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2025 Study of Matthew’s Gospel #7

JESUS TOOK UP OUR INFIRMITIES

Matthew 8:1-17

Key Verse 8:17

1. In what ways did the physical, social, and spiritual impact of leprosy in Jesus’ time reflect the nature of sin in human life (Lev. 13:45-46)? What does the request of the man with leprosy reveal about his understanding of Jesus (1-2)? In what ways did Jesus show His love and mercy when He healed the man with leprosy (3-4)?
2. What does the centurion’s compassion for his paralyzed servant reveal about his character and his relationship with others (5-6)? How might his background, status, and responsibilities have influenced his faith in Jesus (7-9)?
3. What kind of faith does Jesus value (10)? What vision of God’s kingdom does Jesus present through the centurion’s faith (11-12)? Reflect on how Jesus healed the centurion’s servant according to his faith (13).
4. What does it suggest that Jesus visited Peter’s house and healed his mother-in-law (14-15)? How was Jesus’ messianic mission revealed through His healing ministry (16-17, Lk 4:18-19)?

2025 Matthew’s Gospel May 25, 2025

JESUS TOOK UP OUR INFIRMITIES

Matthew 8:1-17

Key Verse 8:17

This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”

Last Friday, M. Joseph Han was hospitalized after completing the first round of chemotherapy. When I visited him, I was saddened to see that his condition was not good. Also, M. Andrew Choi underwent an ICD implantation procedure. We must earnestly pray for the recovery of both M. Joseph Han and M. Andrew Choi. Today’s message is about Jesus’ healing ministry. It includes three stories.

The first story is about a man with leprosy. Look at verse 2: “A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’” Do you know what kind of disease leprosy is? Currently in the U.S., only about 150 to 250 cases of leprosy are reported each year, mostly among people who have traveled abroad. And nowadays, it can be completely cured by taking antibiotics for about six months to two years. But in Jesus’ time, leprosy was a very common, deadly, and terrifying disease. Leprosy is known as Hansen’s disease. It is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium called Mycobacterium leprae. People with leprosy usually start with mild skin symptoms, but as the disease progresses, they may lose sensation in their nerves and experience muscle weakness. In severe cases, the nose may collapse, vision can be lost, and even fingers may fall off.

​​In the Bible, leprosy referred to a broad range of skin diseases. In Leviticus chapter 13, we see the process for diagnosing defiling skin diseases. But do you know who made the diagnosis? Interestingly, it wasn’t a doctor—it was the priest. If you came to me with a high fever and a headache, I could pray for you. And by God’s grace, you might be healed through prayer. But I wouldn’t be able to diagnose your illness. That’s what doctors are for. So what does it mean that the priest diagnosed defiling skin diseases? It shows that in that society, diseases like leprosy were seen not just as personal health issues, but also as social and spiritual issues. Those diagnosed with defiling skin diseases had to leave their families and live outside the camp. They had to wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face, and cry out, “Unclean! Unclean!” In other words, they were cut off from society and treated as sinners under God’s judgment. Because of this, they suffered from a deep sense of guilt. They were also judged and condemned by others. Leprosy, in its nature, was similar to sin.

First, leprosy distorts the image of humanity in us. The nose may collapse, the eyes may shut, and the fingers and toes may disappear. The beautiful image of humanity that God created is lost. It’s the same with sin. God created human beings in His image and in His likeness. God is holy. God is love. God is just. God is full of grace and mercy. We were made to reflect God’s character. But because of sin, we lost the image of God. Because of lust, we have lost the holiness of God. Because of hatred, we fight with our brothers, even to the point of killing them. Because of greed, we lie and deceive others.

Second, leprosy breaks relationships. Those who had leprosy had to leave their families and live outside the village. They were not allowed to worship at the temple. In the same way, sin breaks our relationships with God and with others. People who live in sin do not want to come near to God. They avoid others and remain in darkness.

Third, leprosy eventually leads to death. At that time, being healed from leprosy was considered a miracle. Most people with leprosy died in misery. The wages of sin is death. Sin leads us to face God’s eternal judgment.

