Matthew 8:14-17
Week of April 15, 2012
Getting Started…
What is the most unusual thing a guest has done in your house?
What You See…
Read Matthew 8:14-17
What was special about Jesus’ healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, and what does it suggest regarding the character of Jesus?
The miracle, healing Peter’s mother-in-law, was a double one. Not only was she instantly healed of her fever, but she was immediately restored to full health without the normal recuperating period after a fever. She rose from her sickbed and immediately prepared and served a meal to Jesus and His four disciples.
Also, though many of Jesus’ healings were public miracles that authenticated His claim as the Anointed One or Messiah, the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law was distinctly more private and personal, and seems to have been performed more for the benefit of Jesus’ disciples. In this way, Jesus was showing them that not only were He the Messiah, but that He personally cared about the “little things” like the health of a family member.
Jesus’ character demonstrates His power to heal the women and at the same time shows His gentleness and compassion to heal without hesitation.
What was the response of Peter’s mother-in-law after her healing?
And when Jesus was come into Peter's house..." And the other Gospels tell us it was on the Sabbath, and they had been to the synagogue. In fact, all of these, as I said, may have happened the same day; and they went over to Peter's house. You know, they do what we do. They go to synagogue or church, and then they go home and have dinner; but they were having a problem there. The other writer, Mark it is, tells us that Andrew was there, and James was there, and John was there; so you got Peter, Peter's wife, James, John, Andrew, and Jesus. You got six people, and they got a real tragedy. How can you have Sabbath dinner when mother-in-law is sick? Right? That's what mother-in-law's for, right?...
How can you possibly have a decent meal? Plus it puts a damper on the whole operation. So the others come to Jesus, according to Mark's account; and they say, "Come on home with us and heal her so we can have dinner."...So, you know, first things first. You know, why not? Nothing wrong with service. Give her an opportunity to serve. "When Jesus was coming into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying and sick with a fever." Peter was married. We know that, because 1 Corinthians 9, he says later on his ministry, Paul says it's not wrong for Peter in his ministry to lead about a wife, which means that she traveled with him in some of his ministry. And so here is his mother-in-law.
Now, the Jews used to get up...the Pharisees used to get up, and they said the same thing every morning. This was their standard statement. "I thank Thee that I am not slave, a Gentile, or a woman." They believed that lepers and Gentiles and women -- sort of in the same category. They had a very low view of women; and for Jesus to throw in a healing of a woman, you see, is just another indictment. And a mother-in-law -- I mean, you know, that's even going beyond...
So He is...He is really slapping in the face of all their tradition...Verse 15, "He touched her hand, and the fever left her." The hypothalamus, I'm told, in the middle of the brain, controls the body temperature and keeps it at 98.6; and it can become diseased; and sometimes infection comes from other parts of the body; and, in her case, could've been malaria, which was very common to that part; and when your body begins to fight it off, it raises your temperature, as you know. Whatever it was, temperature can go up to 108 degrees. We don't know what hers was, but the indication of the other account is that it was so severe, she could die from it; and Jesus reached out His hand and touched her, and immediately, "The fever left her and she arose and got about making dinner." She ministered. Do you know, that's what she should do in...in thanks for the healing. I'll bet she whipped up bagels and gefilte fish or whatever...like... like they'd never had. St. Peter's fish, maybe, that comes outta that sea. That's what they call it now. But they had a great time.
You know, there's something wonderful about that. I...I think the reason that you have the...the little miracle here about the mother-in-law, she's Jewish; and it might have been hard for the Jew to accept the leper; but then to accept a Gentile; and then to hear the Words of Jesus that they're gonna be shut outta the Kingdom; and so Jesus immediately drops back in this healing of a Jew, almost as if to say, "Yes, I've turned to the Gentiles. Yes, the Kingdom will embrace the Gentiles; but I'll never turn aside My people Israel. There'll be healing for them, too." Isn't that right? Don't you find that in Romans? Where He says, "Sure, the original root and stock was Jewish. The Gentiles have been grafted in, but the day is coming when Israel will be grafted in again to the stalk of blessing. There's coming a day for Israel again."
And I see that inherent in the simplicity of this miracle. She was immediately healed. The power of Jesus Christ made manifest. If you can deny that He's God in the face of these things, it is not because there is no evidence. It is because there is no faith in your heart, and there's no faith there, because your heart is bound by sin. (MacArthur)
What did Jesus’ healing of the demon-possessed people show?
