And when evening was come, they brought to him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word: and all that were sick he healed:
οψιας δε γενομενης προσηνεγκαν αυτω δαιμονιζομενους πολλους και εξεβαλεν τα πνευματα λογω και παντας τους κακως εχοντας εθεραπευσεν
12 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Observe the multitude of individuals who ultimately came to faith. Despite the pressing hour, they were unwilling to leave, and they did not find it inappropriate to bring their ill loved ones even as evening approached. Take note of the great number of those who experienced healing, a detail that the evangelists overlook. They do not recount every individual miracle, but rather summarize the vast expanse of wonders with a single phrase.
During the evening, at an inopportune hour, those afflicted were brought to Him, and He, as a true embodiment of humanity, healed each one of them.
Why were they not brought forth during the daylight hours? This may have been due to fear of the scribes and Pharisees, a sense of shame regarding their ailments, similar to Nicodemus’s experience, or perhaps because the afflicted lacked anyone to guide them to Jesus in the daytime.
Matthew continues to recount that when evening arrived, numerous individuals afflicted by demons were brought to Him, and with a mere command, He expelled the unclean spirits and healed all the infirm, fulfilling the prophecy spoken through Isaiah, which proclaimed, “He took our infirmities upon Himself and bore our diseases.” The evangelist clearly indicates that these events took place on the same day Peter's mother-in-law was healed. Similarly, Mark highlights this by stating that after the healing, she began to serve them. However, as evening approached and the sun set, they brought all the sick and demon-possessed to Him, causing the entire city to gather at the door.
He healed many suffering from various ailments, casting out numerous demons and instructing them not to reveal that He was the Christ. The following morning, He rose early and withdrew to a solitary place. While it's not essential to interpret "when evening came" as referring to the same day or "early in the morning" as pertaining to the same night, it is reasonable to observe a continuity in the sequence of events presented.
Luke, on the other hand, after recounting the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, does not specify "when evening came," but instead conveys a similar idea: "At sunset, all who were sick with various diseases were brought to Him," and He laid His hands on each one and healed them. Additionally, many demons came out, proclaiming, “You are the Christ, the Son of God.” He, however, rebuked them, instructing them not to disclose that He was the Christ. When day broke, He departed the house and went to a deserted area. In this narrative, we observe a consistent progression of events as seen in Mark's account. Matthew, in contrast, appears to focus not on what occurred, but rather on what was excluded; he mentions Peter's mother-in-law’s healing only after detailing the events of the evening, and does not include the account of the early morning, instead narrating, "When Jesus saw the multitude around Him, He instructed (the disciples) to go to the other side." This signifies a shift, diverging from Mark and Luke, who transition from evening to dawn, indicating a reference to events on a different day.
Everyone is restored, not in the early hours of the day or at midday, but as the day draws to a close, just when the sun begins to descend. This is akin to the grain of wheat that must perish in the soil to yield a bountiful harvest.
At the conclusion of the day, as noted by Mark (Mark 1:32) and Luke (Luke 4:40), both authors highlighted the setting sun to clarify the timing. The crowds, having awaited the end of the Sabbath, brought forth their afflicted ones. Prior to sunset, the disciples requested that He heal the one who was confined by fever, recalling instances where Christ had healed without regard for the Sabbath. They understood the implications of what the Sabbath law permitted and prohibited according to Christ’s teachings. It is also important to note the various methods He employed to heal: by reaching out His hand, as with Peter's mother-in-law; by simply speaking, as in the case of the centurion’s servant and the demoniacs; and sometimes through a combination of both, as with the leper.
This demonstrates His divine authority. The infirmities and diseases referred to here encompass the concept of guilt associated with such afflictions. By liberating those burdened with illness and suffering, He took upon Himself their afflictions, suffering, and death. Consequently, after enduring immense trials during His salvific Passion, He succumbed to death.
