Matthew 8

“When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include followed, mountain, multitudes. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,” Naming Capernaum and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great…” Naming Israel and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.” Naming Jesus and Peter keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.” The line’s distinctive content terms include arose, fever, hand. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with…” The line’s distinctive content terms include devils, healed, possessed. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our…” Naming Esaias and Himself keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.” Naming Master keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where…” Naming Jesus and Son keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.” Naming Follow and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include disciples, entered, followed. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was…” The line’s distinctive content terms include arose, asleep, covered. Its relationship to verses 23 and 25 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” The line’s distinctive content terms include manner, marvelled, obey. Its relationship to verses 26 and 28 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.” The line’s distinctive content terms include feeding, good, herd. Its relationship to verses 29 and 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd…” The line’s distinctive content terms include herd, swine, perished. Its relationship to verses 31 and 33 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include befallen, city, devils. Its relationship to verses 32 and 34 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.