GOSPEL READING
THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
THREE HEALINGS: Mt 8,1-17
A Leper: 8,1-4
Verse 1 is special to Matthew because it provides the transition from the Sermon on the Mount. Check back to 5,1 for this. Look also at Mk 1,40: who are the witnesses to this scene in Matthew?
What is unusual about the leper's behaviour? See Leviticus 13,45-46.
What does the leper do as he approaches Jesus and how does he address him? See 2,11. What is the key word in these two verses? What is missing from Mk 1,41?
What is unexpected about Jesus' action in verse 3? See Lev 5,3.
For verse 4, see Lev 14,2-9. How does this echo 5,17?
Now take a look at my response.
The Centurion and his Servant: 8,5-13
This healing of the Centurion's servant is also told by Luke, 7,1-9. However there is an obvious and important difference between the two evangelists so first take note of that.
Consider whether this army officer is more likely to be a Jew or a pagan.
In verse 6, how does he address Jesus (see verse 2 as well). What might this mean for the centurion and for Matthew's community?
In verse 7, many translations make Jesus' response to the centurion a statement: "I will come.." However, it could also be translated as a question: "Will I come...?" What effect would this alternative have on our understanding of the story? For a clue, see 15,22-28.
"Say only the word" recalls Ps 107,20. What is the intention of the centurion?
How does this lead into Jesus' response in verses 10 to 12? A similar saying can be found in Lk 13,28-29. For background, see Ps 107,3 and also Ps 112,20. Who are the children of the kingdom in verse 12? For similar language in this Gospel, see 22,13 or 24,51.
Is the healing the result of the centurion's faith? Note that "from that hour" is an expression typical of Matthew: 9,22;15,28 or 17,18
Now take another look at my response.
Peter's Mother in Law and other Healings: 8,14-17
The healing of Peter's Mother Law is told in all three Synoptic Gospels. A comparison with Mark (Mk 1,29-31) shows how Matthew has edited the incident. What is the effect of Matthew's editing, who are not involved in his version?
What does Jesus do in verse 15? See verse 3. Depending on your translation, you may be able to spot an underlying implication concerning the woman.
In verses 16 and 17 there is a summary similar to Mark, Mk 1,32-34. Matthew, typically, adds a fulfilment quotation (see chapter 2), Is 53,4 in this case. What is important about the passage from the prophet Isaiah from which this quotation is taken? What are its implications when quoted here?
Look back over these first three stories. What is similar about them? And where lies the emphasis in the three, highlighted by the quotation in verse 17?
Then take a third look at my response.
We now continue to the second half of the chapter, 8,18-34.