It showed that He had power over both sickness and (more importantly) over sin. This is critically important because Jesus was signaling that the Messiah would be not only a Healer, but a Redeemer too. This is a point Jesus would make clear a few days later when He was back in Capernaum and healed a man who was paralyzed. Jesus said, “Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”So he said to the man,“I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” (Mark 2:9-11). The physical healing Jesus brought was simply a preview of the spiritual healing He offered.
Matthew refers to the Prophet Isaiah. How does Isaiah 53:4 play into the healing ministry of Jesus?
Isaiah 53:4a, New International Version (NIV) Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering
Matthew 8:17, He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases…...... that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
Matthew quoted from Isaiah 53:4. The passage in Isaiah says that God heals transgressions and iniquities.Peter quoted Isaiah to show God heals sins. ...who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24
Isaiah says that Jesus bore our “iniquity.”All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Is 53:6“He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”This quote does not teach healing in the atonement because this passage has to do with Jesus’ healing ministry during His public ministry and not His work on the cross. Not disease but the penalty of sin was transferred to Christ on the cross.
PRINCIPLE: There will come a day when we are totally healed by resurrection and restoration of our bodies.
Read the parallel passages in Mark 1:29-34 and Luke 4:38-41. What additional insights do you gain as you read these other accounts when comparing them with Matthew 8:14-17?
Answers will vary. Some possible responses: Jesus and his disciples had just come from the synagogue on the Sabbath (We know this because the townspeople did not come to the house until evening when the Sabbath was over and they believed they were allowed to do something. Jesus was not bound by any such regulation. As we see elsewhere in the Gospels, Jesus did not hesitate to do works of mercy on the Sabbath.) Peter was married, his brother’s name was Andrew; James and John were with them in the house. At once they told Jesus of the great fever suffered by Peter's mother in law, he came, saw her, touched her hand, rebuked the fever, raised her up by the hand and she was fully restored.
What You Think…
What do you think Jesus’ motivation could have been for the healing performed in Matthew 8:14-17, and do you think He might have had any reservations about performing healings? Why?
Possible motivations: A. Bring glory to God. B. Showing his special affection for his disciple Peter by healing his mother-in-law. C. Fulfill prophecy – Isaiah 53:4 that is referenced in the passage. D. Show His Spiritual authority over all, including and especially over the demonic realm.
Possible reasons for reservations: A. Some people might have wanted to see the healings just for the entertainment factor. B. Jesus’ primary motivation was for spiritual healing for people. Physical healing was good, but temporary. All would ultimately die and Christ wanted them to be right with God by having people trust in Him for salvation.
In these two miracles, we see an instance where Jesus healed someone without asking, and one in which He healed many who did ask. What can we learn about Jesus’ desire to heal in our own lives?
Answers will vary. One response: We don’t have to ask for God to be merciful to us and heal. He will do this simply for His own glory, and we discover afterwards the power and compassion He has for people. But there is precedence for asking, and we are even told that we have not because we ask not. (James 4:2) Trust His compassion and grace and ask Him for healing in any area of Your life: financial, physical, emotional, relational, etc. God does not exist to do our bidding, and we don’t command Him in anything, but if our motives are right and we are seeking His glory in the matter, He will give us all we need.
Is there a connection with sin and sickness? Give an explanation for your answer.
Answers will vary. One response: Sin and sickness are indeed connected. Sickness is a result of sin. Jesus’ healing ministry was a foretaste of the coming kingdom. Christians will receive complete physical healing when we receive our resurrection bodies.
1 Peter 2:24 applies Isaiah 53:4 to the healing of our sins. God does not guarantee healing in time but in the kingdom and in eternity. Specific healings in our time is the down payment of ultimate healing where all will be fully healed. Ultimately, Jesus will heal not only sins but the effect of sin—sickness and death. He redeemed us from the curse of the law on the cross and will one day redeem us from the effects of sin in the kingdom and eternity.
Read Isaiah 53:4-5
What does this passage mean to you regarding sin?
Answers will vary.
How have you experienced Jesus’ power over sin?
Answers will vary.
What specific areas of healing (physical, emotional, spiritual) do you need your group to pray for you?
Answers will vary.
What You Do…
This week memorize Isaiah 53:5
List the names of people you know who are suffering physically. This week pray daily for them, and also contact them for encouragement and support. Share your experiences with your group next week.