Matthew 8:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases."

NIV: This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases."

NASB: This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled: 'HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR ILLNESSES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.'

CSB: so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: He himself took our weaknesses and carried our diseases.

NLT: This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, 'He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.'

KJV: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

NKJV: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”

The previous verse describes an evening of healing and casting out demons at Peter's house in Capernaum (Matthew 8:16). Jesus welcomed all who needed help in either of these ways and took care of their issue in a moment.

Now Matthew points to this evening, along with all the other healing Jesus did during His ministry on earth, as the fulfilment of a specific prophecy found in Isaiah 53:4. Matthew quotes that verse in this way, "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases." Matthew's primary audience for this gospel is the nation of Israel. Points such as this are meant to tell Jewish people, in particular, that Jesus truly is the Messiah. Other portions of Isaiah chapter 53 describe the suffering Messiah would experience as part of His ministry (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24; Mark 10:33).

In His eager willingness to heal all in Israel who were sick and to cast out their demons, Jesus demonstrated the compassionate nature of God and showed that He came to serve Israel, even as her King.

Matthew 8:14–22 summarizes several events. Jesus cures Peter's mother-in-law from a fever. He then spends the evening healing many other people from diseases and casting out demons with a word, fulfilling another of Isaiah's prophecies (Isaiah 53:4). Jesus next talks to two of His followers. One promises to follow Jesus everywhere. Jesus says this will be difficult because He has no home. The other wants to come back and follow Jesus after burying his father. Jesus tells him to follow now and quips that it's better to "leave the dead to bury their own dead."

Matthew begins a series of stories revealing Jesus' authority over sickness, demons, and even the weather. Jesus heals a humble man with leprosy and great faith. He then heals the servant of a Roman centurion who understands that Jesus does not need to come to his home; He can just speak a word. Jesus praises the Gentile man's amazing faith. After healing many more, Jesus and the disciples get caught in a deadly storm on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus stops the storm with a word. Later, He casts demons out of two men and into a huge herd of pigs.

Matthew 8 follows the conclusion of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1–2). He turns to telling a series of dramatic stories to show Jesus' power and authority over every kind of disease, over demons, and even over the weather. Jesus also gives brief teachings about the hard road of following Him on earth. He calms a violent storm with a single command and casts demons from two violently possessed men. Matthew will focus mostly on miracles until shifting focus to Jesus' teachings and parables in chapter 11.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.

Accessed 11/21/2024 10:48:20 AM