Harmony of the gospels
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HARMONISATION There are no apparent problems with a direct harmonisation of these accounts HARMONY JESUS TEACHES IN THE SYNAGOGUE AT CAPERNAUM They came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee and straightway on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes his word was with power. THE DEMON POSSESSED MAN And there was in their synagogue a man which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. JESUS CASTS OUT THE DEMONS And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him and when the unclean spirit had torn him and had thrown him in the midst, he cried with a loud voice, came out of him, and hurt him not. They were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? What a word is this! For with authority and power commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him and come out. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. 41 CURE OF PETER'S WIFE'S MOTHER MATTHEW 8:14-15 14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. 15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. KEY WORDS
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS 14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. 15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. The miracle was direct and complete. Peter’s mother in law who had been very sick was so completely restored to health by our Lord as to be able to immediately minister to them. The mention of “Peter’s wife’s mother” proves that Peter either then was or had been married. The fair and obvious interpretation is, that his wife was then living. The fact that he was married is stated in 1 Corinthians 9:5 which states Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?” Peter is claimed erroneously by the Roman Catholics to be the head of the church and the vicegerent of Christ. The Pope, according to their view, is the successor of this apostle. If this is the case on what basis do they maintain that it is wrong for “priests” to marry? Why did not Christ at once reject Peter from being an apostle for having a wife? How remarkable that he should be set up as the head of the church, and an example and a model to all who were to succeed him! But all this is human law, and is contrary to the New Testament. See 1 Timothy 3:2, 4-5 That Peter had a wife was no objection to his being an apostle, and marriage has been expressly declared to be “honourable in all,” Hebrews 13:4. Peter had his wife's mother with him in his family, which is an example to be kind to our relations. Peter’s mother in law was lying sick of a fever. There are two participles which describe this, she was bedridden (perfect passive of ballo) and burning with fever (present active of puresso). How long the fever had had her we have no means of knowing, possibly a sudden and severe attack as they tell Jesus about her on reaching the house of Peter. We are not told what kind of fever it was. Sometimes he healed by a word, as the centurion's servant; and sometimes by a touch, as here; and sometimes by both, as the leper. Those who recover from fevers, commonly are weak and feeble some time after; but to show that this cure was above the power of nature, the woman was at once so well as to go about the business of the house. MARK 1:29-31 29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. KEY WORDS
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS 29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. 31 he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. Here we see that after curing the demon possessed person at the synagogue they went to the house of Simon and Andrew. Peter was married and both he and Andrew lived together in “Peter’s house” with Peter’s wife and mother-in-law. Peter was evidently married before he began to follow Jesus. Each Gospel gives touches of its own to the story. Mark has “lay sick of a fever “, lay prostrate burning with fever. Matthew puts it “stretched out with a fever.” While Luke states that she was “taken with a great fever”, a technical medical phrase. They all mention the instant recovery and ministry without any convalescence. Mark and Matthew speak of the touch of Jesus on her hand and Luke speaks of Jesus standing over her like a doctor. Jesus had demonstrated his power over demons now he shows his power to immediately cure diseases. LUKE 4:38-39 38 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. 39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. KEY WORDS
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS 38 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. 39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. The word arose in verse 38 could relate to the teacher’s seat occupied by the teacher during synagogue meetings or to the fact that he left the synagogue. “And they besought him for her” either his disciples Peter, Andrew, James, and John, who were all present, or the other relations and friends of the sick person, which were in the house; who having heard of his casting out the unclean spirit in the synagogue, believed that he had power to heal this disease; therefore pleaded that Jesus would come and restore her health. The phrase “stood over her” used here in Luke indicates the attitude of a doctor attending a patient. Again we see the fever leaving her immediately, her strength restored and her using the gift of ministry to the Lord and his disciples. APPLICATION We should remember that “with God nothing is impossible” but miracles of healing and the like are the prerogative of God. In the sixth chapter of the Revelation God allows further martyrdom by believers in the Tribulation even though those who have already been martyred are asking Him in heaven to deal with the regime which is doing this. The Lord says that they are to rest awhile until the proper time for action according to His plan. [Revelation 6:9-11] Healing miracles were used in the Bible to accredit men of God. Paul was able to heal early in his ministry but was not able to heal Epaphroditus by his own gift but he was healed by the Lord. Different believers in the body of Christ have different spiritual gifts which they can use for the benefit of the Church. Each of the gifts is a serving gift and all are important. Some of the early church gifts do not exist today. DOCTRINES MIRACLES: HEALING AND MIRACLES 1. The healing ministry of Jesus was not primarily to relieve suffering but to show Himself to the Jews as the Messiah. 2. Jesus Christ's major thrust in his ministry was healing from sin rather than physical healing, as healing from sin has eternal results whilst physical healing has temporal results only. 3. Examples of healing by Jesus Christ a) The Leper (Matthew 8:1 -4) The Jew was suffering from an incurable disease - leprosy. It was totally hopeless to expect a cure under normal conditions at that time in history. The cured leper was told to go to the priests, the Levitical priest of those days who had been given by God two chapters in the Old Testament for such cases. Uncleanliness (Leviticus 13), Cleanliness (Leviticus 14). It was unknown to use (Leviticus 14), its use with the cure of the leper should have alerted the Levitical priests that the Messiah was on earth.
