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Matthew Chapter 8

New Testament Gospel 34 Verses

What is Matthew 8 about?

The Gospel for a Jewish audience — Jesus as Messiah-King, fulfillment of OT prophecy, and teacher of the Sermon on the Mount. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1And when he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
2And behold, there came to him a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
3And he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway his leprosy was cleansed.
4And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
5And when he was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
6and saying, Lord, my servant lieth in the house sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7And he saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
8And the centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed.
9For I also am a man under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10And 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.
11And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven:
12but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast forth into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
13And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; as thou hast believed, [so] be it done unto thee. And the servant was healed in that hour.
14And when Jesus was come into Peter`s house, he saw his wife`s mother lying sick of a fever.
15And he touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she arose, and ministered unto him.
16And when even was come, they brought unto him many possessed with demons: and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all that were sick:
17that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying: Himself took our infirmities, and bare our diseases.
18Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandments to depart unto the other side.
19And there came a scribe, and said unto him, Teacher, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
20And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
21And another of the disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
22But Jesus saith unto him, Follow me; and leave the dead to bury their own dead.
23And when he was entered into a boat, his disciples followed him.
24And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the boat was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
25And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Save, Lord; we perish.
26And 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.
27And the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?
28And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, there met him two possessed with demons, coming forth out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man could pass by that way.
29And behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
30Now there was afar off from them a herd of many swine feeding.
31And the demons besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine.
32And he said unto them, Go. And they came out, and went into the swine: and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep into the sea, and perished in the waters.
33And they that fed them fled, and went away into the city, and told everything, and what was befallen to them that were possessed with demons.
34And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought [him] that he would depart from their borders.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“When he was come down from the mountain, etc.] Into which he went up, and preached the sermon recorded in the “three” preceding chapters: great multitudes followed him: which is mentioned, partly to shew, that the people which came from several parts, still continued with him, being affected with his discourses and miracles; and partly on account of the following miracle, of healing the leper, which was not done in a corner, but before great multitudes, who were witnesses of it: though some think this miracle was wrought more privately.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“HEALING OF A LEPER. ( = Mar 1:40-45; Luk 5:12-16). (Mat 8:1-4) When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“When he was come down from the mountain - That is, immediately on his descending from the mountain. His discourse had attracted great attention, and the fame of it drew together great multitudes, who were convinced that he had come from God. Then follows, in this chapter and the chapter succeeding, a succession of “miracles” not less remarkable than his teaching was; miracles that tended to confirm beyond a doubt the impression made by his sermon that he was sent from God. Great multitudes followed him - Great numbers of those who had been with him in the mountain, and great numbers of others who were attracted…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 2
“A leper came - Leprosies in those countries were seldom curable by natural means, any more than palsies or lunacy. Probably this leper, though he might not mix with the people, had heard our Lord at a distance. Mar 1:40; Luk 5:12. Matthew 8:4”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“8:1–9:34 Here the Kingdom of God is manifested with supernatural power (see 4:23-25; 11:2-6). It reaches people who had been excluded from the blessing of God: Gentiles, lepers, blind people, sick women, demoniacs, tax collectors, those with a chronic hemorrhage, and the dead. Jesus shows compassion, but the religious leaders are provoked to opposition. Jesus calls his followers to faith and discipleship.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“come: Mat 5:1 great: Mat 8:18, Mat 4:25, Mat 12:15, Mat 15:30, Mat 19:2, Mat 20:29; Mar 3:7; Luk 5:15, Luk 14:25-27 Matthew 8:2”
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