Matthew 8:15 kjv
And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
Matthew 8:15 nkjv
So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.
Matthew 8:15 niv
He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
Matthew 8:15 esv
He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.
Matthew 8:15 nlt
But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.
Matthew 8 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mark 1:30-31 | ...Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever... He came and took her by the hand... immediately the fever left her... she ministered to them. | Parallel account of immediate healing and service. |
| Luke 4:38-39 | ...Peter’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever... He rebuked the fever, and it left her... immediately she got up and began to wait on them. | Parallel account, emphasizing Jesus' authority over sickness. |
| Mat 8:1-3 | And behold, a leper came to him and knelt... And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. | Healing by touch; immediate and complete cleansing. |
| Mat 9:20-22 | Just then a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage... touched the fringe of his garment... And instantly the woman was made well. | Immediate healing through contact and faith. |
| Mat 14:14 | When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. | Jesus' healing motivated by compassion. |
| Mat 20:34 | Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. And immediately they received their sight... | Direct touch, immediate sight restored, compassion. |
| Exo 15:26 | "...for I am the LORD, your healer." | God's character as the divine Healer. |
| Psa 103:3 | who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, | God as the source of forgiveness and healing. |
| Isa 53:4 | Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; | Prophecy fulfilled in Jesus' healings (quoted in Mat 8:17). |
| Deut 28:22 | The LORD will strike you with consumption and with fever and inflammation... | Fever as a severe, debilitating ailment or judgment. |
| Lev 26:16 | ...I will appoint over you a sudden terror, consumption, and fever that waste the eyes and cause the heart to ache. | Fever mentioned as a consequence of disobedience. |
| Mat 20:26-28 | ...whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve... | Christ's example of humble service (διακονία). |
| Phil 2:7 | but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. | Christ's incarnation as an act of service. |
| Rom 12:7 | ...if service, in his serving... | Spiritual gift of διακονία (service/ministry). |
| Heb 6:10 | For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints... | God recognizes and remembers service to His people. |
| John 13:12-15 | If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. | Example of humble service in the Kingdom. |
| Luke 8:3 | and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their own means. | Women ministering (διηκόνουν) to Jesus and disciples. |
| Mat 25:40 | ...‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ | Service to others as service to Christ. |
| Acts 9:18-19 | And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. | Immediate restoration and new activity following spiritual healing. |
| Col 3:23-24 | Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance... | Service as working for the Lord. |
Matthew 8 verses
Matthew 8 15 Meaning
Matthew 8:15 describes Jesus' immediate and complete healing of Peter's mother-in-law. With a simple touch, He restores her from a severe fever, enabling her to instantly regain her strength and respond by serving Him and His disciples. This verse showcases Jesus' direct compassionate power over sickness and the resultant grateful service from those He transforms.
Matthew 8 15 Context
Matthew chapter 8 immediately follows Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, demonstrating His authority not only in teaching but also in miraculous deeds. The healing of Peter's mother-in-law is nestled between the cleansing of a leper and the healing of the Centurion's servant, illustrating Jesus' power over various diseases and His compassion extending beyond Jewish communities to Gentiles. After these healings, Jesus continues with many other healings and exorcisms (Mat 8:16), leading Matthew to connect these acts to the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:4 (Mat 8:17). The setting is Capernaum, Jesus' adopted hometown and a hub for His ministry, likely within the very house that became central to His activities, which implies a welcoming and believing household. In ancient Jewish culture, a severe fever was debilitating, potentially seen as a sign of divine displeasure or even demonic influence, and it would render a person unclean if associated with certain conditions. Jesus' direct touch would have challenged typical purity laws, highlighting His superior authority.
Matthew 8 15 Word analysis
- And he touched her hand:
καὶ ἥψατο τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῆς(kai hēpsato tēs cheiros autēs)ἥψατο(hēpsato - touched): Fromἅπτομαι(haptomai), an aorist middle/passive verb, implying a deliberate, effective touch that causes change. Unlike merely feeling, this suggests active contact with power. It contrasts with healing at a distance (Centurion's servant) or a word alone. This physical touch indicates Christ's compassion and willingness to engage directly with the sick, transcending potential social or ritual purity barriers of the time associated with touching the diseased.- Significance: It highlights the tangible nature of Christ's healing power, accessible even through simple contact.
- and the fever left her:
καὶ ἀφῆκεν αὐτὴν ὁ πυρετός(kai aphēken autēn ho pyretos)ἀφῆκεν(aphēken - left/released): Fromἀφίημι(aphiemi), also an aorist verb, meaning to send away, release, or let go. It conveys a complete and sudden departure of the illness. The fever is personified, implying it was under an external authority or entity that now let go of her, emphasizing Jesus' dominion over disease.πυρετός(pyretos - fever): A serious and often life-threatening condition in the ancient world with limited medical remedies. The departure signifies not merely a reduction in symptoms but total cessation of the illness.- Significance: The immediate and absolute nature of the healing is crucial, signifying Jesus' divine power to command sickness rather than simply alleviating symptoms.
- and she rose:
καὶ ἠγέρθη(kai ēgérthē)ἠγέρθη(ēgérthē - she rose/was raised): Fromἐγείρω(egeiro), an aorist passive verb. It denotes an immediate restoration of full strength and vitality. She was not just free from fever, but had enough energy to get up and be active, indicating a complete and miraculous recovery, not a slow convalescence. The same word is used for resurrection.- Significance: This demonstrates complete restoration beyond merely ceasing the symptom, enabling physical capability.
- and ministered unto them:
καὶ διηκόνει αὐτοῖς(kai diēkonei autois)διηκόνει(diēkonei - ministered/served): Fromδιακονέω(diakoneo), an imperfect tense verb, suggesting immediate and ongoing service. It means to wait on tables, attend to needs, or generally serve. This was a common role for women in households. Her action shows gratitude, humility, and full physical capacity.αὐτοῖς(autois - them): Referring to Jesus and His disciples, Peter, Andrew, James, and John.- Significance: Her immediate act of service is a powerful testimony. Healing, in this biblical instance, immediately led to
diakonia, active service to Christ and His followers, symbolizing a life redeemed and repurposed for God's glory and the benefit of others. It illustrates that spiritual and physical blessings are often intended to enable greater devotion and service in the Kingdom.
Matthew 8 15 Bonus section
- The immediate healing, followed by active service, suggests that authentic transformation (physical or spiritual) is often characterized by newfound energy directed towards God's purposes.
- This private miracle, taking place within a home, underscores Jesus' personal care and willingness to extend His power in intimate settings, not just in public displays.
- The incident reveals Peter’s established marital status, which is not uncommon among the apostles in the Early Church.
- By touching her, Jesus knowingly or unknowingly passed over some purity laws regarding contact with the sick, further demonstrating His authority and transcendence over conventional legalism when compassion and healing were involved.
Matthew 8 15 Commentary
Matthew 8:15 vividly illustrates Christ's supreme authority over sickness and death. Through a simple, direct touch, Jesus instantaneously removed a debilitating fever from Peter's mother-in-law. This act contrasts sharply with common ancient medical practices or magical rites; Jesus operates through sheer divine power, not external means. The healing was not gradual but immediate and complete, as evidenced by her immediate ability to "rise" and engage in strenuous activity. Her immediate response of "ministering to them" is profoundly significant. It showcases her gratitude and newly restored strength channeled directly into service for her Lord. This exemplifies the biblical principle that spiritual and physical renewal are often given for the purpose of serving God and others, turning an object of compassion into an agent of ministry. It portrays true discipleship as a joyful and active response to Christ's grace, embracing service rather than self-interest.