Matthew 马太福音 8:1-15 — Jesus’ Authority over Sickness 耶稣战胜疾病的权柄

The Gospel of Matthew is about the King and His kingdom. It starts with Matthew showing us the genealogy of the King from David, the worship of the King by the magi, the commission of the King by the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the manifesto of the King in the Sermon of the Mount. Here, from chapter 8 – 9, Matthew shows us the proof of Jesus’ messiah-ship. There are a total nine miracles presented in three groups of three miracles each. The first three miracles are Jesus’ healing of the sick and the outcasts and it concludes with Isaiah’s prophecy, “This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took our illnesses and bore our diseases’ (Matt 8:17). The healings are clear proof of Jesus’ messiah-ship.

《马太福音》的主题就是君王主耶稣和祂的国度。一开始,马太就告诉我们主耶稣的王室家谱、东方三博士予以君王的敬拜、君王受圣灵的恩膏以及君王在登山宝训中的宣言。现在,马太将在第8至9章阐明耶稣是弥赛亚的凭据。他以三个奇迹列为一组,共呈现了九个神迹。第一组展示了主耶稣医治病患与遭到社会遗弃的人,并以《以赛亚书》的预言总结说:“这是要应验先知以赛亚的话说:祂代替我们的软弱,担当我们的疾病”(太8:17)。这些医治是要证明耶稣就是弥赛亚。

 

  1. The Healing of the leper 麻风病的医治 (8:1-4)

Leprosy was a disease most feared in the ancient world. It was deadly and incurable yet Jesus cured the leper instantly. The Messiah’s authority is beyond doubt.

古时,麻风病是最致命、最可怕的不治之症,但耶稣只要一句话就治好了那患麻风病的。耶稣为弥赛亚的身份是毋庸置疑的。

 

  1. The Healing of the Gentile 外邦人的医治 (8:5-13)

The centurion was not only a Gentile but a Roman soldier, hated by the Jews. Yet Jesus healed his servant from afar. The Messiah’s mercy knows no ethnic boundaries.

百夫长不仅是一个外邦人,也是个被犹太人痛恨的罗马士兵。然而,耶稣从远处就能医治好他的仆人。耶稣的怜悯不但超越空间,也超越了种族的界限。

 

  1. The Healing of the Woman 妇女的医治 (8:14-15)

Jesus not only showed mercy to an outcast leper and a Gentile, but also compassion to a woman. The Messiah’s mercy is for all without exception.

耶稣不仅怜悯一个遭到社会遗弃的麻风病人和被犹太人看不起的外邦人,祂也体恤女人。耶稣的怜悯是赐予每一个人的。

 
 
 
 

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

 

  1. The author of Matthew takes special effort to paint the picture of a King. Do you see Jesus as King? Do you submit to Him as King?

《马太福音》的作者细心地勾画出耶稣为君的形象来。你是否亦视耶稣为王而顺服祂?

 

  1. Chapters 8-9 of Matthew show the authority of Jesus over sickness (the first set of 3 miracles), over nature (second set of 3 miracles) and over the supernatural (last set of 3 miracles). The aim is to prove to us that Jesus is the Anointed Saviour. What will your response to the Saviour be?

《马太福音》第8至9章显示了耶稣战胜疾病(第一组奇迹)、耶稣战胜自然(第二组奇迹)及耶稣战胜超自然的权柄(第三组奇迹)。这是为要向我们证明耶稣基督就是那位受膏的救世主。你又有怎样的回应呢?

 

  1. The first three miracles Jesus performed were on the outcasts and people despised by the society. What are your actions toward them? Consider if you’re as unreserved as Jesus was.

在第一组的奇迹中,耶稣怜悯了那些遭到社会遗弃和鄙视的人。你是如何对待这些人的?试想想呢是否与耶稣一样,毫无保留地爱他们。