Matthew 8:14-15
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The original Greek word for "fever" literally means "fire-sickness," highlighting the intense, consuming heat the woman was experiencing. This detail reveals Jesus entering into a very real, physically distressing situation, not just a minor ailment.
And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Fresh from teaching in the synagogue and casting out a demon, Jesus enters Peter's home in Capernaum with his disciples. Immediately, his attention is drawn to Peter's mother-in-law, who is gravely ill with a fever, highlighting Jesus' presence in the everyday lives and struggles of those closest to him. This healing then sets the stage for a powerful outpouring of Jesus' ministry later that evening, as the news spreads and crowds bring their sick to him.
Jesus didn't just heal strangers; He entered homes and shared meals. What does this reveal about His heart?
This encounter starts not in a public square, but in Peter's home. Jesus, the Son of God, enters the ordinary dwelling of his disciple.
A Shared Space
This wasn't just any house; it was Peter's home, a place of everyday life, family, and rest. It shows Jesus valued and entered into the ordinary fabric of people's lives. He wasn't distant or detached; He was present.
Welcoming Presence
The text implies a sense of welcome. Jesus, fresh from ministry, goes to Peter's house. This wasn't an obligation; it was a natural movement towards connection. He saw the need within that intimate space, highlighting His deep compassion for individuals in their personal struggles.
Jesus saw her. He didn't look away from her pain. What does this specific moment teach us about His empathy?
The verse highlights Jesus' immediate recognition of suffering. He 'saw' his mother-in-law 'lying sick with a fever.' This wasn't a passive observation; it was an active perception of her distress.
More Than a Symptom
The word 'fever' (from the Greek word for 'fire') suggests intense suffering. This wasn't a minor ailment but a condition that 'laid her low,' incapacitating her. Jesus saw the reality of her physical pain.
Ask a follow-up
Divine Empathy in Action
This isn't just a narrative of healing; it's a picture of God's deep empathy. Jesus, who had the power to command legions of angels, felt compassion for one woman's fever. His ministry consistently demonstrated that His power was intimately linked with His heart for the suffering.
Peter, the future leader of the church, had a wife and a mother-in-law. What does this human detail reveal about God's calling?
This verse subtly reveals Peter's life beyond his call. He had a wife, and her mother was part of his household.
Marriage and Ministry
This detail is significant! It directly counters later traditions that enforced celibacy for religious leaders. The bedrock of the early church, Peter, was a married man. Jesus called him as he was, showing that family life and a deep commitment to Christ are not mutually exclusive.
Prompting Faith
While the verse states Jesus saw the fever, the parallel accounts in Mark and Luke mention that the people told Jesus about her. This implies Peter and the others, seeing Jesus' power, brought their family need to Him. Their faith, even in the midst of their own disciple lives, prompted them to seek Jesus' help for a loved one.
Understand the original words
diakoneō · Greek Verb
To serve or minister, often in the context of household tasks, hospitality, or the service of the Lord. In the New Testament, it frequently denotes active, humble response to Jesus' grace and power.
This event underscores that Jesus' ministry wasn't just public spectacle but also involved intimate, personal acts of compassion, even within the homes of his closest followers, and that prominent apostles like Peter were married men.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus begins public ministry
Jesus of Nazareth begins his public ministry in Galilee, calling disciples like Simon Peter and Andrew to follow him. His ministry involves teaching, healing, and casting out demons.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus called disciples to follow
Jesus calls Simon Peter and Andrew, fishermen from Bethsaida, to leave their profession and follow him. They become some of his earliest and most prominent disciples.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus teaches in synagogue
Jesus teaches in the synagogue, likely on a Sabbath, demonstrating his authority and knowledge. This teaching is followed by a notable act of healing.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law
Jesus enters the house of Simon Peter (and Andrew) in Capernaum and heals Peter's mother-in-law, who was suffering from a severe fever. This event highlights Jesus' compassionate power.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus heals many in Capernaum
Following the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, Jesus heals many other sick people and casts out demons as evening falls, demonstrating the widespread impact of his ministry.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus withdraws to pray
The following morning, Jesus departs to a solitary place to pray before continuing his ministry, showing the importance of his connection with God.
This parallel account highlights the urgency and severity of the fever, describing Peter's mother-in-law as being 'held' by a 'great fever,' emphasizing the power of Jesus' touch.
Mark 1:29This passage provides context by mentioning that Peter and Andrew lived together, and that Jesus, along with James and John, went directly to their house after leaving the synagogue, showing the immediate continuation of Jesus' ministry.
Isaiah 35:5This Old Testament prophecy speaks of a time when the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped, echoing the healing power Jesus demonstrates, which Matthew connects to Jesus taking away our infirmities.
1 Corinthians 9:5Paul mentions that he and other apostles, including Peter, had the right to take believing wives along with them, underscoring that Peter's marriage, evident in this healing, was not an impediment to his apostleship.
clarkeMatthew 8:14: "And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever."
Peter's house - That Peter lived at Capernaum, and that Christ lodged with him, is fully evident from this verse compared with Matthew 17:24 . Peter's - wife's mother - Learn hence, says Theophylact, that marriage is no hinderance to virtue, since the chief of the apostles had his wife. Marriage is one of the first of Divine institutions, and is a positive command of God. He says, the…
calvinMatthew 8:14-18: "And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever."
- 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. That it might be fulfilled…
The original Greek word for "fever" literally means "fire-sickness," highlighting the intense, consuming heat the woman was experiencing. This detail reveals Jesus entering into a very real, physically distressing situation, not just a minor ailment.
Fresh from teaching in the synagogue and casting out a demon, Jesus enters Peter's home in Capernaum with his disciples. Immediately, his attention is drawn to Peter's mother-in-law, who is gravely ill with a fever, highlighting Jesus' presence in the everyday lives and struggles of those closest to him. This healing then sets the stage for a powerful outpouring of Jesus' ministry later that evening, as the news spreads and crowds bring their sick to him.
Fresh from teaching in the synagogue and casting out a demon, Jesus enters Peter's home in Capernaum with his disciples. Immediately, his attention is drawn to Peter's mother-in-law, who is gravely ill with a fever, highlighting Jesus' presence in the everyday lives and struggles of those closest to him. This healing then sets the stage for a powerful outpouring of Jesus' ministry later that evening, as the news spreads and crowds bring their sick to him.
"And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him." — The original Greek word for "fever" literally means "fire-sickness," highlighting the intense, consuming heat the woman was experiencing. This detail reveals Jesus entering into a very real, physical…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
