Note 1 at Mt. 8:15: Jesus often healed people by touching them (Mt. 8:3; 9:29; 20:34; Mk. 7:33; Lk. 7:14; 22:51), and others received their healing as they touched Jesus (Mt. 14:36; Mk. 3:10; 5:28-30; 6:56; 8:22). Luke 6:19 reveals that the reason this happened was that "there went virtue (or power) out of him, and healed them all." You can transmit the power or the anointing of God through the laying on of hands (Mk. 16:18; Heb. 6:2). The virtue of God can even be transmitted to objects and then brought to the person who needs healing or deliverance (Acts 19:11-12).

Note 2 at Mt. 8:15: Many people today have the mistaken idea that to minister, you have to preach or teach. However, it is evident that Peter's mother-in-law didn't preach to Jesus and His disciples. This shows that ministry is to supply the needs of others, whether it is physical or spiritual. Peter's mother-in-law's ministry to Jesus was probably fixing Him food, washing His feet, etc. (see ref. a at Mt. 20:26, p. 340; see note 3 at Jn. 13:5, p. 416).