Matthew – Chapter 8

New Testament34 Verses

1And when he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him:

2And behold a leper came and adored him, saying: Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

3And Jesus stretching forth his hand, touched him, saying: I will, be thou made clean. And forthwith his leprosy was cleansed.

4And Jesus saith to him: See thou tell no man: but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

5And when he had entered into Capharnaum, there came to him a centurion, beseeching him,

6And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, and is grievously tormented.

7And Jesus saith to him: I will come and heal him.

8And the centurion, making answer, said: Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed.

9For I also am a man subject to authority, having under me soldiers; and I say to this, Go, and he goeth, and to another Come, and he cometh, and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

10And Jesus hearing this, marvelled; and said to them that followed him. Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israel.

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

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

13And Jesus said to the centurion: Go, and as thou hast believed, so be it done to thee. And the servant was healed at the same hour.

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

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

16And when evening was come, they brought to him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word: and all that were sick he healed:

17That it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet Isaias, saying: He took our infirmities, and bore our diseases.

18And Jesus seeing great multitudes about him, gave orders to pass over the water.

19And a certain scribe came and said to him: Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou shalt go.

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

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

22But Jesus said to him: Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.

23And when he entered into the boat, his disciples followed him:

24And behold a great tempest arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves, but he was asleep.

25And they came to him, and awaked him, saying: Lord, save us, we perish.

26And Jesus saith to them: Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith? Then rising up, he commanded the winds, and the sea, and there came a great calm.

27But the men wondered, saying: What manner of man is this, for the winds and the sea obey him?

28And when he was come on the other side of the water, into the country of the Gerasens, there met him two that were possessed with devils, coming out of the sepulchres, exceeding fierce, so that none could pass by that way.

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

30And there was, not far from them, a herd of many swine feeding.

31And the devils besought him, saying: If thou cast us out hence, send us into the herd of swine.

32And he said to them: Go. But they going out went into the swine, and behold the whole herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea: and they perished in the waters.

33And they that kept them fled: and coming into the city, told every thing, and concerning them that had been possessed by the devils.

34And behold the whole city went out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart from their coast.

Reflection for Today

The message of Matthew Chapter 8 unfolds within the broader narrative of Jesus as the fulfillment of Jewish hopes. Catholic theology, drawing on Matthew shows Christ as the new Moses and true Israel (CIC 577), sees in this chapter a call to deeper faith. The principle that All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me guides our interpretation.

The Church Fathers, including St. Augustine, St. Jerome, and St. John Chrysostom, devoted themselves to explaining Scripture for the faithful. Their insights, preserved in the Church's Tradition, continue to illuminate our reading. The Catechism reminds us that "the Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures as she venerated the Body of the Lord" (CIC 103).

As you engage with this chapter, bring your questions, struggles, and hopes to the text. God's Word addresses the whole person—mind, heart, and will. Through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, we receive the grace to live what we read. May this chapter strengthen your faith and deepen your love for Christ and His Church.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

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