2/11/21
Gibbs, Jeffrey A. “Matthew 8:14-17: Jesus Heals Peter's Mother-in-Law and Fulfills Isaiah 53:4." Matthew 1:1-11:1. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006, pp. 421-428.
When Jesus heals the sick in Matthew 8:16-17, Gibbs observes that Matthew provides a very literal translation of Isaiah 53:4. Matthew seems to be making a clear statement of Jesus' ability to take away not only sickness, but also guilt and sin (Gibbs 2006, 422). Gibbs finds that this is done not only in Matthew's Gospel, but also in 1 Peter 2:24, when it is made clear that Jesus takes away our guilt (Gibbs 2006, 423).
Jesus' authority in Matthew 8:14-17 is seen as coming from his words. Gibbs sees the touch of Jesus as a typical accompaniment to his word, but that the word has the pre-eminent rule.
Gibbs finds the reference to demon possession in Matthew 8:16 as an important concept. It has indicated to some that Isaiah 53 shows the Messiah as cleansing from sin, but that Matthew fails to see that. Others have decided that the Messiah is specifically a healer of leprosy, but that he might not be literally taking the illness onto himself. Jesus' touch seems to cure, rather than to spread, the illness (Gibbs 2006, 425). The teaching and healing works of Jesus are inextricably bound to one another (Gibbs 2006, 426).
Gibbs finds the good news of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection to be "the end and goal of Matthew's narrative" (Gibbs 2006, 427). Matthew sees healing and forgiveness as an essential part of the eschatological mission of Christ, showing what his goal is.