Windfall Witness: Matthew 8:14-17 - St. John Chrysostom

Matthew 8:14-17When Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever; he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him. That evening they brought to him many who were possessed by demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, ‘He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.’

Though his wife's mother had apparently been at home lying ill and sick of a fever, Peter did not press him to come to his house but waited first for his teaching to be finished and for many others to be healed.  Only then did he seek him out.  This suggests that from the beginning the disciples were careful not to put their private concerns above the common good...Jesus entered of his own accord to Peter's house to offer grace to his disciple.  Think of what sort of houses these fisherman must have lived in.  He did not hesitate to enter these tiny quarters, thereby teaching us all to trample pride underfoot.  - St. John Chrysostom The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 27.1