The Man of St Matthew

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Overview: Matthew 8-9

These two chapters presents a series of acts of power by Jesus. We commonly call Jesus' acts of healing "miracles" but that word could have an overtone of magic. Speaking instead of "power" reminds us of the source of the power or authority of Jesus comes from God himself.

Both 4,23 and 9,35 speak of Jesus teaching and curing all kinds of sickness. In between we have Jesus teaching in chapters 5 to 7 and then his healing in chapters 8 and 9. These chapters form a presentation of Jesus as someone with power in word (7,29) and deed (9,8).

Listing out these acts of power, including both the one which is not a healing and the one which is a double healing, gives us three groups of three. In between the groups, there are as a result two interludes.

The first group
8,1-4The healing of a leperMk 1,40-44
8,5-13The healing of the centurion's servantLk 7,1-10
8,14-17The healing of Peter's mother in law and a summary.Mk 1,29-34
The second group
8,23-27The calming of the stormMk 4,36-41
8,28-34The two Gadarene demoniacsMk 5,1-20
9,1-8The healing of the ParalyticMk 2,1-12
The third group
9,18-26The daughter and the womanMk 5,21-43
9,27-31Two blind mencf.20,29-34 (Mk 10,46-52)
9,32-34Healing of a mutecf.12,22
The two interludes
8,18-22"Follow me"Lk 9,57-62
9,9-17The call of a tax collector and fasting.Mk 2,14-22

We can see how Matthew has composed this sequence freely, taking episodes from Mark and Luke and arranging them according to his purpose.
We can also note how Matthew has used the healing of one blind beggar in Jericho from Mark's Gospel (Mk 10,46-52). He has not only doubled him but he has also used the episode twice (9,27-32 and 20,29-34).

We return to the main page

Chapter 8: Overview

This chapter divides into two because the first part ends with the quotation from the prophet Isaiah in verse 17. As we read, we will see how the first group of healings builds up to that quotation.

Then in verse 18 Jesus gives orders to go to the other side. This begins the first interlude and we will be seeing how a different theme emerges.

We have therefore a two page reading for chapter 8: 8,1-17 and 8,18-34.
We are following the chapters in our reading so we can note that the third episode of the second group of Jesus' deeds of power is actually related in chapter 9, 9,1-8 (as in the table above).

Now we return in order to begin our reading of the chapter.