Matthew 8:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Because the multitude of believers was now very great, they would not depart from Christ, though time pressed; but in the evening they bring unto Him the sick. When it was evening, they brought unto him many that had dœmons.

To address any skepticism regarding His ability to heal numerous ailments in a brief period, the evangelist refers to Isaiah as a witness. While it is indeed the case that the prophet speaks of sins, Matthew utilizes his message in relation to illnesses, as many of these afflictions stem from sinful actions.

The words, Now when it was evening, shew that the evening of the same day is meant. This would not have been implied, had it been only when it was evening.

It should be noted, that all the sick were healed not in the morning nor at noon, but rather about sunset; as a corn of wheat dies in the ground that it may bring forth much fruit.

Matthew uses figurative language to describe physical ailments and illnesses, whereas Isaiah characterizes sins as similar to diseases and infirmities that Christ is described as having carried and endured, akin to an offering. In a sense, an animal sacrifice for sin absorbs the transgressions of all, sustains them, frees the people from their burdens, and ultimately suffers death for their sake. The gospel writer has adeptly utilized this prophetic imagery. Numerous bodily afflictions and disorders arise from sins, as will be demonstrated, and there is no hindrance in referring to them as sins as well.

And by the passion of His body, according to the words of the Prophet, He absorbed all the infirmities of human weakness.

Took them not that He should have them Himself, but that He should take them away from us; and bare our sicknesses, in that what we were too weak to bear. He should bear for us.

Christ the Son of God, the Author of human salvation, the fount and source of all goodness, furnished heavenly medicine, He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all that were sick. Dæmons and diseases He sent away with a word, that by these signs, and mighty works, He might shew that He was come for the salvation of the human race.

Why are the words of Isaiah regarding Him who was exalted on the cross included in the evangelist's narrative of the healings? The truth is that His agony served as a remedy for humanity, as the Lord endured immense suffering in order to bestow blessings upon those who dishonored Him, preparing through His own death a path to life for mankind and triumphing over adversaries.

The Evangelists cannot detail each miraculous healing individually, as they are overwhelmed by a vast array of miracles. St. Matthew, who authored his Gospel for the Hebrew believers, aimed to dispel any doubts regarding the incredible magnitude and diversity of these wonders. To support his account, he references the prophecy of Isaiah: "SURELY HE HAS BORNE OUR GRIEFS AND CARRIED OUR SORROWS" (Isaiah 53:4). St. John Chrysostom elaborates that the prophet did not merely indicate deliverance, but rather indicated that Christ took on and bore our afflictions. This phrasing emphasizes the link between bodily ailments and the spiritual consequences of sin, as sin is fundamentally at the root of death, the ultimate source of sickness.

In the evening of that same day, following the conclusion of the Sabbath, a large crowd gathered at the entrance of Simon's house, bringing those who were ill, having heard about the happenings in the synagogue. Those who had been in darkness for a long time or those who had doubted they would survive until evening were now seeking compassion from Jesus. Among the crowd were individuals suffering from various ailments, as well as those afflicted by unclean spirits. The compassionate Lord stepped out to meet them, moving from one afflicted person to another, laying His hands upon each, granting them healing, and instructing only those who were possessed to refrain from declaring Him as the Messiah, just as it had been previously. Truly, His blessings were abundantly bestowed upon all, unhindered by the malice and disbelief of humanity, demonstrating an unfathomable wellspring of love!

The accounts of all three gospel writers indicate that during the evening of that same day, individuals who were ill from throughout the city were brought to Jesus, who laid His hands upon them and healed them. This event took place on the Sabbath, leading the Jewish leaders to view the act of bringing the sick to Christ as a violation of the Sabbath law. Consequently, they waited for sunset, which marked the beginning of the following day. Matthew understands this multitude of healings by Christ as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy regarding the suffering of the Messiah on behalf of humanity's transgressions (Isaiah 53:4).

In his Gospel, the Evangelist Matthew illustrates that Jesus is the Messiah foretold by the prophets. He highlights the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy during the healing of the sick at Simon's house, stating, ‘He took our infirmities upon Himself and bore our diseases’ (Isaiah 53:4). According to Bishop Michael's explanation, to take infirmities means to eliminate them from the afflicted, effectively eradicating them, which the Lord accomplished through His miraculous works. Likewise, to bear sicknesses signifies to alleviate and eradicate the sufferings of the soul, as the term translated as sicknesses specifically refers to ailments or spiritual torments.

The expulsion of demons and acts of miraculous healing foretold in ancient times by God through the prophet Isaiah can be found in the 53rd chapter of his writings (Isaiah 53:4). In this passage, Isaiah illustrates, as if he were an eyewitness, the sacrificial sufferings of the Messiah for humanity. In His death, the Messiah assumed the transgressions of all people and, as a result of those sins, bore all human ailments and afflictions, meeting the demands of God’s justice on behalf of mankind. The evangelist interprets the prophetic words to reveal that the Messiah, Jesus, through His healing of the sick, lifted their diseases and infirmities as if they were His own burdens. The term translated as 'infirmities' in Isaiah denotes physical illnesses.

Regarding the miraculous healings carried out by Jesus Christ in Capernaum, the sacred Gospel writer Matthew refers to the ancient prophecy of Isaiah. This prophecy foretells the humble condition and suffering of the Messiah, declaring: He will bear our infirmities and diseases (Is. 53:4; Mt. 8:17).