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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:1

Verse 1 Matthew 8:1.And when he had come down from the mountain Matthew now returns to the course of the history. He had formerly said, that Christ went up into a mountain, (verse 1) then he threw, as it were, into one heap, many leading points of the doctrine of Christ; and now he adds that, about the time when he preached on the mountain, he healed a certain leper The same event is related by Mark and Luke, though they do not mention the time. It was a striking display of the divine power of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:2

Verse 2 2.Approaching, worshipped What is the meaning of the verb προσκυνεῖν, which is rendered in the Latin version, adorare, to adore or worship, may be easily learned from this passage. For the exposition of it we may rely on the other two Evangelists, of whom Mark says, that he fell on his knees, and Luke, that he fell down on his face The outward gesture of kneeling was exhibited by the leper as a token of reverence. Now we know, that such marks of respect were in general use among the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:3

Verse 3 3.Having stretched out his hand, he touched Under the Law, the touch of a leper was infectious; but as Christ possesses such purity as to repel all filth and defilement, he does not, by touching, either pollute himself with leprosy, or become a transgressor of the law. When he took upon him our flesh, he did not only deign to touch as with his hand, but was united to one and the same body with ourselves, that we might be flesh of his flesh, (Genesis 2:23.) Nor did he only stretch out... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:4

Verse 4 4.And Jesus saith to him, See that thou tell it not to any one Some persons, by way of excusing the leper, think that Christ did not seriously forbid him to publish the miracle, but rather gave him an additional excitement to do so. Others more justly consider the reason of the prohibition to have been, that the full “time was not yet come,” (John 7:6.) I do acknowledge, that to have suppressed this miracle would have been improper: but our Lord had a particular reason for wishing that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:1

Matthew only. When he was come down from the mountain ( Matthew 5:1 , note), great multitudes followed him , A transitional verse. It carries on the thought of the ὄχλοι in the last verse of the preceding chapter, and serves to introduce the following examples of sick folk; or, perhaps, it may be connected with the "great multitudes" ( ὄχλοι πολλοί ) of Matthew 4:25 , coming, as the plural suggests (cf. also Matthew 12:23 ) from the various places there enumerated. If... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:1-4

Healing the leper. Parallel passages: Mark 1:40-45 ; Luke 5:12-16 . Observe in this miracle (2) his full acceptance of the Law ( Matthew 5:17 ); cf. Luke 5:4 , note. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:1-4

Departure from the mount of the Beatitudes. I. THE MULTITUDES . 1 . They followed him . The Lord came down from the mount; the great sermon was ended. The attraction of his presence continued; great multitudes followed him. He had taught them as One having authority; there was a strange, startling originality about his teaching; it was totally unlike anything that they had ever heard before. It appealed to their hearts; it seemed to fill a want of which they had been more or less... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:1-4

The leper. This incident follows immediately after the sermon on the mount. It is questionable whether any of the great words of that discourse reached the leper, who could only have stood beyond the outermost ring of the crowd. But though at first he was quite shut away from Christ, his opportunity came while our Lord was coming down the hill; then he could claim the beggar's privilege and stand by the wayside. Jesus speaks to multitudes, but he cares for individuals. He is not so taken up... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:1-4

The leper's example Some concise account of the nature of the disease of leprosy, of the place it held in the Jewish economy as the "sacrament of death," of the leading allusions to it in the Old Testament, and of the Levitical provisions in the event of a recovery or supposed recovery, may form introduction to discourse. Then dwell on some suggestions arising from the fact of— I. THE FAME OF JESUS TRAVELLING TO A LEPER . II. A LEPER TRAVELLING TO JESUS HIMSELF... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:1-4

The leper. Jesus, in his sermon on the mount, spake with an authority that asserted his Divinity. He claimed to be the King and Judge of men. Coming down from the mount, followed by the multitudes who were astonished at his doctrine, he wrought, a miracle which proved his authority to be no assumption. The miracles of Christ were not only miracles of power; they were, moreover, miracles of wisdom—parables of omnipotence. I. LEPROSY IS AN EMBLEM OF SIN . 1 . It is a most... read more

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