Bible Commentaries
Matthew 8

Verse 1

When = And when.

from = away from. Greek. apo.

Verse 2

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

leper. See note on Exodus 4:6 .

worshipped = did homage. See App-137 . The variations in Mark 1:0 , and Luke 5:0 , are due to the fact that they do not record the same miracle. See App-97 .

Lord. App-98 . This is the first time that Jesus is called "Lord". In this second period of His ministry, His Person is to be proclaimed as Messiah, both Divine (here), and in Matthew 8:20 human. When once they begin to call Him "Lord", they continue. Compare verses: Matthew 8:8 , Matthew 8:6 , &c.

clean. See note on Matthew 8:3 . Not the same miracle as in Mark 1:40 and Luke 5:12 . Here both without the city (Capernaum, App-169 ); there, both within (probably Chorazin), for the leper was "full" and therefore "clean" (Leviticus 13:12 , Leviticus 13:13 ). Here, the leper obeys and is silent; there, he disobeys, so that the Lord could no more enter the city (Chorazin). The antecedents were different, and the consequents also, as may be seen from the two records.

Verse 3

Jesus. All the texts ( App-94 .) read "He".

I will = I am willing. See App-102 .

his leprosy was cleansed. Figure of speech Hypallage ( App-6 ) = he was cleansed of his leprosy. Kaharizo is found in the Papyri and in Inscriptions in this sense.

Verse 4

no man = no one.

go. To Jerusalem.

shew thyself, &c. See Leviticus 14:4 .

Moses. The first of eighty occurrences of "Moses" in the N.T. Thirty-eight in the Gospels (see the first occurrence in each Gospel (Matthew 8:4 .Mark 1:44 .Luke 5:14 .John 1:17; John 1:17 ); nineteen times in Acts (see note on Acts 3:22 ); twenty-two times in the Epistles (see note on Romans 5:14 ; once in Revelation (Revelation 15:3 ). See App-117 .

Verse 5

Capernaum. See note on Matthew 4:13 , and App-169 .

there came, &c. This is in connection with the same centurion as in Luke 7:3 , Luke 7:6 , but on a prior occasion. See notes there.

centurion. Commanding 100 men, the sixtieth part of a legion.

beseeching = appealing to. Greek. parakaleo. App-131 .

Verse 6

servant = young man, in legal relation (like the French garcon) , Greek. pais. See App-108 .

lieth = is thrown down.

sick of the palsy = paralyzed.

Verse 8

worthy = fit. Not "worthy" (morally), but "fit" socially.

come = enter.

Verse 9

I = I also.

authority. Greek. exousia. App-172 .

me = myself.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton in this verse, App-6 .

this man = this [soldier].

another: i.e. of the same rank (see App-124 .) = another [soldier].

servant = bondservant.

Verse 10

marvelled. Only two things that the Lord marvelled at: (1) faith (here); (2) unbelief (Mark 6:6 ).

Verily. Only Matthew uses this Aramaic word here (supplementary). See note on Matthew 5:18 .

no, not = not even. Greek. oude . Related to ou. App-105 .

Verse 11

many. Used by Figure of speech Euphemismos for Gentiles ( App-6 ), to avoid giving offence at this stage of His ministry.

sit down = recline as guests (in eating, or at a feast).

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton

the kingdom of heaven. See App-114 .

Verse 12

children = sons. Greek. huios . App-108 . (and heirs). A Hebraism, denoting those who were related by any ties of friendship: e.g. followers, learners, inhabitants, &c.

outer = the outer. Gr . exoteros. Occ only in Matthew (here, and in Matthew 22:13 , and Matthew 25:30 ). Outside the place where the feast was going on in Matthew 8:11 .

weeping and gnashing = the weeping and the grinding. The Articles denoting not a state but a definite occasion and time when this event shall take place. Used by the Lord seven times (Matthew 8:12 ; Matthew 13:42 ; Matthew 13:50 ; Matthew 22:13 ; Matthew 24:51 ; Matthew 25:30 . Luke 13:28 ). A study of these will show that the occasion is "the end of the age", when "the Lord and His servants shall have come", and when He will deal with the "wicked" and "unprofitable" servants, and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in His kingdom.

Verse 13

hast believed = didst believe.

selfsame = that.

Verse 14

Peter's house. The Lord was in Capernaum, so that He was probably lodging with Peter. Compare Mark 1:29 . See App-169 .

laid -laid out for death. A Hebraism.

Verse 16

When = And when.

the even. Probably the Sabbath, for they came straight out of the Synagogue and waited for the end of the Sabbath.

devils = demons: i.e. evil spirits. App-101 .

spirits. App-101 .

with His word = by a word. Supply "a" instead of "His".

sick = in evil case. App-128 .

Verse 17

That = So that.

by = by means of. Greek. dia.

Esaias = Isaiah. See App-79 .

saying . Quoted from the Hebrew of Isaiah 53:4 . Compare 1 Peter 2:24 .

took . . . bare. The two words together fulfill the sense of the Hebrew (Isaiah 53:4 ). The Inspirer of Isaiah adapts and deals as He pleases with His own words.

bare = to take up for one's self; to bear our infirmities as in Luke 14:27 . Romans 15:1 .Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:10 ; Galatians 6:17 . Compare John 4:6 .

sicknesses. Greek. nosos diseases.

