Matthew 8:7

Monday, 3 March 2025

 

And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” Matthew 8:7

 

“And Jesus, He says to him, ‘I, having come, I will heal him’” (CG).

 

In the previous verse, the centurion explained why he had come to Jesus, noting that his servant was paralyzed and in great torment. After hearing this, Matthew next records, “And Jesus, He says to him, ‘I, having come, I will heal him.’”

 

A couple of translations turn this into a question, “Jesus said to him, ‘Shall I come and heal him?’” (NIV). This does not appear to be the intent at all. Despite this, the Expositor’s NT says their rendering is ingenious.

 

Jesus, using an aorist participle (having come) affirms that when He comes, He will heal him. As such, the Pulpit Commentary rightly says, “The emphasis is not on the coming, but on the person who comes.”

 

A call was made from a non-Jew who was a part of the occupying power. It would seem like an out-of-place request, but it was made, and Jesus did not hesitate in responding to the need.

 

He also didn’t hesitate to note that He would attend to the servant accordingly. The word used therapeuó, has already been seen in Chapter 4. The meaning here is to heal, but the word itself signifies to attend to, coming from the word therapōn, an attendant.

 

Jesus had only heard about the man and had not even seen his condition to see if it was worse than anticipated. And yet, He confidently noted that He would handle the situation. It shows a total self-awareness of His capabilities and authority over the man’s condition.

 

Life application: Today, we still have the ability to request healing from the Lord. He is no farther than a prayer away. However, it may be His will to withhold healing for His own purposes.

 

There are people in Acts who were healed who had certainly been in the area of Jesus. One of them is someone who had to have been there when Jesus was in Jerusalem –

 

“Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful.” Acts 3:1,2

 

According to Acts 4, the man was over forty years old. He was carried to this spot daily. It is difficult to imagine that he and Jesus were not in the same area together. And yet, Jesus didn’t heal him. Others in the area were healed later by the apostles as well.

 

By not healing them, Jesus left them so that others could have their ministry validated through the power of healing in His name. We have to live with our afflictions, understanding they may have a purpose we don’t see or understand.

 

At the same time, we can request the Lord to restore us. If it is His will, we can know that it is possible, having faith that it is so. All power in heaven and on earth is possessed by Him. So, we should not hold back at least asking for His hand of healing.

 

Lord God, how good You are to us. We thank You that we can know with certainty that we are saved and will someday be delivered from these mortal, corruptible bodies. And yet, even while in them, we can petition You for healing when they break down in one way or another. If You choose to heal, we will be healed. Thank You that we know that whatever happens, it is Your will that will come about. Amen.