Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text subtly highlights the disciples' immediate concern for Peter's mother-in-law, showing they didn't hesitate to bring even a personal family matter to Jesus. This reveals an early, developing trust in Jesus not just as a teacher, but as someone with the power to intervene in urgent, everyday crises.
Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Fresh from casting out a demon in the synagogue, Jesus enters Peter and Andrew's home with James and John. Immediately, the disciples' attention is drawn to Simon's mother-in-law, who is severely ill with a fever. This urgent situation highlights how news of Jesus' power quickly spreads, drawing his immediate concern and action.
Imagine the scene: Jesus, fresh from teaching, steps into a home. But there's no time for rest. A loved one is gravely ill. How does Jesus respond to this urgent plea?
This moment highlights Jesus' deep compassion and his practical, loving approach. The verse tells us Simon's mother-in-law "lay ill with a fever." Luke adds it was a "great fever," and the family "besought him for her." Notice the word "besought" – they pleaded with Jesus. Yet, Mark emphasizes Jesus "came and took her by the hand and raised her up." This wasn't a distant, detached healing. It was personal, tender, and immediate. He didn't just wave his hand; he touched her. This gentle, personal touch shows that Jesus cares not only about the sickness but about the person suffering, and he meets urgent needs with loving action.
What happens after Jesus heals someone? It's not just about the absence of sickness, but the presence of new life and purpose.
The immediate aftermath of Jesus healing Simon's mother-in-law is striking. The text says, "immediately they told him about her," and after Jesus touched her, "she arose and waited on them." This isn't just a description of recovery; it's a picture of restored life leading to restored service. Her fever left, and her strength returned not for her own comfort alone, but to minister. This shows us that Jesus' healing isn't merely about alleviating suffering; it's about restoring individuals to wholeness so they can participate actively in God's purposes. When we experience God's grace and healing, the natural response is to serve Him and others.
Understand the original words
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pyressousa · Greek Verb/Participle
A pathological condition characterized by high body temperature; in the ancient world, it was often viewed as a serious, life-threatening ailment. It serves as an occasion for Jesus to demonstrate His compassion and power over physical infirmity.
kratēsas · Greek Verb
In the biblical context, this refers to a touch that imparts power, healing, authority, or blessing, often symbolizing the personal nature of God’s intervention in human suffering.
pyretos · Greek Noun
Commonly refers to a bodily or mental state of being ill, but in the Gospels, it frequently serves as a demonstration of the effects of the Fall and the need for the restorative power of the Messiah.
diēkonei · Greek Verb
Often translated as 'ministering' or 'deaconing,' it signifies active service to others, which is the natural response to receiving Christ's healing or grace.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus begins public ministry
Jesus has recently begun his public ministry, gathering disciples and teaching in synagogues around Galilee.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus teaches in the Capernaum synagogue
Jesus had just finished teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum, demonstrating unusual authority.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus heals Simon Peter's mother-in-law
Immediately after leaving the synagogue, Jesus enters the home of Simon and Andrew and heals Peter's mother-in-law of a fever.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus heals many in Capernaum
As evening falls, news of the healing spreads, and many sick and demon-possessed people are brought to Jesus, who heals them.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus withdraws to pray
Early the next morning, Jesus departs to a lonely place to pray, seeking communion with God before continuing his ministry.
This passage describes the same event of Jesus healing Simon Peter's mother-in-law, highlighting Jesus' compassion and the immediacy of the healing.
Luke 4:38-39Luke's account emphasizes the severity of the fever ('a great fever') and Jesus' direct action in rebuking the fever and commanding it to leave her, showing Jesus' authority over illness.
1 Corinthians 9:5This verse, written by Paul, directly alludes to Peter being married and having a wife, which is contextually relevant to Jesus being in Peter's mother-in-law's home.
Isaiah 35:5-6This prophetic passage speaks of the Messiah opening the eyes of the blind and deaf, and healing the lame and mute, echoing the broader pattern of Jesus' healing ministry as a sign of His divine power.
calvinMark 1:29-39: "And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John."
- And when Jesus had come into Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed, and afflicted with fever. 15. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she arose and waited on them. 16. And when the evening had approached, they brought to him many demoniacs, and he cast out the spirits by his word, and healed all that were diseased: 17.…
gillMark 1:30: "But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her."
But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever,.... "A great fever", Luke says, Luke 4:38 ; a very violent one, which threatened with death, and must be very dangerous to an old person; See Gill on Matthew 8:14 , And anon they tell him or her; for it seems, that not as soon as he came into the house, but some time after, when he had sat awhile, and rested himself after his fatigue in preaching; they acquai…
The text subtly highlights the disciples' immediate concern for Peter's mother-in-law, showing they didn't hesitate to bring even a personal family matter to Jesus. This reveals an early, developing trust in Jesus not just as a teacher, but as someone with the power to intervene in urgent, everyday crises.
Fresh from casting out a demon in the synagogue, Jesus enters Peter and Andrew's home with James and John. Immediately, the disciples' attention is drawn to Simon's mother-in-law, who is severely ill with a fever. This urgent situation highlights how news of Jesus' power quickly spreads, drawing his immediate concern and action.
Fresh from casting out a demon in the synagogue, Jesus enters Peter and Andrew's home with James and John. Immediately, the disciples' attention is drawn to Simon's mother-in-law, who is severely ill with a fever. This urgent situation highlights how news of Jesus' power quickly spreads, drawing his immediate concern and action.
"Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them." — The text subtly highlights the disciples' immediate concern for Peter's mother-in-law, showing they didn't hesitate to bring even a personal family matter to Jesus. This reveals an early, developing…
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Last reviewed October 2026