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This teaching is different. Usually rabbis cite generations of rabbis before them when making claims about the meaning of Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus honors the law, but He is clear—the law must be read in a new way.

Large crowds followed Jesus when He came down from the mountain. And as Jesus was going along, a leper approached Him and knelt down before Him.

Leper: Lord, if You wish to, please heal me and make me clean!

Jesus (stretching out His hand): Of course I wish to. Be clean.

Immediately the man was healed.

Jesus: Don’t tell anyone what just happened. Rather, go to the priest, show yourself to him, and give a wave offering as Moses commanded. Your actions will tell the story of what happened here today.

Eventually Jesus came to the little town of Capernaum. In Capernaum a military officer came to Him and asked Him for help.

Officer: Lord, I have a servant who is lying at home in agony, paralyzed.

Jesus: I will come to your house, and I will heal him.

Officer: Lord, I don’t deserve to have You in my house. And, in truth, I know You don’t need to be with my servant to heal him. Just say the word, and he will be healed. That, after all, is how authority works. My troops obey me whether I am next to them or not—similarly, this sickness will obey You.

10 Jesus was stunned by the depth of the officer’s faith.

Jesus (to His followers): This is the plain truth: I have not met a single person in Israel with as much faith as this officer. 11 It will not be just the children of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob who celebrate at their heavenly banquet at the end of time. No, people will come from the East and the West—and those who recognize Me, regardless of their lineage, will sit with Me at that feast. 12 But those who have feigned their faith will be cast out into outer darkness where people weep and grind their teeth.

13 Then Jesus turned to the Centurion.[a]

Jesus: You may go home. For it is as you say it is; it is as you believe.

And the officer’s servant was healed, right then.

What happens next seems to embody the officer’s wise opinion about authority: over and over Jesus shows just what His authority means.

14 Jesus went to Peter’s house, and there He saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed, sick and burning up with a fever. 15 Jesus touched her hand, and then she was healed—the fever vanished. She got up from bed and began to wait on Him.

16 Toward nighttime many people who were possessed by demons were brought to Jesus, and He said one word of command and drove the demons out, healing everyone who was sick. 17 These miraculous healings fulfilled what the prophet Isaiah had predicted:

He took our infirmities upon Himself,
    and He bore our diseases.[b]

18 Jesus saw that a crowd had gathered around Him, and He gave orders to go to the other side of the sea. 19 A scribe came up to Him.

Scribe: Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.

Jesus: 20 Foxes have dens in which to sleep, and the birds have nests. But the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.

Disciple: 21 Jesus, before I do the things You’ve asked me to do, I must first bury my father.

Jesus: 22 Follow Me! And let the dead bury their own dead.

Does Jesus say, “Fair enough, you must of course bury your father. Just catch up with Me when you are done”? No. This is one of the strange and radical things Jesus brings about—our families are no longer our families. Our deepest bonds are not those of blood. Our family now is found in the bonds of fellowship made possible by this Jesus.

23 And then Jesus got into a boat, and His disciples followed Him. 24 Out of nowhere, a vicious storm blew over the sea. Waves were lapping up over the boat, threatening to overtake it! Yet Jesus was asleep. 25 Frightened (not to mention confused—how could anyone sleep through this?), the disciples woke Him up.

Disciples: Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!

Jesus: 26 Please! What are you so afraid of, you of little faith?

Jesus got up, told the wind and the waves to calm down, and they did. The sea became still and calm once again. 27 The disciples were astonished.

Disciples: Who is this? What sort of man is He, that the sea and the winds listen to Him?

28 Eventually Jesus came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gadarenes. There, two men who lived near the tombs and were possessed by demons came out to the seaside and met Jesus. They were flailing about, so violent that they obstructed the path of anyone who came their way.

Demons (screaming at Jesus): 29 Why are You here? Have You come to torture us even before the judgment day, O Son of God?

30 A ways off, though still visible, was a large herd of pigs, eating.

Demons: 31 If You cast us out of the bodies of these two men, do send us into that herd of pigs!

Jesus: 32 Very well then, go!

