_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 8:2. AND BEHOLD, etc.—The time of this miracle seems too definitely fixed here to admit of our placing it where it stands in Mark and Luke, in whose Gospels no such precise note of time is given (_Brown_). LEPER.—Confining ourselves to the Biblical form of the disease, we n... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 8:5. A CENTURION.—_I.e_. a captain or commander of a century—a company normally composed of a hundred men, the sixtieth part of a legion in the Roman army. This centurion was probably an officer in the army of Herod Antipas, which would be modelled after the Roman fashion ... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 8:16. WHEN THE EVEN WAS COME.—Or, as St. Luke has it, “while the sun was setting.” There were two reasons why the time should be thus specified. 1. It was natural that the sick should be brought in the cool of the evening, rather than in the scorching heat of the afternoon... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 8:18. TO DEPART.—Thus Jesus sought repose, and gave to the people time to bear fruit from His teaching, and kindled their interest in Himself for the future (_Bengel_). Matthew 8:20. NESTS = shelter, roosts, or lodging places (R.V. margin). THE SON OF MAN.—The origin of thi... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Matthew 8:23_ Dormant power.—In the first verses of this passage the resolution of Matthew 8:18 is executed in part. The disciples—apparently with some reluctance—enter a ship. They “follow” Jesus into the “boat” (R. V.). The “boat” which He had possibly spoken of... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 8:28. GERGESENES.—The readings vary between Gerasenes, Gadarenes, and Gergesenes (_Carr_). Modern research claims to have ascertained the exact locality of the transaction. The ruins right opposite the plain of Gennesaret, from which they had sailed, bear still the name of K... [ Continue Reading ]