The Centurion was a Gentile believer who had great faith, showing he was a mature believer. His servant was suffering from the palsy (paralysis or polio). The Centurion showed great faith by knowing that he did not need Jesus Christ to enter his house to heal his servant. Using the Centurion's faith, Jesus Christ challenges the Jewish onlookers to trust him also. c) Paralytic Healed (Matthew 9:1-8) A Jewish believer who lacked assurance of his sins forgiven. His friends, the stretcher bearers, who brought him to Jesus had great faith in the Lord. Jesus cured him to give the paralytic confidence in his sins being forgiven. d) Peter's Mother-in-Law (Matthew 8:14-17) Jesus cured her so that she could serve the Lord and help sustain Him. 4. There are many examples and means used by God for healing. a) By direct contact. (Matthew 8:3, 15; Mark 6:5)- b) In response to the faith of friends. (Mark 2:5) c) In response to prayer. (James 5:15, 16) d) Through doctors. (Colossians 4:14) and medicines - Figs for boils (2 Kings 20:7), Wine for ulcers (1 Timothy 5:23)
a) Elisha (2 Kings 13:14) b) Paul (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) c) Epaphroditus (Philippians 2-26, 27) d) Timothy (1 Timothy 5:23) e) Principle of the sick saint (2 Corinthians 12:9) 6. Sickness is permitted for a number of reasons. a) To bring us back to God's Word. (Psalm 119:6 7) b) To make God's Word manifest. (John 9:1-3) c) To glorify Jesus Christ. (John 11:4) d) So that we can comfort others. (2 Corinthians 1:4) e) To prepare us for future glory. (2 Corinthians 4:17) f) To return us to fellowship. (Hebrews 12:5-10) g) To make, us more fruitful. (John 15:2; Hebrews 12:1) 7. Miraculous healing does occur from time to time. God is able to heal anyone at any time but the Bible shows that it is not normally His purpose to do so. Satan can counterfeit divine healing through divine healers. HARMONY HEALING OF PETER’S MOTHER IN LAW Forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a great fever, and anon they tell him of her and besought him for her. He stood over her and took her by the hand, and lifted her up and rebuked the fever; and immediately the fever left her, and she arose and ministered unto them. 42 CURE OF MANY ON THE SAME EVENING MATTHEW 8:16-17 16 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: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. KEY WORDS
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS 16. 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: 17. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. The miracles which Jesus did were made well known and as a result many of those who had friends that were afflicted brought them to Him. All that were brought to him he healed. This was proof of two things: first, of his great love and concern for the people and, secondly, of his divine mission. He might have established the latter by miracles that would do no good. None of his miracles were performed, however, merely to make a display of power but to show that He was the Messiah. What is here recorded occurred on the evening of the Sabbath. The Jews kept the Sabbath from evening to evening. On the Sabbath they would not even bring their sick to be healed as seen in Luke 13:14 “ And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”; but as soon as it was closed, on the evening of the same day, they came in multitudes to be cured. Verse 17 is often used by faith healers to show that healing is in the atonement, and that therefore physical healing is something the believer can claim by faith. However here the Spirit of God applies the prophecy to our Lord’s earthly healing ministry and not to his work on the Cross. |