Authority Over All Human Oppression: Matthew 8:14-17
“14) When Jesus came into Peter’s home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. 15) He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him. 16) When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. 17) This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases.”” Matthew 8:14-17
As Matthew chapter eight unfolds, the momentum builds in illustrating the authority of Jesus. Let’s review what we have discovered so far:
*First, chapter seven closed with Him having authority in His Teaching. *Second, He had authority over leprosy. *Third, He had authority over time and space.
Now as Jesus enters Peters home, we are met with a monumental disclosure, Jesus had authority over a mother-in-law! (Sorry, I have a sense of humor and couldn’t resist!)
Actually, he not only healed her fever, but also ministered to the crowd that soon gathered at their door. He set free all who were demon possessed and heal all who were ill.
I can only imagine the marvel of His disciples. Matthew was so moved that he connected what he witnessed with the prophecy of Isaiah; “He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases.” He connected what he was seeing to Isaiah 53:4.
But wait, Jesus had authority over all human oppression, but what about the rest of what Isaiah said in His prophecy? Was Jesus going to suffer and be pierced through to pay for all human sin and iniquity? Was there any case to severe for Him?
This is what amazes me most about Matthew 8:16. It is also what utterly astounded Matthew and the other disciples; “He healed all who were ill!”
I don’t know how long the line was that evening or how many different human ailments came before Him, but He healed them all! For that matter, I’ve studied the four gospels over and over again and cannot find one case where His power fell short of setting the captives free or healing the sick, injured or broken.
It would have only taken one failure for the growing suspicion of Matthew to be invalidated! The same observation was made in Matthew 4:23-24. Though the ailments varied greatly, “He healed them all.”
The question that was foremost on Matthew’s mind; “Is Jesus the Messiah?” The stage was being set for the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross! One healing failure would have negated His claim of Deity!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
