Catholic Bible Study – Gospel of Matthew 8:1-34

Podcast: Catholic Bible Study
Host: Augustine Institute (Dr. Tim Gray & Dr. Michael Barber)
Date: November 15, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode continues the in-depth Bible study series on the Gospel of Matthew, focusing on chapter 8. Renowned Catholic scholars Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Michael Barber examine ten miracle stories in Matthew chapters 8 and 9, emphasizing the theme of Jesus’ authority. They explore how these miraculous deeds reveal Jesus as not just a new Moses but as the Lord of Israel, capable of healing, commanding nature, and even subduing demons. The discussion artfully connects these events to Catholic theology, especially the sacraments and liturgy, encouraging listeners to encounter Christ more deeply through Scripture and tradition.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Structure and Theme of Matthew 8–9: Jesus’ Authority

• Transition from Teaching to Action: Matthew 8 marks a shift from the Sermon on the Mount (ch. 5–7) to a series of ten miracle stories, structured to showcase Jesus’ authority (00:00–02:55).
• Significance of the Number Ten:
  • "The number 10 signifies authority for Jews—the 10 Commandments, 10 plagues of Egypt, 10 heads of the dragon in Revelation—all symbolize complete authority." (A, 01:45)
• Jesus as New and Greater Moses:
  • Comparisons with Moses are explicit: Moses worked ten plagues; Jesus performs ten miracles, showing a new, greater authority (02:55–04:28).

2. The Healing of the Leper: Cleanliness, Worship, and the Sacraments

Reading: Matthew 8:1-4

• Ritual Uncleanliness in Context:
  • Leprosy represents exclusion from the temple and worship; ritual purity is about access to God's presence (08:32–10:48).
  • "Anybody who touches somebody who's ritually unclean in Israel—doesn't matter if it's Moses or Aaron—they become unclean. But with Jesus, when the unclean touches him, he doesn’t become defiled. They become clean. That is astonishing." (A, 05:47)
• Jesus as Divine Healer:
  • The leper calls Jesus “Lord,” echoing the Old Testament use for God (04:54–05:47).
  • Only God was thought able to heal leprosy: "Only God can heal lepers... So it's a remarkable way to start it off." (B, 11:29)
• Restoration to Worship:
  • The leper’s deepest longing is access to the temple—"He doesn't simply want to be healed of disease. He wants to be healed of the separation between himself and his God." (A, 10:48)

3. The Centurion’s Faith: Authority, Humility, and the Eucharist

Reading: Matthew 8:5-13

• Gentile Faith:
  • The centurion, a Roman, approaches Jesus as “Lord” and models extraordinary faith and humility (12:01–13:42):
    • “Lord, I am not worthy to have you under my roof, but only say the word and my servant will be healed.” (B, 12:36)
• Authority Recognized:
  • The centurion understands chain-of-command authority and recognizes Jesus' supreme authority (A, 13:23).
• Connection to Catholic Liturgy:
  • "Every time you're at Mass and you say, 'Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed,' you are right here with the centurion in Capernaum." (A, 15:28)
  • Anticipation of the heavenly, Messianic banquet—"Many will come from the east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." (B, 14:05)
• Miracles as Visible Signs of the Sacraments:
  • "What Jesus does in his miracles is he makes visible what happens invisibly in the sacraments." (B, 17:10)
  • The healing of the leper prefigures confession; the centurion’s story prefigures the Eucharist (B, 17:31–18:35).

4. Healing Peter’s Mother-in-Law and Many Others: Suffering Servant

Reading: Matthew 8:14-17

• Fulfillment of Isaiah’s Prophecy:
  • Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law and many afflicted, fulfilling Isaiah 53—“He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” (A, 18:57–19:38)
  • The healings symbolize Jesus as the Suffering Servant, who bears humanity’s burdens and foreshadows him taking upon himself the sin of the world (B, 19:38–20:20).