The man with leprosy in this passage was in a very serious condition. In Luke 5:12, he is described as being “covered with leprosy.” Luke, being a doctor, gave a more detailed description of his physical state. This man was in a hopeless situation, with no chance of recovering from leprosy. But he had heard about Jesus. He came to believe that Jesus could heal him. So he came to Jesus and knelt before Him. This shows that he received Jesus as Lord and worshiped Him. In fact, it would have been very difficult for him to approach Jesus. Jesus was always surrounded by crowds. According to the law, he wasn’t allowed to come near others. Breaking that law could have led to being stoned to death. He also had to overcome the fear that Jesus might reject him because he was a sinner.

But despite all these difficulties, he overcame them and came to Jesus in faith. “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” He came to Jesus with humility. He didn’t say, “You should make me clean.” Instead, he entrusted his life to the will of Jesus. It’s as if he was saying, “If you are willing, you can make me clean. But even if you are not, I will still accept your will.” When we come to Jesus, we should come humbly and ask for help. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” At the same time, we must have confidence in Jesus’ power to save and heal. The man with leprosy had that confidence. That’s why he said, “You can make me clean.” Do you believe that Jesus is the almighty God who can solve all your problems? If so, come to Him humbly and in faith, and ask: “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

How did Jesus respond to him? Look at verse 3: “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.” According to the law, anyone who touched a man with leprosy became unclean. That’s why no one ever touched him. People didn’t even go near him—they drove him away the moment they saw him. Because of this, the man with leprosy was always rejected by others. Have you ever been rejected by people? Have you ever experienced the pain of being excluded, judged, or bullied by others? The man with leprosy lived with a deeply wounded heart from being rejected over and over again. But suddenly, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. Can you imagine how shocked he must have been? At the same time, he felt his wounded heart begin to heal. Tears may have flowed from his eyes as he felt the loving touch of Jesus’ hand. Jesus touched him to heal not only his body but also his heart. Jesus knows our wounded hearts. I pray that the healing touch of Jesus will come upon all of us.

And Jesus spoke to him clearly: “I am willing.” What a hopeful word this is! Jesus wants to heal us. Jesus wants to cleanse us from our sins. Jesus wants us to recover the holy image of God. Jesus desires that we be fully restored in God. Jesus says to us, “I am willing. Be clean!” The healing and saving work of Jesus happens immediately. The man with leprosy was immediately cleansed of his disease. Jesus also said to him, “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” Jesus helped him be restored back into society.

When we look at Jesus’ healing ministry in this passage, we can see that it is holistic. Jesus brought not only physical healing, but also healing of wounded hearts, restoration of social relationships, and restoration of the relationship with God. We call this holistic restoration. God desires to restore us completely—every part of who we are. Do you want to experience the holistic restoration of our Lord Jesus Christ? If so, come to Jesus with a sincere heart and ask: “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

The second story is about the centurion. This, too, is part of Jesus’ healing ministry. But in this story, the centurion’s faith is highlighted. Do you know who a centurion was? He was an officer in the Roman army who commanded a unit of 100 soldiers. He was a Gentile. Yet he came to Jesus, asking for help: “Lord, my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” He wasn’t asking for himself or even for a family member—he was asking for his servant. In Jesus’ time, servants were treated like property. If a servant got sick and became useless, many masters would just leave them to die. This centurion’s servant was paralyzed and no longer useful. But the centurion asked Jesus for help on his behalf. For a Roman officer to ask a Jewish man for help was not easy. But this man was humble. More than that, he was full of love for one person. He highly valued his servant. Jesus saw the goodness in his heart and was willing to go to his house and heal the servant.

But the centurion said, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Why did the centurion feel that he did not deserve to have Jesus come under his roof?

First, he saw Jesus as the supreme commander who had authority over both the physical and spiritual worlds. For a low-ranking Roman officer like himself, it would have been unimaginable to invite the highest commander of the Roman Empire into his home. How much more unworthy he must have felt to invite Jesus—the commander of the universe—into his house. That’s how humbly he lowered himself before Jesus.

Second, he respected Jesus as a Jew, even though he himself was a Gentile. According to Jewish law, Jews were not supposed to enter the house of a Gentile. So as a Gentile, he felt he did not deserve to bring Jesus into his home.

