Matthew Henry Commentary Matthew 8

This verse refers to the close of the foregoing sermon. Those to whom Christ has made himself known desire to know more of him.

In these verses, we have an account of Christ cleansing a leper, who came and worshipped Him as one clothed with divine power. This cleansing directs us not only to apply to Christ, who has power over bodily diseases, for their cure, but it also teaches us how to apply to Him. When we cannot be sure of God's will, we can be sure of His wisdom and mercy.

No guilt is so great that Christ's blood cannot atone for it; no corruption so strong that His grace cannot subdue it. To be made clean, we must entrust ourselves to His pity; we cannot demand it as a debt, but we must humbly request it as a favour. Those who by faith apply to Christ for mercy and grace can be sure that He is freely willing to give them the mercy and grace they thus seek.

And blessed are those afflictions that bring us to know Christ and cause us to seek help and salvation from Him. Let those who are cleansed from their spiritual leprosy go to Christ's ministers and open their case to them, so that they may advise, comfort, and pray for them.

This centurion was a Gentile, a Roman soldier. Though he was a soldier, yet he was a godly man. No one's calling or place will be an excuse for unbelief and sin. Notice how he states his servant's case. We should concern ourselves with the souls of our children and servants who are spiritually sick, who do not feel spiritual evils, who do not know what is spiritually good; and we should bring them to Christ by faith and prayers.

Observe his self-abasement. Humble souls are made more humble by Christ's gracious dealings with them. Observe his great faith. The more diffident we are of ourselves, the stronger will be our confidence in Christ. In this, the centurion acknowledges him to have Divine power, and a full command of all the creatures and powers of nature, as a master over his servants. We should all be such servants to God; we must go and come according to the directions of his word and the ordering of his providence.

But when the Son of Man comes, he finds little faith; therefore, he finds little fruit. An outward profession may cause us to be called children of the kingdom; but if we rest in that, and have nothing else to show, we will be cast out. The servant got a cure for his disease, and the master got the approval of his faith. What was said to him is said to all: Believe, and you will receive; only believe.

See the power of Christ and the power of faith. The healing of our souls is both the effect and evidence of our share in the blood of Christ.

Peter had a wife, yet was an apostle of Christ, who showed that He approved of the married state by being so kind to Peter's wife's relations. The church of Rome, which forbids ministers to marry, acts contrary to that apostle on whom they rely so much. He had his wife's mother with him in his family, which is an example to be kind to our relations.

In spiritual healing, the Scripture speaks the word; the Spirit gives the touch, touches the heart, touches the hand. Those who recover from fevers commonly are weak and feeble for some time afterward. But to show that this cure was above the power of nature, the woman was immediately so well that she could go about the business of the house. As the miracles Jesus performed became widely known, many thronged to Him.

He healed all who were sick, no matter how lowly the patient or how bad the case. Many are the diseases and calamities to which we are liable in the body. And there is more in those words of the gospel, that Jesus Christ bore our sicknesses and carried our sorrows, to support and comfort us under them, than in all the writings of the philosophers. Let us not grudge labour, trouble, or expense in doing good to others.

One of the scribes was too hasty in his promise; he offered himself as a close follower of Christ. He seemed very resolute. Many resolutions regarding religion are made from sudden conviction and without careful consideration; these often come to nothing.

When this scribe offered to follow Christ, one might think he should have been encouraged, as one scribe could bring more credit and provide more service than twelve fishermen. But Christ saw his heart and responded to his thoughts. In this, He teaches everyone how to come to Christ. The scribe's resolve appears to have stemmed from a worldly, greedy motive. Christ, however, had no place to lay His head, and if the scribe were to follow Him, he should not expect to fare better than He did.

We have reason to think this scribe went away. Another was too slow. Delay in action is as detrimental on one hand as hastiness in decision-making is on the other. He asked for permission to bury his father, and then he would commit to Christ's service. This request seemed reasonable, yet it was not right.

He lacked true zeal for the work. Burying the dead, especially one's own father, is a good work, but it is not your work at this time. If Christ requires our service, even affection for our closest relatives and for tasks that are otherwise our duty must yield. An unwilling mind never lacks an excuse. Jesus said to him, Follow me; and, undoubtedly, power accompanied this word to him as it did to others. He did follow Christ and clung to Him.

The scribe said, I will follow you; to this other man, Christ said, Follow me. Comparing them shows that we are brought to Christ by the power of His call to us (Romans 9:16).