THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
THREE HEALINGS: Mt 8,1-17
A Leper: 8,1-4
In 8,1, Jesus comes down the mountain just as he went up it in 5,1. The crowds are still following and become larger, all now impressed with the authority of his teaching (7,28-29).
In Mk 1,40, the leper approaches Jesus alone. Here in Matthew he is breaking all the rules for the behaviour of lepers (Lev 13,46) because he approaches Jesus in the presence of the crowds. Lepers were to live outside the camp (Lev 13,45-46) and they could not be touched (Lev 5,3).
The leper comes to Jesus in verse 2 in worship like the Magi in 2,11. He calls Jesus "Lord", the full Christian title. This note of Jesus' exalted status is highlighted because Matthew omits Mark's comment that Jesus was filled with compassion (Mk 1,41).
In verse 3, Jesus touches the leper. Jesus thus makes himself unclean in order to clean the leper.
Jesus then requires the leper to fulfill the requirements of the Jewish law (Lev 14,2-9). Jesus is thereby fulfilling and not abolishing the law and the prophets (5,17)
Now return to continue our reading.
The Centurion and his Servant: 8,5-13
Here in Matthew, the centurion comes to Jesus himself whereas the centurion in Luke (Lk 7,3) uses intermediaries. This direct personal encounter is characteristic of Matthew.
Although this is not clearly stated, it would be more likely that the centurion was a gentile or pagan. He may have been in the service of Herod the local ruler; it is less likely that he was a Roman soldier.
As with leper in verse 2 so now with the centurion in verse 5: he addresses Jesus by his Christian title "Lord". He is as it were a prototype Gentile Christian, seeking help in faith from his Lord.
Jesus' reply in verse 7 may be the question "will I come?" rather than agreement, then his first reaction to the centurion is dismissive. As with the Canaanite women in chapter 15, Jesus seems reluctant to heal Gentiles. That makes the centurion's act of faith in verse 8 all the more remarkable: "Lord, I am not worthy..." (Well known today because it has become the community's response to the priest's acclamation before the procession to receive holy communion.)
The power of the word is a frequent theme in the Old Testament. Here we may recall Ps 107,20: he sent forth his word and healed them. The centurion would have been aware that it was forbidden for Jews to enter Gentile homes and he was offering Jesus an alternative.
In verse 10 there is the only use of the word "marvel" in the Gospel, Jesus' exclamation resulting from the faith of the centurion. The heirs of the kingdom, the Jews, will be excluded from their own patriarchs in heaven. Many though will be gathered from east and west to join them (Ps 107,3). The weeping and gnashing of teeth (Ps 112,20) is a favourite expression of this evangelist.
It is often surmised that there were considerable tensions between Matthew's Christians and the local Jews. That would explain the strong language in verse 12 where the children of the kingdom refers to the Jews.
Verse 13 then brings the response from Jesus. This is not so much the result of the centurion's faith, rather his faith is the basis on which Jesus can heal.
Return to continue our reading.
Peter's Mother in Law and other Healings: 8,14-17
In Matthew the episode becomes an encounter just between Jesus and the mother in law. In Mark, the disciples are actively involved, they tell Jesus about her (Mk 1,29) and after the healing the mother in law serves them (Mk 1,31). Here by contrast, the woman got up and served him (8,15) after she been raised up by Jesus. The word used in verse 15 carries overtones of the resurrection.
Isaish 53 is the servant song of the one who suffered for his people. This song is applied to Jesus at his passion and resurrection. Quoting it here applies verse 4 of the song more specifically to the healing of the infirm, that their sufferings become his sufferings.
What is so striking about these first three stories, especially when we look at the way Matthew has edited Mark, is that all three are direct personal encounters with Jesus.
That was already there in Mark for the healing of the leper. Matthew though has had to adapt both the centurion episode and that of Peter's mother in law so that they become one to one encounters with Jesus.We will now see how this is laying the foundations for what follows as we now return to the main page.
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