Third, he believed in the power of Jesus’ word. He said to Jesus, “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” His faith was a living faith, grounded in personal experience. Through what he had seen and known, he came to understand who Jesus truly was–and that understanding gave him a genuine, living faith. Our faith begins with knowing who Jesus is. Faith is about our relationship with Him. But if we don’t truly know Jesus through personal experience, we cannot have a living faith. Who is Jesus to you, in your personal relationship? Do you believe that Jesus is the one who created the heavens and the earth by His word? If so, do you also believe that He can heal you and solve your problems with just a word?

Jesus was amazed at the centurion’s faith and said, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” Then, at that very moment, He healed the centurion’s servant. I pray that we, too, may have the faith of the centurion. And I pray that we may experience the power of Jesus’ word in our lives.

The third story is about Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law and many others who were sick. When Jesus went to Capernaum, He visited Peter’s house and saw that Peter’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever. Jesus touched her hand, and the fever left her. After that, she got up and began to wait on Jesus. Jesus showed special care for His disciple by bringing healing to his family. This is the privilege of being a disciple and a member of His family. I pray that the healing power of Jesus may come upon each one of us–His disciples and beloved members of His family.

When evening came, many who were demon-possessed and sick were brought to Jesus. Why did they come in the evening? It was because that day was the Sabbath. Though they were suffering from illness, they could not be healed because of the Sabbath law. In this way, the law added to their suffering. Jesus had compassion on them and drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. He worked late into the night to heal those who were suffering. This healing ministry of Jesus had already been prophesied by the prophet Isaiah. Let’s read verse 17 together: “This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.’” To truly understand Jesus’ healing ministry, we need to understand the context of this verse in Isaiah chapter 53. That passage speaks about the suffering servant. It describes the work of God’s salvation that would be accomplished through the suffering and death of the Messiah. So the phrase “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases” refers to Jesus’ ministry of complete and holistic restoration.

Before the Enlightenment and the development of modern medicine, people understood illness from a holistic perspective. As we see in the case of the man with leprosy, disease was not seen as merely a physical issue, but also as a social and spiritual one. In the same way, Jesus’ healing ministry was not just about curing physical sickness. It was a ministry of holistic restoration. To be healed meant not only physical recovery, but also restoration of social relationships and reconciliation with God. In other words, to be healed was to be saved. That’s why the Greek word for salvation, sōzō (σῴζω), refers to complete healing and restoration—of body and soul, of human relationships, and of one’s relationship with God. Therefore, to be saved means more than just going to heaven after we die. Salvation includes the ongoing restoration of God’s image in us during our lives. It includes restoring our relationship with God, with others, and even with ourselves. This is what it means to continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12).

So then, how should we practically understand the phrase, “Jesus took up our infirmities”?

First, we recognize that illness ultimately entered the world as a result of human sin. God originally created human beings to be healthy. Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden without sickness before the Fall. But because of sin, death, disease, and suffering came into the world, and ever since, all of humanity has experienced the pain of illness. Sickness did not come from God, but from human sin and the brokenness of the world.

Second, we believe that Jesus took up our sins and sicknesses. He came to save us and to restore us holistically. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, the work of his holistic restoration begins in us.

Third, we believe that even in sickness, there is God’s good purpose. We do not believe that all sickness is caused by our personal sin. Job became sick not because of his sin, but because of Satan’s attack under God’s permission. In John chapter 9, Jesus clearly taught that the man who was born blind was not blind because of his own sin or his parents’ sin. Rather, Jesus said it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. The apostle Paul also prayed to be healed from a chronic illness. But God did not heal him. Instead, God said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). In Paul’s life, his illness became a way for God’s power to be revealed—and even became a blessing. Because Jesus took up our infirmities, we believe He can heal us. But even if God does not heal us, we can still trust Him and give Him glory. In the midst of sickness, our relationship with God can grow deeper. God’s image can be restored in us, and our relationships with others can also be renewed. And our hope for the kingdom of heaven can become even stronger.

Through today’s message, we learned about the healing ministry of Jesus. I pray that, like the man with leprosy, we may experience holistic restoration. I pray that, like the centurion, we may believe in the power of Jesus’ word. May we trust in Jesus, who took up our infirmities. May we rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances, and glorify God. Amen.