Christ as the seed of woman (Gen 3:15) but also Emmanuel (Mat 1:23).
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.
Another man professed to be willing to follow Jesus, but there was something he wanted to do first. “Allow me to bury my father.” Superficially that seems a noble task, but it probably hides a key fact: the father was not yet dead. Quick burials were a necessity in that time, even on the same day of death, before the body began to stink. If the father was dead already, this disciple would have been even then at the burial. Actually, the procrastinating disciple was making excuses (which have a degree of validity) to put off following Christ. He wanted to wait until his father had passed away; perhaps an inheritance was at stake.
Men and women continue to make the same excuse! “Give me a little more time, I’m not quite ready. It looks and sounds good, but I need to finish a few tasks before serving Christ.” Then, like the almost persuaded Herod Agrippa, they put off their decision until the world has gripped their hearts too firmly to be dislodged. The parallel passage adds a second, similar example of a man who wished to bid farewell to all his friends before following Christ (Luke 9:61-62). Would they not persuade him to forget his decision of folly?
Let the dead bury their dead. It is impossible for a physically dead person to perform a burial. “Let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead, while you come follow Me.” Both literal and figurative language is used in the same sentence. Paul said something similar in 1Tim 5:6, She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. Some think this disciple could have been James or John, one of the sons of Zebedee, who may have died about this time (Mat 20:20), others think he was not a member of the Twelve.
23 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!
Only the Maker of the universe can control the weather like this. Although Matthew does not say so, the Psalms seem to foretell this event (Ps 89:9; 107:29). Those who have been on a storm-tossed sea can appreciate the power of this miracle! It is one thing for the winds to become instantly calm, but quite another for the waves to stop thrashing at His word. There was a great calm, such that the disciples marveled at His authority and power. The parallel passages are found in Mark 4:35-41 and Luke 8:22-25.
O ye of little faith. I dare say that any person, being in the same condition, would be equally fearful! But the disciples were wise enough to petition the One who had the power to help, although He was Himself calmly sleeping. Perhaps that is a lesson for us today. In a later storm, Jesus used the same words in speaking to Peter (Mat 14:31).
28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed 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 thee, 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 besought him, saying, If thou cast 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 possessed of the devils.
Matthew gives a shortened version of this event, omitting that one of the men followed Jesus to the boat and begged to go with Him (Luke 8:38-39). These demon possessed men were exceedingly violent and almost supernaturally strong (Mark 5:3-4). They lived naked among the tombs (Luke 8:27) and could neither be tamed nor chained for long. They were controlled by a legion of demons (Luke 8:30) and would threaten anyone who passed by, screaming out and gashing themselves with stones (Mark 5:5). This is the severest case of demon-possession ever known and it provokes several questions, such as where and how demons in-dwell humans, and whether they can empower their subjects with super-human strength and abilities. See the more detailed accounts of this event in Mark 5:1-20 and Luke 8:26-39. The word Gergesenes seems to be linked with 1Chr 12:4, while Gadarenes derives from Girgashite (1Chr 1:14).
While Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of man (Mat 8:20), the demons called Him the Son of God. They knew Him because of their master, the Devil, who had tried to corrupt Him without success (Mat 4:4-11). They also knew that, due to their rebellion against God, their destiny had long been sealed (Jam 2:19), and that someday they would be thrown into the lake of eternal torments along with Satan and all things evil (Rev 19:20; 20:15). For that they ask, “Have you come to torment us before the time?” Until that day, the demons of Satan continue to exert their influence of provoking men unto iniquity, making evil men become even more evil and trying to get good men to become evil (Rev 12:12).
The demon-possessed man ran to Jesus and worshipped Him (Mark 5:6), but it is doubtful that the Legion came of their own accord. Jesus had crossed the sea of Galilee to cast out these demons and He had arranged this encounter. The demons begged not to be sent out of the country (Mark 5:10), or into the deep (Luke 8:31, same word in Rev 9:11). They asked permission to enter into the swine instead, but that resulted poorly for them, as the whole herd of 2000 pigs immediately ran into the sea and died (Mar 5:13). Perhaps this illustrates that animals cannot be demon-possessed?
