In the Gospels we find various incidents in the life of the Lord Jesus. Some of them are described in detail, others only in one or two verses, like the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law. But this short report is given by all of the three synoptic Gospels. And studying the differences will reveal the rich information that these few verses contain.

If we only had Matthew’s account, we would not know that other disciples were involved and that they asked the Lord for help. In Matthew the initiative is wholly the Lord’s: He comes, He sees the situation, and He helps. Certainly, we may and should ask the Lord for help in our situation of need. But it is a great comfort to be aware that He knows and sees our situation before we ask Him and is willing and able to help.

“And He touched her hand.” This was not necessary to heal. The Lord had healed persons with only a word, even at a distance. But touching a person showed the Lord’s sympathy. Matthew mentions several other such cases: a leper (8:3); two blind men (9:29); two blind men again (20:34).

“And the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him.” After the Lord had healed her, the first thing she did was she arose and served Him. It was the natural thing for her to serve her Savior who had healed her and given her new strength to serve. In many religions you have to do something before you can perhaps get some favor from the gods. But in Christianity, service is the natural reaction of gratitude to the One who has saved us and given us all spiritual blessings in Christ!