Tuesday, September 27
Behold
Matthew 8:14-17 MSG
By this time they were in front of Peter’s house. On entering, Jesus found Peter’s mother-in-law sick in bed, burning up with fever. He touched her hand and the fever was gone. No sooner was she up on her feet than she was fixing dinner for him.
That evening a lot of demon-afflicted people were brought to him. He relieved the inwardly tormented. He cured the bodily ill. He fulfilled Isaiah’s well-known sermon:
He took our illnesses,
He carried our diseases.
Be Perfect
The thing that the sermon on the mount (ch. 5-7) and the ensuing 10 mighty acts of healing
(ch. 8-9) have in common is an emphasis on Jesus word. Virtually all of the healings Jesus performs in chapters 8-9 he does by the speaking of a word. It is quite possible and likely that Matthew wants the reader to understand that in chapters 5-7 Jesus’ teaching word is interpreted in light of his healing word in chapters 8-9. There is healing and wholeness in his teaching. Conversely Jesus’ teaching word in 5-7 suggests that the healings of Jesus also teach and instruct regarding discipleship. In chapters 8-9 you have ten mighty acts of healing arranged in three groups. Each group is separated by instructions concerning discipleship. Matthew has so told the stories of Jesus’ healings in 8-9 as to teach through the way he heals; to teach about discipleship. His teaching word informs his healing word and his healing word informs his teaching word.
Dr. David Bauer, Professor of New Testament Interpretation, Asbury Theological Seminary.
Listen to Dr. Bauer teach on the Sermon on the Mount at asburyreader.com.