And the demons flew out of the bodies of the two flailing men, they set upon the pigs, and every last pig rushed over a steep bank into the sea and drowned. 33 The pig herders (totally undone, as you can imagine) took off; they headed straight for town, where they told everyone what they’d just seen—even about the demon-possessed men. 34 And so the whole town came out to see Jesus for themselves. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their area.

Footnotes

  1. 8:13 A Roman military officer in charge of about 100 foot soldiers
  2. 8:17 Isaiah 53:4

Jesús sana a un leproso(A)

Cuando Jesús bajó de la montaña, lo siguieron grandes multitudes. Un hombre que tenía lepra se le acercó y se arrodilló delante de él.

―Señor, si quieres, puedes limpiarme —le dijo.

Jesús extendió la mano y tocó al hombre.

―Sí quiero —le dijo—. ¡Queda limpio!

Y al instante quedó sano[a] de la lepra.

―Mira, no se lo digas a nadie —le dijo Jesús—; solo ve, preséntate al sacerdote y lleva la ofrenda que ordenó Moisés, para que les sirva de testimonio.

La fe del centurión(B)

Al entrar Jesús en Capernaún, se le acercó un centurión pidiendo ayuda.

―Señor, mi siervo está postrado en casa con parálisis y sufre terriblemente.

―Iré a sanarlo —respondió Jesús.

―Señor, no merezco que entres bajo mi techo. Pero basta con que digas una sola palabra, y mi siervo quedará sano. Porque yo mismo soy un hombre sujeto a órdenes superiores, y además tengo soldados bajo mi autoridad. Le digo a uno: “Ve”, y va, y al otro: “Ven”, y viene. Le digo a mi siervo: “Haz esto”, y lo hace.

10 Al oír esto, Jesús se asombró y dijo a quienes lo seguían:

―Os aseguro que no he encontrado en Israel a nadie que tenga tanta fe. 11 Os digo que muchos vendrán del oriente y del occidente, y participarán en el banquete con Abraham, Isaac y Jacob en el reino de los cielos. 12 Pero a los súbditos del reino se les echará afuera, a la oscuridad, donde habrá llanto y rechinar de dientes.

13 Luego Jesús le dijo al centurión:

―¡Ve! Todo se hará tal como creíste.

Y en esa misma hora aquel siervo quedó sano.

Jesús sana a muchos enfermos(C)

14 Cuando Jesús entró en casa de Pedro, vio a la suegra de este en cama, con fiebre. 15 Le tocó la mano y la fiebre se le fue; y ella se levantó y comenzó a servirle.

16 Al atardecer, le llevaron muchos endemoniados, y con una sola palabra expulsó a los espíritus, y sanó a todos los enfermos. 17 Esto sucedió para que se cumpliera lo dicho por el profeta Isaías:

«Él cargó con nuestras enfermedades
    y soportó nuestros dolores».[b]

Lo que cuesta seguir a Jesús(D)

18 Cuando Jesús vio a la multitud que lo rodeaba, dio orden de pasar al otro lado del lago. 19 Se le acercó un maestro de la ley y le dijo:

―Maestro, te seguiré a dondequiera que vayas.

20 ―Las zorras tienen madrigueras y las aves tienen nidos —le respondió Jesús—, pero el Hijo del hombre no tiene dónde recostar la cabeza.

21 Otro discípulo le pidió:

―Señor, primero déjame ir a enterrar a mi padre.

22 ―Sígueme —le replicó Jesús—, y deja que los muertos entierren a sus muertos.

Jesús calma la tormenta(E)

23 Luego subió a la barca y sus discípulos lo siguieron. 24 De repente, se levantó en el lago una tormenta tan fuerte que las olas inundaban la barca. Pero Jesús estaba dormido. 25 Los discípulos fueron a despertarlo.

―¡Señor —dijeron—, sálvanos, que nos vamos a ahogar!

26 ―Hombres de poca fe —les contestó—, ¿por qué tenéis tanto miedo?

Entonces se levantó y reprendió a los vientos y a las olas, y todo quedó completamente tranquilo.