Judging from the Gospels, demoniacs were fairly common in Palestine during Jesus’ time on earth. Before Christ, Satan seems to have been able to overpower men and even indwell children at his will. However, in the age of the Apostles demon-possession is hardly mentioned. The Epistles say nothing, and even the book of Acts has just one or two references. I believe the reason demon-possession is not nearly as common as it was before Christ is on account of Jesus’ victory over Satan at His death and resurrection. Before, the world was Satan’s and he held rightful ownership of it on account of sin (Mat 4:8-10). After His victorious resurrection Jesus gained the authority and title of the World (Rev 11:15) by paying for it in the only allowable currency, His own blood. In binding the strongman, Jesus took from Satan much of his power and all that Satan now does in the world must be approved by the new Ruler of the earth (see Rev 20).
Satan’s powers have been restricted. I believe that means he is only able to possess those who willfully allow themselves to be so used. If that is true, then children before the age of accountability may not be indwelt. Many would disagree, but it is my belief. Is it possible that this will change at the very end of the world, when widespread rejection of Christ will give Satan increased power to corrupt and deceive? The book of Revelation’s “loosing of Satan” hints that during the end-time era of the world Satan may again be permitted to move and indwell humans with greater latitude (Rev 20:3, Rev 20:7).
In saying that Jesus ransomed us or purchased us from Satan, I do not imply that He had to pay Satan something, but only that in forgiving us and bearing our sins He paid the cost of our redemption. Forgiveness always costs the forgiver something, usually in bearing the wrong of the evildoer without recompense. So it was with Christ when He forgave us our sins.
34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
Mark and Luke add more details to this account, which makes it plain that the Apostles remembered well this particular act of Jesus. It was not your average miracle, nor does it compare with the other times that He cast out demons (see Mark 5:1-21; Luke 8:26-40). Jesus crossed the sea of Galilee for the sole purpose of healing these two demoniacs, but instead of gratefulness and acceptance for ridding their country of this terror, the people of that land were afraid of Him and asked Him to leave. Why were they afraid of Jesus? Because they were wicked men and they did not want His healing. Why else would there be a huge herd of swine in the land of Israel, where pigs were unclean animals and forbidden?
I believe there is more to this account than meets the eye, for the details of this account are strikingly abnormal. The two men with a legion of demons; their absolutely impossible condition; the demons confessing the authority of Jesus; the people of the region rejecting Christ – which things are an allegory (Gal 4:24). The two men represent the Jews and the Gentiles races. For millennia the Gentiles lived among the tombs, neither seeking the God of heaven nor caring about Him (Mark 5:3-5; Acts 17:22-31). They were, by all standards, possessed with evil spirits. But Jesus crossed the sea to cast out their unclean spirits, to open their eyes to knowledge, and to give them a right mind. The Gentiles were a wild, savage race, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes (Luke 8:27). They were spiritually dead, aliens and strangers from the covenants of promise, without hope and without God (Eph 2:12). But after the death of Christ, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the earth, and the Gentiles came to their spiritual senses. Their demons were cast out and they came from afar to sit at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind (Luke 8:35).
The people of that country represent the generation of Jews that saw Jesus’ miracles and heard His message, and yet rejected Him. They did not want His goodness and healing; they were wicked men who were consumed with selfish, immoral actions like raising pigs. They besought Him that He would depart out of their coasts. And He did. The second demoniac does not appear to have responded positively to Jesus casting out his demons, for he is not mentioned at all in the other Gospels. He represents the Jewish race in general, who Jesus also cleansed and from which a holy remnant sprang up to begin the Church of Jesus Christ. Yet, down through history, the Jews have underwhelmed in filling up their measure in the Kingdom of Christ.