5. The Cost of Discipleship

Reading: Matthew 8:18-22

• Urgency of Following Jesus:
  • Unlike Elisha, where time is granted to bid farewell, Jesus demands immediate commitment: "There can't be time." (A, 21:33; B, 21:47)

6. The Calming of the Storm: Lord of Creation

Reading: Matthew 8:23-27

• Divine Command over Nature:
  • Jesus calms the storm with authority, not by prayer but by command, echoing Psalm 107—only God commands the winds and the sea (B, 21:47–23:01).
  • "Even in our 21st-century, with all our modern technology, we can't do anything to say, ‘We're going to bring the wind down'... And yet our Lord is—who is this man that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (A, 23:01–23:29)

7. The Gadarene Demoniacs: Authority over Evil

Reading: Matthew 8:28-34

• Gentile Territory & Roman Symbolism:
  • Jesus enters the Decapolis (gentile region), heals two men possessed by demons (B, 24:41–25:27).
  • The herd of pigs symbolizes Roman presence (the 10th Legion’s emblem was a boar); Jesus’ casting demons into pigs hints at his authority over even Rome's power (B, 25:27–27:12).
• Demons Recognize Jesus’ Authority:
  • “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” (B, 25:27)
• Overarching Theme Recap:
  • "Jesus’ authority is manifest: over leprosy, over the centurion’s servant, over nature, and over evil spirits—more than Moses, more than a prophet—he is Lord of Israel, creation, and over all spirits." (A, 27:12–28:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ritual Cleanliness:
  "The clean always becomes unclean when they touch the unclean, until Jesus—then the unclean become clean." – Dr. Tim Gray (05:47)
• On Jesus’ Divine Authority:
  "He is more powerful than the power of uncleanness. What Jesus does is he makes visible what happens invisibly in the sacraments." – Dr. Michael Barber (06:29; 17:15)
• On Catholic Liturgy and Scripture:
  "Every time you're at Mass and say, 'Lord, I'm not worthy you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed,' you are right there with the centurion in Capernaum." – Dr. Tim Gray (15:28)
• On the Sacraments and Christ’s Life:
  "What was visible in our Savior has passed over into his mysteries [sacraments]. So if you want to understand what’s going on in the sacraments, you have to look at the miracles of Jesus." – Dr. Michael Barber, quoting the Catechism of the Catholic Church (17:02)
• On Jesus Calming the Storm:
  "He’s not praying, 'Lord, stop the wind.' He is commanding it directly—Jesus as God." – Dr. Michael Barber (24:07)
• Summing Up Jesus’ Authority:
  "He is the Lord of Israel. Lord of creation. Lord over the good and bad spirits, and Lord over clean and unclean." – Dr. Tim Gray (27:12–28:00)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–02:55 — Introduction to Matthew 8–9 & Structure
• 02:55–06:29 — The Leper and Jesus’ authority over ritual uncleanness
• 10:48–11:33 — The spiritual and liturgical significance of cleansing the leper
• 12:01–16:22 — The Centurion’s faith, humility, and its influence on the Mass
• 17:00–18:35 — Miracles as the foundation for the sacraments
• 18:57–20:20 — Jesus’ healing as fulfillment of Isaiah’s Suffering Servant prophecy
• 21:33–21:47 — The cost of discipleship: Immediate response
• 21:47–24:07 — Calming the storm: Jesus as Lord of creation
• 24:41–27:12 — The Gadarene demoniacs: Authority over evil and undertones of Roman symbolism
• 27:12–28:00 — The episode’s main takeaway: Comprehensive illustration of Jesus’ authority

Episode Flow & Tone

The discussion is scholarly yet accessible, with warm, reverent enthusiasm for Scripture and its connection to Catholic liturgy and life. Both hosts handle the text with deep respect, weaving scriptural insight with theological application and memorable, relatable analogies.

For further reflection:
Next episode will cover the rest of chapter 8 and all of chapter 9, continuing the exploration of Jesus’ mighty deeds and authority.

For more:
Visit MissionCircle.org to support these ongoing studies, and join in the journey through Matthew’s Gospel.