27 Los discípulos no salían de su asombro, y decían: «¿Qué clase de hombre es este, que hasta los vientos y las olas le obedecen?»

Liberación de dos endemoniados(F)

28 Cuando Jesús llegó al otro lado, a la región de los gadarenos,[c] dos endemoniados le salieron al encuentro de entre los sepulcros. Eran tan violentos que nadie se atrevía a pasar por aquel camino. 29 De pronto le gritaron:

―¿Por qué te entrometes, Hijo de Dios? ¿Has venido aquí a atormentarnos antes del tiempo señalado?

30 A cierta distancia de ellos estaba paciendo una gran piara de cerdos. 31 Los demonios le rogaron a Jesús:

―Si nos expulsas, mándanos a la piara de cerdos.

32 ―Id —les dijo.

Así que salieron de los hombres y entraron en los cerdos, y toda la piara se precipitó al lago por el despeñadero y murió en el agua. 33 Los que cuidaban los cerdos salieron corriendo al pueblo y dieron aviso de todo, incluso de lo que les había sucedido a los endemoniados. 34 Entonces todos los del pueblo fueron al encuentro de Jesús. Y, cuando lo vieron, le suplicaron que se alejara de esa región.

Footnotes

  1. 8:3 sano. Lit. limpio.
  2. 8:17 Is 53:4
  3. 8:28 gadarenos. Var. gergesenos; otra var. gerasenos.

El reino en hechos y palabras (8,1—16,20)

Curación de un leproso (Mc 1,40-45; Lc 5,12-16)

Al bajar Jesús del monte, lo seguía mucha gente. En esto se le acercó un leproso, que se postró ante él y le dijo:

— Señor, si quieres, puedes limpiarme de mi enfermedad.

Jesús extendió la mano y lo tocó, diciendo:

— Quiero. Queda limpio.

Y al instante el leproso quedó limpio. Jesús le advirtió:

— Mira, no se lo cuentes a nadie; vete a mostrarte al sacerdote y presenta la ofrenda prescrita por Moisés. Así todos tendrán evidencia de tu curación.

Jesús sana al asistente de un oficial romano (Lc 7,1-12; Jn 4,46-54)

Cuando Jesús entró en Carfarnaún, se acercó a él un oficial del ejército romano suplicándole:

— Señor, tengo a mi asistente en casa paralítico y está sufriendo dolores terribles.

Jesús le dijo:

— Yo iré y lo curaré.

Pero el oficial le respondió:

— Señor, yo no soy digno de que entres en mi casa. Pero una sola palabra tuya bastará para que sane mi asistente. Porque yo también estoy sujeto a mis superiores, y a la vez tengo soldados a mis órdenes. Si a uno de ellos le digo: “Vete”, va; y si le digo a otro: “Ven”, viene; y si a mi asistente le digo: “Haz esto”, lo hace.

10 Jesús se quedó admirado al oír esto. Y dijo a los que lo seguían:

— Les aseguro que no he encontrado en Israel a nadie con una fe tan grande como esta. 11 Y Les advierto que vendrán muchos de oriente y occidente y se sentarán a la mesa con Abrahán, Isaac y Jacob en el reino de los cielos. 12 En cambio, los que primero fueron llamados al Reino serán arrojados afuera, a la oscuridad. Allí llorarán y les rechinarán los dientes. 13 Luego dijo Jesús al oficial:

— Vete a tu casa y que se haga como creíste.

En aquel mismo momento, el asistente quedó curado.

Curación de la suegra de Pedro (Mc 1,29-31; Lc 4,38-39)

14 Al llegar Jesús a casa de Pedro, encontró a la suegra de este en cama, con fiebre. 15 Jesús le tocó la mano y se le desapareció la fiebre. Y ella se levantó y se puso a atenderlo.

Otras curaciones (Mc 1,32-34; Lc 4,40-41)

16 Al anochecer, presentaron a Jesús muchas personas que estaban poseídas por demonios. Él, con solo una palabra, expulsó a los espíritus malignos y curó a todos los enfermos. 17 De este modo se cumplió lo dicho por medio del profeta Isaías: Tomó sobre sí nuestras debilidades y cargó con nuestras enfermedades.

