Christ was a house-to-house missionary, as well as an open-air preacher. There is much good to be done by those who know how to visit, and to look after individual cases;
1:30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell Him of her.
There were at least four of Christ’s followers in the house, yet the mother of the wife of one of them lay sick of a fever. Grace does not prevent suffering in the body; there will still be physical diseases even though in the soul there is spiritual health.
1:30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell Him of her.
There were at least four of Christ’s followers in the house, yet the mother of the wife of one of them lay sick of a fever. Grace does not prevent suffering in the body; there will still be physical diseases even though in the soul there is spiritual health.
He cured his mother-in-law, who was sick. Wherever Christ comes, He comes to do good, and will be sure to pay richly for His entertainment.
Observe, How complete the cure was; when the fever left her, it did not, as usual, leave her weak, but the same hand that healed her, strengthened her.
1:32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto Him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
It was the Sabbath, and they would not even bring out their sick folk until the day of rest was over. The Jewish Sabbath ended at the setting of the sun, so these people were all watching and waiting until the sun dipped below the horizon, and then, straightaway, they brought their suffering ones to Jesus. What a mass of misery filled the streets of Capernaum that memorable night! The whole city was turned into a hospital.
1:33 And all the city was gathered together at the door.
Q: Oh, when shall we see our places of worship thronged in this fashion with the spiritually sick?
1:34 And He healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew Him.
They would persist in acknowledging Him; perhaps with the design of injuring his cause, for nothing hurts the cause of Christ more than to have it praised by bad men or evil spirits.
1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
In the morning a great while before day - By πρωΐ, the morning, is to be understood the whole space of three hours, which finished the fourth watch of the night.
He departed into a solitary place, either out of town, or some remote garden or out-building. Though He was in no danger of distraction, or of temptation to vain-glory, yet He retired, to set us an example to His own rule, When thou prayest enter into thy closet. Secret prayer must be made secretly.
1:32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto Him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
It was the Sabbath, and they would not even bring out their sick folk until the day of rest was over. The Jewish Sabbath ended at the setting of the sun, so these people were all watching and waiting until the sun dipped below the horizon, and then, straightaway, they brought their suffering ones to Jesus. What a mass of misery filled the streets of Capernaum that memorable night! The whole city was turned into a hospital.
1:33 And all the city was gathered together at the door.
Q: Oh, when shall we see our places of worship thronged in this fashion with the spiritually sick?
1:34 And He healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew Him.
They would persist in acknowledging Him; perhaps with the design of injuring his cause, for nothing hurts the cause of Christ more than to have it praised by bad men or evil spirits.
1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
In the morning a great while before day - By πρωΐ, the morning, is to be understood the whole space of three hours, which finished the fourth watch of the night.
He departed into a solitary place, either out of town, or some remote garden or out-building. Though He was in no danger of distraction, or of temptation to vain-glory, yet He retired, to set us an example to His own rule, When thou prayest enter into thy closet. Secret prayer must be made secretly.
1:36 And Simon and they that were with Him followed after Him.
And Simon - followed after him - Κατεδιωξαν, followed him eagerly.
1:37 And when they had found Him, they said unto Him, All men seek for Thee.
All men seek for Thee - Some to hear; some to be healed; some to be saved; and some, perhaps, through no good motive.
1:38 And He said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
The next towns - Κωμοπολεις properly signifies such towns as resembled cities for magnitude and number of inhabitants, but which were not walled as were cities.
1:39 And He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.
Even the inhabitants of the villages in Israel shall rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, Judges 5:11.
1:40 And there came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.
How to apply ourselves to Christ; come as this leper did,
(1.) With great humility; this leper came beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him.
(2.) With a firm belief of His power; Thou canst make me clean.
(3.) With submission to the will of Christ; Lord, if Thou wilt.
1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto Him, I will; be thou clean.
(1.) Christ was moved with compassion.1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto Him, I will; be thou clean.
(2.) He put forth His hand, and touched him. He exerted His power, and directed it to this creature.
(3.) He said, I will, be thou clean. Christ's power was put forth in and by a word, to signify in what way Christ would ordinarily work spiritual cures;
He sends His word and heals.
1:42 And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
All that dryness of the skin, that scurf, that peeling, that inward foulness that eats into the bones, and pollutes the very current of the blood — all this was quite gone, the Lord Jesus Christ made this foul, unclean leper perfectly clean and whole in a single moment.
1:43 And He straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
What to do when we have received mercy from Christ. We must with His favors receive His commands. When Christ had cured him, He strictly charged him; the word here is very significant, embrimeµsamenos—graviter interminatus—prohibiting with threats.
1:44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
He must not proclaim it, because that would much increase the crowd that followed Christ, which He thought was too great already; not as if He were unwilling to do good to all, to as many as came; but He would do it with as little noise as might be, would have no offence given to the government, no disturbance of the public peace, not any thing done that looked like ostentation, or an affecting of popular applause.
1:45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to Him from every quarter.
Began to publish it much - Began to publish πολλα, many things; 1:44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
He must not proclaim it, because that would much increase the crowd that followed Christ, which He thought was too great already; not as if He were unwilling to do good to all, to as many as came; but He would do it with as little noise as might be, would have no offence given to the government, no disturbance of the public peace, not any thing done that looked like ostentation, or an affecting of popular applause.
1:45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to Him from every quarter.
This man blazed abroad the news of his cure, so that “Jesus could no more openly enter into the city,”
Jesus could no more openly enter into the city - A city of Galilee, probably Chorazin or Bethsaida, in which He did not appear, for fear of exciting the jealousy of the secular government, or the envy and malice of the Jewish rulers.
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