Matthew 8:3

And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. AND JESUS (or 'He,' according to another reading) - "moved with compassion," says Mark (Mark 1:41); a precious addition, PUT FORTH HIS HAND, AND TOUCHED HIM. Such a touch occasioned ceremonial defilement (Leviticus 5:3); even as the leper's coming near enough for contact was against the Levitical regulations (Leviticus 13:46). But as the man's faith told him there would be no case for such regulations if the cure he hoped to experience should be accomplished, so He who had healing in His wings transcended all such statutes....

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 his arm to us, but descended from heaven even to hell, and yet contracted no stain from it, but, retaining his innocence, took away all our impurities, and sprinkled us with his holiness. By his word alone he might have healed the _leper; _but he applied, at the same time, the touch of his hand, to express the feeling of compassion. Nor ought this to excite our wonder, since he

2-4 In these verses we have an account of Christ's cleansing a leper, who came and worshipped him, as one clothed with Divine power. This cleansing directs us, not only to apply to Christ, who has power over bodily diseases, for the cure of them, but it also teaches us in what manner to apply to him. When we cannot be sure of God's will, we may be sure of his wisdom and mercy. No guilt is so great, but there is that in Christ's blood which atones for it; no corruption so strong, but there is that in his grace which can subdue it. To be made clean we must commend ourselves to his pity; we cannot demand it as a debt, but we must humbly request it as a favour. Those who by faith apply to Christ for mercy and grace, may be sure that he is freely willing to give them the mercy and grace they thus seek. And those afflictions are blessed that bring us to know Christ, and cause us to seek help...

Verse Matthew 8:3. _JESUS PUT FORTH HIS HAND - I WILL; BE THOU CLEAN._] The most sovereign authority is assumed in this speech of our blessed Lord-I WILL: there is here no supplication of any power _superior_ to his own; and the event proved to the fullest conviction, and by the clearest demonstration, that his authority was absolute, and his power unlimited. _Be thou cleansed_, καθαρισθητι; a single word is enough. _AND IMMEDIATELY HIS LEPROSY WAS CLEANSED._] What an astonishing sight! A man whose whole body was covered over with the most loathsome disease, cleansed from it in a moment of time! Was it possible for any soul to resist the _evidence_ of this fact? This action of Christ is a representation of that _invisible hand_ which makes itself _felt_ by the most _insensible heart_; of that _internal_ _word_ which

AND JESUS ...TOUCHED HIM - It was an offence to the Jews to “touch” a leprous person, and was regarded as making him who did it ceremonially impure, Leviticus 13:3. The act of putting forth his hand and “touching” him, therefore, expressed the intention of Jesus to cure him, and was a pledge that he “was,” in fact, already cured....

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 8:1 MESSIAH'S WORK AS COMPLEMENTARY TO HIS TEACHING. We return in this section to matter which resembles that of Mark and Luke, and undoubtedly belongs to the Framework (_vide _Introduction). St. Matthew has given a lengthy summary of the teaching of the Christ, and he now supplements it by a summary of his daily work. He is not concerned with the chronological connexion of the incidents here narrated, for this is evidently to him a matter of but secondary importance. He only desires to bring out different aspects of the Lord's life. Thus he notices— 1. Christ's miracles of healing, and the secret of his ability to perform them (verses 1-17). 2. The personal t

AND JESUS PUT FORTH HIS HAND, AND TOUCHED HIM,.... This is a wonderful instance both of the grace, and goodness of Christ, in touching this loathsome creature; and of his unspotted purity and holiness, which could not be defiled by it; and of his mighty power in healing by a touch, and with a word of his mouth, SAYING, I WILL, BE THOU CLEAN: in which he expresses at once his willingness, "I will", of which the leper before was not certain; and his power by a word of command, "be thou clean"; and in which also is shown the readiness of Christ to do it: he did not stand parleying with the man, or making any further trial of his faith, or objecting to him his uncleanness; but at once stretches out his hand, touches his filthy flesh, and commands off the disorder. A great encouragement this, for poor sensible sinners to betake themselves to Christ, under a sense of their guilt and filth; wh...

Matthew 8:1. _When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him._ There was a charm about his preaching, not that he modified his doctrine, or that he cut down his precepts; he spoke very plainly, very searchingly, and yet the people came to hear him. There is a something in the conscience of man that makes him turn away from that which flatters him, and makes him hear, almost against his liking, that which searches him. Matthew 8:2. _And, behold,_ Never mind about the crowd; fix your eye on the one man; behold, etc. here is a mark of attention. Matthew 8:2. _There came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean._...

6. THE KING MANIFESTED BY SIGNS OF DIVINE POWER. Chapter s 8-9. CHAPTER 8 1. The Healing of the Leper. (Matthew 8:1 .) 2. The Healing of the Centurion's Servant. (Matthew 8:5 .) 3. The Healing of Peter's Wife's Mother.(Matthew 8:14 .) 4. The Healing of All. (Matthew 8:16 .) 5. The Self-seeking Scribe and the Test of True Discipleship.(Matthew 8:18 .) 6. His Power over Nature. (Matthew 8:23 .) 7. His Power over the Demons. ...

THE HEALING OF A LEPER (Mark 1:40 *, Luke 5:12). Mt. omits the healing of the demoniac (Mark 1:23), and gives this incident perhaps in illustration of Christ's attitude to the Law. Love is greater than Law, therefore Jesus touches the polluted man; yet the Law should be observed, and the man must go to the priest and witness that Jesus was not hostile to it. Apart from the connecting link in Matthew 8:1, Mt. abbreviates. Note especially the omission of Jesus being moved with compassion, and of the patient's disobedience (Mark 1:45). The multitudes of...