Verse 18

about = around. Greek peri. App-104 .

other side = farther side, not either of the words in App-124 .

Verse 19

a = one. A Hebraism for "a".

Master = Teacher. App-98 . Matthew 8:1 .

goest = mayest go.

Verse 20

unto him. No Preposition.

air = heaven.

nests = roosts.

the Son of Man. He Who has dominion in the earth. The first of eighty-seven occurrences. See App-98 . to lay = He may lay. Compare Revelation 14:14 . Rev 14:21

another = a different one: Greek. heteros. i.e. a disciple, not a "scribe" (Matthew 8:19 ). App-124 .

suffer me, &c. = allow me, &c. This was, and is to-day, a polite way of excusing one's self, it being well understood as such, because all knew that the dead are buried on the day of the death, and no one leaves the house.

first. No! See Matthew 6:33 .

Verse 22

let = leave.

the dead = corpses. Note the-well-known Figure of speech Antanaclasis ( App-6 ), by which one word is used twice in the same sentence with two meanings which clash against each other: "leave the dead to bury their own corpses". See App-139 .

Verse 23

a ship = the ship. Referring to Matthew 8:18 .

Verse 24

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos ( App-6 ), to call attention to another stage of "the great conflict". See App-23 . This is not the same tempest as that recorded in Mark 4:37-41 , and Luke 8:23-25 . This was before the calling of the Twelve: the other was after that event. There is no "discrepancy", if we note the differences on p. 1325, and App-97 .

tempest = earthquake. Always so rendered in the other thirteen occurrences. In the later event it was a squall (Greek. lailaps) .

was covered = was getting covered. Hence it was a decked boat. In the later miracle it was an open boat, "filled".

with = by. Greek. hupo.

asleep = sleeping.

Verse 25

perish = are perishing.

Verse 26

Why . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ). Here the danger was not so imminent, for He first rebuked the disciples. In the later miracle the danger was greater, and He rebuked the storm first. See App-97 .

O ye of little faith. The second occurrence of this word ( oligopistoi) . See note on Matthew 6:30 .

was = became.

Verse 27

marvelled. In Matthew 14:33 "worshipped".

manner, &c . = kind of a Being.

Verse 28

when He was come. This miracle of the two demoniacs was not the same as that recorded in Mark 5:1-20 and Luke 8:26-40 . Here, there were two men; in the later miracle there was one ; here, they landed opposite the place whence they set sail (Gergesenes); there, the Gadarenes (not Gadera) not opposite; here, no name is asked; there, the name is "Legion"; here, no bonds used; there, many; here, the two were not afterwards used, and the Twelve not yet called; there, the one man was used, and the Twelve had been called. The consequents also are different. See App-97 .

to = into. Greek. eis.

Gergesenes. Probably Girgashites, so called from one of the original Canaanite nations (Genesis 10:16 ; Genesis 15:21 ; Deuteronomy 7:1 .Joshua 3:10 ; Joshua 24:11 . 1 Chronicles 1:14 .Nehemiah 9:8; Nehemiah 9:8 ). Not Gadarenes, as in Mark and Luke. "Gergesenes is the reading of the vast majority of MSS. of both families; of the Coptic, Ethiopic, and Armenian versions". Origen is the great authority; but Wetstein "imagined" that it was Origen's "gratuitous conjecture". Critics have followed Wetstein, but Scrivener is right (as usual in retaining Gergesenes.

two. In the later miracle only one. Compare "we", Matthew 8:29 .

possessed with devils: i.e. demoniacs. Greek. daimonizomai. .

no man might pass = one was not able to pass.

Verse 29

What have we to do with Thee? A Hebraism. See note on 2 Samuel 16:10 . Occurs in Mark 1:24 ; Mark 5:7 . Luke 4:34 ; Luke 8:28 ; and John 2:4 .

Jesus. All the texts ( App-94 .) omit "Jesus" here. "Jesus" omitted here by the texts probably out of respect for His name being spoken by demons. Demons irreverently use this sacred name, as is done by so many today: but His own disciples and friends called Him "Lord, "or "Master, "&c. See John 13:13 .

Son of God. See App-98 .

before. Greek. pro. App-104 .

Verse 31

devils = demons.

If. Assuming that He would do so.

Verse 32

Go. Greek. hupago = go forth, i.e. out of the man.

a = the. Evidently, the well-known precipice.

perished = died. Those who defiled the temple (Matthew 21:12 , Matthew 21:12 . Joh 2:14-16 ) lost their trade; and those who defiled Israel (here) lost their animals.

Verse 34

the whole. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), App-6 , for the greater part.

to meet = for a meeting with. Greek. sunantesis. Occurs only here, but L T Tr. WH read hupantesin, which occurs also as the same reading in Matthew 25:1 and John 12:13 .

besought. Same word as in verses: Matthew 8:5 , Matthew 8:31 . See note on Mark 5:12 .

out of = away from. Greek. apo. App-104 .