Seguir a Jesús (Lc 9,57-62)

18 Viendo Jesús que lo rodeaba una gran multitud, mandó que lo llevaran a la otra orilla del lago. 19 Allí se le acercó un maestro de la ley, que le dijo:

— Maestro, estoy dispuesto a seguirte adondequiera que vayas.

20 Jesús le contestó:

— Las zorras tienen guaridas y los pájaros nidos, pero el Hijo del hombre ni siquiera tiene dónde recostar la cabeza.

21 Otro que ya era discípulo suyo le dijo:

— Señor, permíteme que vaya primero a enterrar a mi padre.

22 Jesús le contestó:

— Sígueme y deja que los muertos entierren a sus muertos.

Jesús apacigua una tempestad (Mc 4,35-41; Lc 8,22-25)

23 Subió Jesús a una barca acompañado de sus discípulos, 24 cuando de pronto se levantó en el lago una tempestad tan violenta que las olas cubrían la barca. Pero Jesús se había quedado dormido. 25 Los discípulos se acercaron a él y lo despertaron, diciendo:

— ¡Señor, sálvanos! ¡Estamos a punto de perecer!

26 Jesús les dijo:

— ¿A qué viene ese miedo? ¿Por qué es tan débil su fe?

Entonces se levantó, increpó a los vientos y al lago y todo quedó en calma. 27 Y los discípulos se preguntaban asombrados:

— ¿Quién es este, que hasta los vientos y el lago le obedecen?

Los endemoniados de Gadara (Mc 5,1-20; Lc 8,26-39)

28 Cuando Jesús llegó a la otra orilla del lago, a la región de Gadara, salieron a su encuentro dos hombres procedentes del cementerio. Ambos estaban poseídos por demonios, y eran tan temidos por su violencia que nadie se atrevía a pasar por aquel camino. 29 Se pusieron a gritar:

— ¡Déjanos en paz, Hijo de Dios! ¿Has venido acá para atormentarnos antes de tiempo?

30 A cierta distancia de allí estaba paciendo una gran piara de cerdos. 31 Y los demonios le suplicaron a Jesús:

— Si nos echas afuera, envíanos a esa piara de cerdos.

32 Jesús les dijo:

— Vayan allá.

Los demonios salieron y se metieron en los cerdos y, de pronto, la piara se lanzó pendiente abajo hasta el lago, donde los cerdos se ahogaron.

33 Los que cuidaban los cerdos salieron huyendo y, al llegar al pueblo, contaron todo lo que había pasado con aquellos hombres poseídos por los demonios. 34 Entonces la gente del pueblo fue al encuentro de Jesús y, al verlo, le rogó que se marchara de su comarca.

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy(A)

When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy[a](B) came and knelt before him(C) and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone.(D) But go, show yourself to the priest(E) and offer the gift Moses commanded,(F) as a testimony to them.”

The Faith of the Centurion(G)

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed,(H) suffering terribly.”

Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.(I) For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.(J) 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west,(K) and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.(L) 12 But the subjects of the kingdom(M) will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”(N)

13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.”(O) And his servant was healed at that moment.

Jesus Heals Many(P)

14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.(Q) 17 This was to fulfill(R) what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

“He took up our infirmities
    and bore our diseases.”[b](S)

The Cost of Following Jesus(T)

18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.(U) 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man(V) has no place to lay his head.”

21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me,(W) and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Jesus Calms the Storm(X)(Y)

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

26 He replied, “You of little faith,(Z) why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.(AA)

27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men(AB)

28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes,[c] two demon-possessed(AC) men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us,(AD) Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”(AE)

30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.(AF)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 8:2 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  2. Matthew 8:17 Isaiah 53:4 (see Septuagint)
  3. Matthew 8:28 Some manuscripts Gergesenes; other manuscripts Gerasenes

When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

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

18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.

33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.

34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.