Matthew 8:8-9

Matthew 8:8-9

[8] The centurion  answered  and  said,  Lord,  I am  not  worthy  that  thou shouldest come  under  roof:  but  speak  the word  only,  and  servant  shall be healed.  [9] For  am  a man  under  authority,  having  soldiers  under  me:  and  I say  man, Go,  and  he goeth;  and  to another,  Come,  and  he cometh;  and  servant,  Do  and  he doeth 

What does Matthew 8:8-9 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The centurion confessed that he felt unfit, Levitically speaking, to entertain Jesus in his home (cf. Matthew 5:3). John the Baptist had also expressed a similar feeling of unworthiness ( Matthew 3:14). The basis for the centurion"s feeling of unworthiness (Gr. hikanos) was his own perception of how Jews regarded Gentile dwellings and the authority that he believed Jesus possessed. He believed Jesus had sufficient authority to simply speak and He could heal his servant (cf. John 4:46-53).
All authority in the Roman Empire belonged to the emperor, who delegated authority to others under his command. The Roman Republic ended about30 B.C, and from then on, beginning with Caesar Augustus, the emperors enjoyed more authority under the Roman Empire. When the centurion gave a command it carried all the authority of the emperor, and people obeyed him. A soldier who might disobey an order the centurion gave was really disobeying the emperor. The centurion realized that Jesus also operated under a similar system. Jesus was under God"s authority, but He also wielded God"s authority. When Jesus spoke, God spoke. To defy Jesus was to defy God. Jesus" word, therefore, must carry God"s authority to heal sickness. The centurion confessed that Jesus" authority was God"s authority, and Jesus" word was God"s word. The centurion believed that Jesus could heal His servant, not that He would heal him. We cannot know God"s will in such matters, but we must believe that He is able to do anything.