Bible Commentaries
Matthew 8

Verse 2

behold, there came a leper

The King, having in Chapters 5.-7. declared the principles of the kingdom, makes proof, in Chapters 8., 9., of His power to banish from the earth the consequences of sin, and to control the elements of nature.

Lord

Gr. Kurios. The first occurrence of the word is applied to Jesus with His evident sanction. In itself the word means "master," and is so used of mere human relationships in, e.g. Matthew 6:24; Matthew 15:27; Mark 13:35; Ephesians 6:9 Both uses, divine and human, are brought together in Colossians 4:1. It is the (Greek - ἀθέμιτος Heb). "Adonai." (See Scofield "Colossians 4:1- :") , and is so used by Jesus Christ in Matthew 22:43. In the N.T. the distinctive uses of Kurios (Lord) are:

(1) As the N.T. translation of the Heb. Jehovah (Lord), e.g. Matthew 1:20; Matthew 1:22; Matthew 2:15; Matthew 3:3; Matthew 4:7; Matthew 4:10; Matthew 11:25; Matthew 21:9; Mark 12:29; Mark 12:30; Luke 1:68; Luke 2:9

(2) Jesus Himself so uses Kurios, e.g. Matthew 4:7; Matthew 4:10; Matthew 11:25; Mark 12:11.

(3) But the great use of Kurios is as the divine title of Jesus, the Christ. In this sense it occurs in the N.T. 663 times. That the intent is to identify Jesus Christ with the O.T. Deity is evident from Matthew 3:3; Matthew 12:8; Matthew 21:9; Psalms 118:26; Matthew 22:43-45; Luke 1:43; John 8:58; John 14:8-10; John 20:28; Acts 9:5; Acts 13:33. (Psalms 2:0.). (See Scofield "Psalms 2:0- :") .

Verse 5

centurion

A Roman commander of 100 men.

Verse 11

heaven

kingdom, (See Scofield " :-") .

Verse 16

possessed

(Greek - δαιμονίζομαι - "demonized"). (See Scofield " :-") .

Verse 20

Son of man

(See Scofield " :-") . Our Lord thus designates Himself about eighty times. It is His racial name as the representative Man, in the sense of 1 Corinthians 15:45-47 as Son of David is distinctly his Jewish name, and Son of God His divine name. Our Lord constantly uses this term as implying that his mission (e.g.) ; Matthew 11:19; Luke 19:10. His death and resurrection (e.g.) ; Matthew 12:40; Matthew 20:18; Matthew 26:2 and His second coming (e.g.) ; Matthew 24:37-44; Luke 12:40 transcended in scope and result all merely Jewish imitations. When Nathanael confesses him as "King of Israel," our Lord's answer is, "Thou shalt see greater things. . . the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." When His messengers are cast out by the Jews, His thought leaps forward to the time when the Son of man shall come, not then to Israel only but to the race ; Matthew 10:5; Matthew 10:6; Matthew 8:23. It is in this name, also, that universal judgment is committed to Him John 5:22; John 5:27. It is also a name indicating that in Him is fulfilled the O.T. foreview of blessing through a coming man. See Scofield "John 5:27- :" ; Genesis 3:15; Genesis 12:3; Psalms 8:4; Psalms 80:17; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 32:2; Zechariah 13:7; Isaiah 32:2; Zechariah 13:7.

Verse 28

possessed

(Greek - δαιμονίζομαι - "demonized"). (See Scofield " :-") .

Verse 31

devils

demons. (See Scofield " :-")