Church Fathers Commentary Luke 4:38-39

"And he rose up from the synagogue, and entered into the house of Simon. And Simon`s wife`s mother was holden with a great fever; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she rose up and ministered unto them." — Luke 4:38-39 (ASV)

St. Ambrose of Milan: Luke, after introducing a man delivered from an evil spirit, goes on to relate the healing of a woman. For our Lord had come to heal both sexes, and he who was first created ought to be healed first. Therefore, it is said, He arose out of the synagogue and entered into Simon’s house.

St. John Chrysostom: For He honored His disciples by dwelling among them, and in this way making them more zealous.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: Now, see how Christ abides in the house of a poor man, willingly suffering poverty for our sakes, so that we might learn to visit the poor and not despise the destitute and needy. It follows: And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever: and they besought him for her.

The Venerable Bede: At one time at the request of others, and at another of His own accord, our Savior cures the sick. This shows that He is far removed from the passions of sinners and always grants the prayer of the faithful. Regarding what they themselves do not fully understand, He either makes it intelligible or forgives their lack of understanding, as it is written: Who understands his errors? Lord, cleanse me from my secret faults.

St. John Chrysostom: Because Matthew is silent on the point of their asking Him, he does not contradict Luke; nor does it matter, for one Gospel aimed for brevity, while the other aimed for accurate research. It follows: And he stood over her, etc.

Origen of Alexandria: Here Luke speaks figuratively, as if giving a command to a sentient being, saying that the fever was commanded and did not neglect the work of the One who commanded it. Therefore, it says: And she arose, and ministered to them.

St. John Chrysostom: For since the disease was curable, He shows His power by the manner of the cure, doing what was previously impossible. After a fever subsides, a patient needs much time before being restored to former health, but on this occasion, it all happened at once.

St. Ambrose of Milan: But if we consider these things more deeply, we should consider the health of the mind as well as the body, so that the mind which was assailed by the wiles of the devil may be released first. Eve was not hungry before the serpent deceived her, and therefore the medicine of salvation ought to operate first against the author of evil himself.

Perhaps also, in that woman as a type, our flesh languished with the various fevers of sin; and I would say that the fever of lust is no less intense than the fever of bodily heat.

The Venerable Bede: For if we say that a man released from the devil morally represents the mind cleansed from unclean thoughts, then consequently, a woman tormented by a fever but cured at our Lord’s command represents the flesh being brought under control by the rules of continence amid the fury of its own lust.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: Let us therefore receive Jesus. For when He has visited us, we carry Him in our heart and mind; He will then extinguish the flames of our illicit pleasures and will make us whole, so that we minister to Him—that is, do things that are well-pleasing to Him.