We begin here with Christ’s teaching ministry. This leads directly to a public exorcism in the synagogue, followed by a private healing at Simon and Andrew’s house, and then, when the word got around, many healings and exorcisms at the front door of that house.
Jesus came to the synagogue at Capernaum, and there taught (v. 21). That city (now a ruin) was on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The ruins of (what is likely to have been) this particular synagogue have also been found. The people were astonished at His doctrine. Before any wonders had been performed, the people were astonished at His doctrine. His teaching carried authority with it (v. 22). His teaching was not like that of the scribes. Too often this statement is taken as ascribing peculiar and unique authority to Christ. We say of course He had an authority they could not have had. After all, He is the Son of God. But we should see here a clear taunt directed at the scribes, who should have taught with authority (empowered by the Spirit). But reading commentaries on passages like this can be quite revealing. In them, scholars, without any sense of self-irony, labor manfully away at providing us with up-to-date examples. But the Word of God should not be handled by scribbling grammarians and theological gnat-stranglers. The problem is not the presence of scholarship, but rather the absence of authority.
The Lord’s teaching provoked a response from a demoniac there (v. 23). It was a challenge — the demoniac did not confess the truth; he challenged by means of the truth. He says, “Let us alone.” He says, “What do we have to do with You?” (v. 24). And the declaration of who Jesus was may have been an attempt to control or manipulate Him (v. 24). Jesus forbids it in strong language (muzzle yourself), and throws the demon out of him. The demon came out after having convulsed the man, and with a loud cry (v. 25). The people are again amazed (v. 27), and over another display of authority. The authority is still connected to the doctrine. His fame spread from the synagogue to Capernaum, and from there to all Galilee (v. 28).
When they came out of the synagogue, they proceeded to the house of Simon and Andrew (v. 29). When they came there, they found Simon’s mother-in-law sick in bed with a fever. James and John had accompanied them.
The immediate response when they realized they had a problem was to tell Jesus of it (v. 30). Too often we turn to prayer when the situation has become finally desperate. “Oh, has it come to that?” Jesus healed this woman in His kindness, and in her gratitude she immediately responds with service (v. 31). And what do we do when we have received God’s kindness? And there is another incidental point to be made here. We learn something else from this passage which, considering the history of the church, should have been learned a little bit better. Peter was married, and traveled with his wife many years after this (1 Cor. 9:5). Paul tells us bluntly that a bishop should be the husband of one wife (1 Tim. 3:2). The requirement of celibacy for ministers flies in the face of the biblical pattern.
After the Sabbath, the entire population of Capernaum showed up at Simon’s house. They brought those who were sick, and those who were demonized (v. 32). Jesus healed the people, and cast out demons, and restrained demons. Far too many professing Christians pride themselves on having a faith that rises no higher than the faith of demons. “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19). In the passage we have considered here, Jesus prohibits the demons from talking, and tells the demoniac in the synagogue to shut up when he had confessed Jesus as the Holy One of God. To how many others does He do the same?