Matthew 8

When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

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 to lay his head.

And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.

And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.

And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

What does Matthew 8:8 mean?

Explanation

The verse Matthew 8:8 is part of the account where a Roman centurion approaches Jesus to heal his servant who is paralyzed and suffering.

In this verse, the centurion expresses his unworthiness for Jesus to enter his home, showing a profound level of humility and respect for Jesus' authority.

He also exhibits great faith by suggesting that Jesus could heal his servant with merely a command, without needing to be physically present.

The centurion understood authority as he himself was a man under authority, commanding soldiers, and recognized that Jesus also had authority, such that his word alone was sufficient to perform a miracle.

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Historical Context

This event occurred during the early part of Jesus' ministry in the region of Galilee.

The centurion was a Gentile, a Roman army officer, signifying that he was not part of the Jewish faith or community.

His interaction with Jesus is significant as it reflects the broader outreach of Jesus' ministry beyond the Jewish population and foreshadows the inclusion of Gentiles into the Christian faith.

During that time, Israel was under Roman occupation, making the centurion's position one of both respect and potential resentment by the Jewish people.

Theological Insights

The verse has been interpreted from various theological perspectives to highlight the centurion's exceptional faith.

In Catholic theology, the phrase "Lord, I am not worthy" is recited during the Mass before Communion, emphasizing the worshiper's humility and the greatness of grace.

Protestant interpretations often focus on the nature of faith and the authority of Christ's word, citing this example as one where faith in Christ's word leads to healing and salvation.

Additionally, it is seen as an early indication that the Gospel would be extended to all nations.

Practical Applications

In daily life, this verse can inspire individuals to approach God with humility, recognizing their own unworthiness and God's sovereignty. It teaches the importance of faith in God's capacity to act without limitations and the power of His word.

Additionally, it serves as a reminder of the need for inclusive love and kindness towards others, regardless of their background or status, following Jesus' example of healing the servant of a Roman centurion.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:28: "Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.

And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."

Luke 7:6-7: "Then Jesus went with them.

And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed."

Matthew 28:18-19: "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

Language Study

The key phrases "I am not worthy" and "speak the word only" carry significant meaning in the original Greek. 'Axios' (ἄξιος), translated as "worthy," conveys a sense of being deserving or meriting something.

The centurion's declaration of 'axiōs' implies a sense of humility before Jesus.

The phrase "speak the word only" (λόγῳ μόνῳ ἐπέρασον), uses the term 'logō' (λόγῳ) meaning 'word' or ‘command,’ underscoring the power of Jesus' authoritative command, and 'monon' (μόνῳ) emphasizes the singular action without need for physical presence.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The centurion's understanding of authority and his approach to Jesus can be compared to other ancient cultures where individuals in positions of power had hierarchical superiority.

In many religious traditions, the approach to deities or religious figures involved rituals or intermediaries.

The centurion's direct approach to Jesus and his faith in Jesus' spoken word alone are contrasted with such practices, reinforcing the personal and immediate nature of Jesus' healing power.

Scientific Perspectives

The healing described in this passage transcends the medical understanding of the time and today.

While modern medicine relies on physical interventions and presence, the miracle performed by Jesus through verbal command does not have a parallel in scientific practice.

It is a matter of faith and the belief in divine intervention, which remains outside the scope of empirical science.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have commented on this passage.

Notably, Matthew Henry's Commentary praises the centurion’s faith as being both humble and strong.

He notes that Christ valued the faith that saw the need for his help and trusted in his divine power.

John Calvin, another theologian, discusses the nature of true faith reflected in the centurion, emphasizing that faith understands the power of God's word.

Contemporary biblical scholars often focus on the theme of inclusivity and the breaking of social barriers demonstrated in this encounter between Jesus and the centurion.

Matthew 8

Matthew 8

What does Matthew 8:8 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 8:8 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?