Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 8:1-2

"And when he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And behold, there came to him a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." — Matthew 8:1-2 (ASV)

When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him,

Great multitudes often count for nothing; it is only one here and there who is the notable individual. There may be a great company that comes up outwardly to worship, but it is the soul that comes into contact with Christ that is the most worthy of observation. There is no "Behold!" when the great multitudes are mentioned by Matthew; but there is a "Behold!" before the record of the leper coming to Christ: Behold, there came a leper and worshipped him. Let us all be of the leper's mind; let us worship Christ. Surely we may do so, if only out of gratitude for having escaped from so dire a disease; but, since, spiritually, by nature that disease is upon us, we have good reason to come to Jesus as the leper came, and worshipped him,.

When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper—

You see that particular mention is made of this one special case, and, in any congregation, while it may be recorded that so many people came together, the special case that will be noted by the recording angel will be that of anyone who comes to Christ with his own personal distresses, and who thereby obtains relief from them: Behold, there came a leper—