The followers of Christ were already aware of the actions prescribed by the law regarding the observance of the Sabbath from dusk until evening, and thus in Simon's abode, they discreetly requested the Lord to heal the ailing woman. However, the general populace still clung to the Pharisaical interpretation of Sabbath rest, believing it to be sinful to bring the afflicted to the Healer on that holy day. Consequently, it was only after sunset, when it was indeed twilight, as St. Matthew notes—meaning that the hours of Sabbath observance had concluded, allowing for the cooler evening to be more suitable for transporting the sick through the city streets—that the entire community of Capernaum began to stir.
Both the well and the unwell quickly made their way to the entrance of the home where Christ resided. The ailing were brought forth, afflicted by various illnesses, including many who were possessed by unclean spirits. The compassionate Lord stepped outside to meet the suffering, effortlessly casting out demons with a command. Moving from one individual to another, He looked upon each with immeasurable love and compassion, offering words of solace and encouragement. With His divine touch, He healed them all.
On that same day, as the Sabbath observance came to a close, a crowd gathered at the entrance of Simon's residence, bringing with them the afflicted after hearing about what transpired in the synagogue. Some may have been individuals who had long been deprived of sunlight, while others had scarcely believed they would live to witness the evening. They awaited the compassion of Jesus. Among the gathering were those suffering from common ailments as well as individuals tormented by demonic spirits. The compassionate Lord stepped outside to meet them, moving from one person to the next, placing His hands upon each to grant healing. He instructed only the demon-possessed not to reveal His identity as the Messiah, just as He had done previously. How abundantly He poured out His blessings upon all, unhindered by the malice and disbelief of humanity! In that moment, His love seemed boundless.
In the evening of the same day, as recounted by all three Gospel writers, individuals afflicted by various ailments from across the city were brought to Jesus, who placed His hands upon them and restored their health. This day fell on the Sabbath, leading the Jewish leaders to view the act of bringing the sick to Jesus as a violation of the Sabbath, thus they waited for the sunset, marking the beginning of the next day. In this remarkable instance of healings, Matthew interprets these miracles as the fulfillment of the prophecy from Isaiah regarding the Messiah's suffering for humanity's transgressions (Isaiah 53:4).
The expulsion of the unclean spirit from the man possessed in the synagogue, followed by the miraculous healing of Simon's mother-in-law, made a profound impact on everyone who witnessed these events. The news spread rapidly throughout Capernaum, prompting the entire town to gather at Simon’s home as evening approached. Although it was the Sabbath and despite the eager desire of those with sick loved ones to seek help from the Miracle Worker during His time in their city, no one dared to approach Him until the sun had set, marking the conclusion of the Sabbath. However, preparations were made in anticipation, and as dusk fell, they carried forth all who were afflicted with various illnesses to Him simultaneously. The crowd was vast, as the entire city assembled at the entrance (Mark 1:33) of Simon's house. Jesus reached out to every sick individual, laying His hands upon them, and miraculously healed them all.
The accounts of Jesus Christ's miracles attracted a large crowd to Him, and in the evening, numerous individuals suffering from various ailments were brought to Him. He healed them with merely a word, demonstrating His profound compassion and divine authority. - ‘The demon-possessed’: see note on Matthew 4:24.
The report of the extraordinary event in the synagogue spread rapidly throughout the city. As the sun dipped below the horizon and the hours of the Sabbath drew to a close, the Pharisees’ erroneous teachings held that acts of kindness, including healing the ill, were forbidden (Matthew 12:10; Mark 3:2; Luke 6:7; 13:14; John 6:1; 5:10). Soon, Capernaum was abuzz with activity; both the healthy and the ailing rushed to the residence where Christ was present. They brought those suffering from various afflictions and those possessed by demons, all united by the same hopeful desire for relief and restoration. The Lord stepped outside to meet the gathered multitude, placing His hands upon them as a manifestation of God's healing power (Luke 13:13).
The sick were healed immediately, and demons departed from those they troubled, exclaiming, "You are the Christ, the Son of God." However, He instructed them not to declare Him as the Messiah, concerned that a revelation of this saving truth from unclean mouths might be misinterpreted by the people.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 18 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS