Matthew 8:1-13

Cleansing a Leper

1 When He came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.

2 Right away a man with a serious skin disease came up and knelt before Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."^[a]

3 Reaching out His hand He touched him, saying, "I am willing; be made clean." Immediately his disease was healed.^[b]

4 Then Jesus told him, "See that you don't tell anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses prescribed, as a testimony to them."

A Centurion's Faith

5 When He entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,

6 "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible agony!"

7 "I will come and heal him," He told him.

8 "Lord," the centurion replied, "I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But only say the word, and my servant will be cured.

9 For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under my command.^[c] I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes; and to another, 'Come!' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it."

10 Hearing this, Jesus was amazed and said to those following Him, "I assure you: I have not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith!

11 I tell you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

12 But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

13 Then Jesus told the centurion, "Go. As you have believed, let it be done for you." And his servant was cured that very moment.^[d]

Footnotes

• [a] In these vv. 2-3, clean includes healing, ceremonial purification, return to fellowship with people, and worship in the temple; see Lv 14:1-32.
• [b] Lit cleansed
• [c] Lit under me
• [d] Or that hour; lit very hour