Harmony of the Gospels
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Capernaum
(6) Peter’s Mother in Law Healed, Plus Others
(Isaiah 53:4) Matthew 8:14-17, Mark 1:24-34, Luke 4:38-41
Jesus' healing of Peter's mother-in-law is found in three of the gospels; only John omitted telling the story, but according to Mark 1:29 (see below), he was there.
Matthew
And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. (Matthew 8:14-15)
Peter was married and he was living in Capernaum. There are those who claim that Peter never married, but these verses prove that he did. Evidentially, he took Jesus home for dinner, but when they got there, his mother-in-law was sick with a fever. Jesus touched her and she was healed at that instant, because she got right up and cooked diner.
When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick. (Matthew 8:16)
The word that is translated “devils” should be demons, because there is only one devil, but there are many demons.
Notice, that Matthew says that they brought many to Him. The Gospel records give us only a very few of the times where people were healed, but we continually read where many were healed. I believe that Jesus healed thousands, who were walking around as testimony to His ability to heal. That is why His enemies never questioned whether or not He could do miracles. They only asked Him how He had done them or they accused Him of getting His power from Satan.
This verse is a reference to Isaiah 53:4-5, “Surely he hath born our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” This is one of the passages that modern faith healers use to sanction what they do, but I disagree, and I will tell you why. What do these verses say that we are healed of? It clearly states that we are healed of our transgressions and iniquities, and these are just two other words for sin. Peter confirms this in 1 Peter 2:24, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye are healed.”
Jesus atoned for our sins on the cross. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) It was our sins that was laid on Him, not our sickness and disease. There is no basis to contend that healing is part of the Atonement. Let me ask some questions that will illustrate this. Have you received your glorified body yet? Has the new earth, with the curse removed, arrived yet? We will have a new body and there will be a new earth and both are due to His death to atone for our sins, but this is not the time for them. Satan as a roaring lion, and sin, still dominate this world, so there is no release from sickness, because of the Atonement. Why did Paul urge Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach, instead of telling him to seek relief in the Atonement? Or why didn’t James claim healing in the Atonement, instead of telling the saints to call in the elders to pray? (See [1]James 5:13-15). Why did Paul retain his thorn in the flesh rather than seek healing in the Atonement? “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelation, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my affirmatives, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)
It is not always God’s will to heal, but it may be His will to heal. Take your need for healing to the Great Physician and find out if it is His will to heal you. Don’t waste your time going to an auditorium to see a faith healer. I believe in divine healing, but whether or not we get healed, let’s give God the glory.
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[1](James 5:13-15; NKJV) "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."
And the prayer of faith; shall save the sick—That is, God will often make these the means of a sick man's recovery; but there often are cases where faith and prayer are both ineffectual, because God sees it will be prejudicial to the patient's salvation to be restored; and therefore all faith and prayer on such occasions should be exerted on this ground: "If it be most for thy glory, and the eternal good of this man's soul, let him be restored; if otherwise, Lord, pardon, purify him, and take him to thy glory."
The Lord shall raise him up—Not the elders, how faithfully and fervently soever they have prayed.
And if he have committed sins—So as to have occasioned his present malady, they shall be forgiven him; for being the cause of the affliction it is natural to conclude that, if the effect be to cease, the cause must be removed. We find that in the miraculous restoration to health, under the powerful hand of Christ, the sin of the party is generally said to be forgiven, and this also before the miracle was wrought on the body: hence there was a maxim among the Jews, and it seems to be founded in common sense and reason, that God never restores a man miraculously to health till he has pardoned his sins; because it would be incongruous for God to exert his miraculous power in saving a body, the soul of which was in a state of condemnation to eternal death, because of the crimes it had committed against its Maker and Judge. Here then it is GOD that remits the sin, not in reference to the unction, but in reference to the cure of the body, which he is miraculously to effect.
—Adam Clarke's Commentary
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-Mark-
And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon will tell him of her. And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them, And at even, when the sun set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils (demons). And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils (demons); and suffered not the devils (demons) to speak, because they knew him. (Mark 1:28-34)
Mark does the same thing Matthew did; pointing out that Jesus healed thousands of people. We are given only a few isolated incidents of His healing. His power over disease and demons got men’s attention and built His reputation. The healings also showed His compassion and brought glory to God.
It is interesting to note that demons recognized Him, and they believed in Him, but they were not saved. God does not have a plan to redeem Satan and his demons.
-Luke-
And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. (Luke 4:38-39)
Peter’s mother-in-law had a “great fever", so her condition must have been serious. Jesus rebuked the fever and she immediately arose and ministered unto them. Every time Jesus healed, there were instantaneous results. They did not get better over time. The Lord dealt with sin in the same manner.
Do you believe in divine healing? I do. I believe that all healing is from God. A surgeon may take out the offending part, but God does the healing, and a medical doctor may give you the proper pill, but God does the healing.
Now when the sun was setting, all they that had sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them. And devils also came out of many, Crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. (Luke 4:40-41)
Jesus moved among the people healing them one-by-one. He healed them in a wonderful way, by touching them. He bore their sickness and disease in a sympathetic way, despite the fact that Israel esteemed Him stricken (wouded or affected by disease or troubles.). He did not heal these people on the basis of their faith, as far as we know. He healed them from a heart of compassion, which moved Him, on their behalf. We are told to have such a heart today, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)