Matthew 8 4

Matthew 8:4 kjv

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

Matthew 8:4 nkjv

And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

Matthew 8:4 niv

Then Jesus said to him, "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

Matthew 8:4 esv

And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them."

Matthew 8:4 nlt

Then Jesus said to him, "Don't tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed."

Matthew 8 verses

Matthew 8 4 Meaning

Following the miraculous healing of a leper, Jesus issues a twofold command. Firstly, He instructs the newly cleansed man not to widely publicize the miracle. Secondly, He directs the man to promptly go to the Jewish priest and perform the ritual cleansing sacrifice prescribed by the Mosaic Law. This act would not only confirm his physical and ritual purity but also serve as a profound "testimony" or witness to the priests regarding the divine power demonstrated through Jesus and His respect for God's established Law.

Matthew 8 4 Context

Matthew chapter 8 immediately follows the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus demonstrated His authority through teaching. Chapter 8 then pivots to show His authority through action, particularly through performing miracles. The healing of the leper (Matt 8:1-3) is the first of these demonstrations, powerfully establishing Jesus' authority over disease, especially a condition like leprosy which rendered individuals ritually unclean and socially ostracized. This command in verse 4 builds on that miracle, underscoring Jesus' nuanced approach to the Mosaic Law. In the historical and cultural context of 1st-century Judea, priests held the sole authority to declare someone clean from leprosy after observing the prescribed rituals (Lev 14). This reintegrated the individual into society and temple worship. Jesus, by commanding the leper to undergo this process, publicly affirmed His respect for God's Law and its appointed institutions, even as He exercised power that far exceeded that institution's capacity to heal.

Matthew 8 4 Word analysis

• Then Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one,"

  • "See that" (Ὅρα - Hora): An imperative verb meaning "look," "behold," but in this context, it functions as a strong cautionary injunction: "be careful to it," or "make sure." It implies strict instruction to be followed precisely.
  • "you tell no one" (μηδενὶ εἴπῃς - mēdeni eipēs): A strong negative command prohibiting the spreading of news about the miracle. This reflects a common theme in the Gospels, particularly Mark, often referred to as the "Messianic Secret." Jesus may have enforced silence to:
    • Control the flow of information about His identity and mission, ensuring it was understood spiritually rather than politically.
    • Prevent premature public declaration of His Messiahship, which could incite zealot-like revolutionary movements.
    • Focus on the truth and implications of His actions (e.g., fulfilling the Law, the nature of His divine authority), rather than generating mere popular acclaim.
    • Allow the official confirmation by the priest to serve as a testimony rather than just a personal story.

• "but go,"

  • "but" (ἀλλὰ - alla): A strong adversative conjunction, emphasizing a stark contrast or alternative to the previous prohibition. It's not about speaking, but about acting.
  • "go" (ὕπαγε - hypage): An immediate, urgent command. "Depart," "be off." It emphasizes direct and immediate compliance.

• "show yourself to the priest,"

  • "show yourself" (σεαυτὸν δεῖξον - seauton deixon): An aorist imperative meaning "to make manifest," "to exhibit." The leper was to physically present himself to the official arbiter of ritual purity.
  • "the priest" (τῷ ἱερεῖ - tō hierei): Referring to the Jewish priests whose role, established in Leviticus, was to examine a person afflicted with leprosy, declare them unclean, and then later, if healed, to examine them again and declare them clean, initiating their reintegration into society and religious life. Jesus' command respects the established legal and religious procedures.

• "and offer the gift that Moses commanded,"

  • "offer the gift" (προσένεγκε τὸ δῶρον - prosenenke to dōron): "Bring near" or "present the gift/offering." This refers specifically to the cleansing sacrifice prescribed in Lev 14:1-32, which involved particular birds, lambs, flour, oil, and cedarwood, hyssop, and scarlet yarn. It was an essential part of the process for the healed leper to be legally and ritually restored.
  • "that Moses commanded" (ὃ προσέταξεν Μωϋσῆς - ho prosetaxen Mōysēs): Explicitly links Jesus' instruction to the authority of the Torah. This highlights Jesus' fulfillment of the Law, reinforcing His statement in Matt 5:17-18. It also counters any potential accusation that Jesus disregards the Law of Moses.

• "for your cleansing as a testimony to them."

  • "for your cleansing" (εἰς καθαρισμὸν ὑμῖν - eis katharismon hymin): The purpose (εἰς) of the action: the ceremonial purification that would follow the priest's declaration and the offering. This confirms not just physical healing, but ritual purity allowing re-entry into society and temple worship.
  • "as a testimony" (εἰς μαρτύριον - eis martyrion): This is a crucial phrase. The word means "evidence," "proof," or "witness." It describes the intended outcome and purpose of the entire interaction.
  • "to them" (αὐτοῖς - autois): Refers primarily to the priests, and by extension, the entire religious system or community they represent.
    • This testimony could be interpreted in several ways:
      • Confirmation of the miracle: The priests, by following the prescribed procedure, would have to acknowledge the man was truly healed – a divine act.
      • Confirmation of Jesus' authority: The healing, verified by the priest through the Law, stands as evidence of Jesus' authority, showing He operated within and above the Law.
      • Prophetic witness: It points to Jesus as the one who fulfills the Law and its requirements for purification, acting as a direct sign from God.
      • Implicit judgment: If the priests failed to recognize the significance of such an evident divine healing, it would serve as a "testimony" against their hardness of heart or inability to recognize God's work.

Matthew 8 4 Bonus section

The cleansing of a leper by divine touch, as seen in Matt 8:3, directly overturns the societal and religious exclusion imposed by leprosy, making Jesus not only a healer but also a restorer of dignity and communion. His ability to touch the unclean and make them clean rather than becoming unclean himself speaks to His inherent purity and divine nature, highlighting a core aspect of the gospel – that He entered human defilement to bring purity and wholeness. This particular cleansing was exceptionally rare, a sign historically linked to messianic expectations, underscoring the weight of the "testimony" Jesus was compelling the priests to receive.

Matthew 8 4 Commentary

In Matthew 8:4, Jesus performs a profound act of compassion by healing the leper, but His instructions following the healing are equally profound. The command to silence ("tell no one") likely serves multiple purposes: to manage crowd reactions, avoid premature political interpretations of His Messiahship, and allow His divine works to be understood in the context of His ultimate purpose rather than immediate fanfare. Crucially, Jesus' command to go to the priest and offer the commanded sacrifice demonstrates His respect for the Mosaic Law. Far from abolishing the Law, Jesus shows His intention to fulfill it, including its ceremonial aspects that govern purification and restoration to community. The formal, priestly confirmation was essential for the man's full reintegration into society and temple life, signifying both physical and ritual cleanliness. This entire process, authenticated by the religious authorities themselves, would serve as an undeniable "testimony" to them – evidence of Jesus' miraculous power and divine identity, affirming that a true work of God, in full accordance with the Law, had been accomplished.