Every Life Valued • Matthew 8:1-4, 14-17; 9:1-8
By Carl M. White
Attorney Kenneth Feinberg was the Special Master appointed to determine the distribution of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund to the surviving families of 9/11. His story is recounted in the 2020 biopic “Worth,” starring Michael Keaton. Feinberg developed a cost/benefit formula based on the victim’s age, financial position, dependents, lost compensation, pain, suffering, and other extraordinary circumstances. It was an impossible job, but a way had to be found.
How would you go about determining the value of a human life?
In our lesson we see four categories of persons, all with low value in their world. There is a man with leprosy, a woman with a fever, several demon-possessed persons, and a paralyzed man. Let’s look briefly at each.
In the ancient world it was assumed that someone with leprosy had either been cursed or had sinned in some terrible way. In other words, they were getting what they deserved. They also feared that leprosy could spread by simple proximity. Thus, the infected were ostracized and forced into quarantine. A leper would be a very low-value person.
What is the value of a woman? In the ancient world women were commonly viewed only as the bearer of and caregiver of children, and as subordinate, domestic servants. They had few if any personal rights. Most certainly, though, a woman was of greater value than a leper.
The woman with a fever was Simon Peter’s mother-in-law. Jesus knew her personally. While it is easier to value someone you know and care for, in the final analysis she was a woman. In that culture she was a low-value person.
In verse 16, we are told of a general healing session, where an unknown number of people were healed by Jesus. We are also told that someone brought them to Jesus, and that all the ill were demon possessed. What is the value of a demon possessed person? It would be low.
Finally, a paralyzed man is brough to Jesus. This account is nearly identical to the account in Luke 5. A paralyzed man must be carried places and constantly cared for. For a family, it is a tremendous burden. Yet, this man is loved. Someone cared enough to bring him to Jesus.
What is his value?
The first category of person is the lowest on the ladder — a leper. Second, there is a woman, but she is not just any woman, she is Peter’s mother-in-law. Third, we are told of people bringing the demon possessed to Jesus for healing. Who are they? Probably family members, someone who knew them before they were possessed and valued them enough to bring them to Jesus. The final category is a paralyzed man who had to be carried to Jesus by others who obviously cared for him.
We should note, the most effective form of witness is to bring someone you know and love. Sharing Christ is an intensely personal experience. It happens best when there is already a relationship of trust. Andrew was the “bringer” among the disciples, and he first brought his brother Peter, then he brought the boy with the loaves and fishes, and then he a group of Greeks to see Jesus. Also, there is Philip, who brought Nathanael to Jesus. Who do you value enough to bring to Jesus?
Four low-value people before Jesus. In our society there are people seen as having low value. Why? Because we naturally tend to look at people from a cost/benefit view. What can that person do for me? What will that person potentially cost me?
Jesus does not see people that way. He sees every human being, from conception onward, as having intrinsic value. We hear this value expressed in his conversation with the leper.
The leper is the only one of the four whose voice is heard, and he is the lowest of the four. He brings himself to Jesus and says, “Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean” (vs. 3 NASB).
Jesus responded, “I am willing…” (vs 4). His willingness to help all four — the leper, the woman, the demon-possessed, and the paralyzed — tells of His great love for all people regardless of any cost/benefit analysis. Our Lord values all human life, including the unborn, the un-useful, and the unresponsive.
This is a hard lesson, but the Lord never said following Him would be easy.
White is a member of Pineview Church, Clinton.
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