Matthew 8:13

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} Jesus {G2424} said {G2036} unto the centurion {G1543}, Go thy way {G5217}; and {G2532} as {G5613} thou hast believed {G4100}, so be it done {G1096} unto thee {G4671}. And {G2532} his {G846} servant {G3816} was healed {G2390} in {G1722} the selfsame {G1565} hour {G5610}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then Yeshua said to the officer, "Go; let it be for you as you have trusted." And his orderly was healed at that very moment.

Berean Standard Bible

Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! As you have believed, so will it be done for you.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 8:13 serves as the powerful culmination of the centurion's remarkable display of faith, illustrating Jesus' unparalleled authority over sickness and distance. It records Jesus' affirmation of the centurion's belief, declaring that the healing would manifest according to his faith, immediately resulting in the instantaneous recovery of the servant, thereby underscoring the profound connection between genuine faith and divine intervention.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse concludes the narrative of Jesus' encounter with the Roman centurion, which begins in [Matthew 8:5](/matthew/8-5 "Matthew 8:5 - The Centurion's Plea"). Immediately preceding this, in [Matthew 8:10](/matthew/8-10 "Matthew 8:10 - Jesus Marvels at Faith"), Jesus expresses astonishment at the centurion's faith, declaring it to be greater than any He had found in Israel. This miracle is strategically placed within a series of healing accounts in [Matthew 8](/matthew/8 "Matthew 8 - Jesus' Miracles and Authority"), following the healing of a leper and Peter's mother-in-law, and preceding Jesus' calming of the storm. It highlights Jesus' authority over various forms of suffering and His ability to heal through a mere word, even from a distance, setting the stage for subsequent demonstrations of His power and unique identity.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The centurion, a Roman military officer commanding approximately 100 men, represented the occupying power in Judea. For such a figure to approach a Jewish rabbi like Jesus, let alone express profound humility and faith, was highly unusual. Capernaum, where this event occurred, was a bustling town on the Sea of Galilee, a crossroads of Jewish and Gentile cultures. The centurion's understanding that Jesus did not need to physically enter his house to heal, but could simply "speak the word," reflects an extraordinary spiritual insight, transcending typical Jewish expectations of a Messiah who would primarily interact with His own people. This encounter subtly challenges the prevailing social and religious barriers between Jews and Gentiles, hinting at the expansive nature of God's kingdom.
* **Key Themes:** Matthew 8:13 powerfully encapsulates several core themes woven throughout the Gospel of Matthew. Foremost among these is the **power of faith**, demonstrating that genuine belief in Jesus' authority is a conduit for divine action. The centurion's faith, remarkable for its depth and origin, serves as a paradigm. This miracle also profoundly illustrates **Jesus' unbounded authority**; He heals not by physical presence or ritual, but by His spoken word, echoing the creative power of God in [Genesis 1:3](/genesis/1-3 "Genesis 1:3 - God Speaks Creation into Being"). Furthermore, the immediate and complete healing of the servant emphasizes the **instantaneous and undeniable nature of divine intervention** when met with true faith. Finally, coming from a Gentile, this account powerfully foreshadows the **inclusivity of God's kingdom**, signaling that salvation and blessing are available to all who believe, regardless of their ethnic or social background, a theme further developed in passages like [Matthew 28:19](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19 - The Great Commission").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **centurion (Greek, _hekatontárchēs'_):** From *hekaton* (one hundred) and *archō* (to rule), this term denotes a Roman military officer in charge of a hundred soldiers. In this context, the centurion's identity as a Gentile and a representative of the occupying power makes his humility and faith all the more striking and unexpected, challenging the common perception that God's favor was exclusively for Israel.
* **believed (Greek, _pisteúō'_):** This verb signifies to have faith, to credit, or to entrust oneself to a person or thing, particularly one's spiritual well-being to Christ. The centurion's belief was not merely intellectual assent but a profound conviction in Jesus' unique authority and power, even over distance and illness, which Jesus Himself commended as unparalleled.
* **be it done (Greek, _gínomai'_):** A versatile verb meaning "to cause to be," "to become," or "to come into being." Here, it functions as a divine imperative, directly linking the centurion's faith to the instantaneous manifestation of healing. Jesus' declaration, "so be it done unto thee," highlights His active role in bringing about the desired outcome, confirming that the miracle was a direct consequence of His authoritative word, empowered by the centurion's faith.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Jesus said unto the centurion, 'Go thy way;'"**: Jesus, having heard the centurion's remarkable confession of faith and expressed His astonishment, now responds with a direct command. "Go thy way" signifies a dismissal, but one accompanied by an implicit promise of the desired outcome. It signals the conclusion of their direct interaction and the commencement of the divine action.
* **"and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.'"**: This is the pivotal statement, establishing a direct correlation between the centurion's faith and the miraculous event. Jesus' words are not a question or a wish, but an authoritative declaration. The phrase "as thou hast believed" underscores that the *measure* and *quality* of the centurion's faith were the operational principle for the miracle. "So be it done unto thee" is a powerful, causative statement, indicating that Jesus' will is being enacted precisely in accordance with the centurion's expectation and trust.
* **"And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour."**: This concluding clause confirms the immediate and complete efficacy of Jesus' word. The "selfsame hour" emphasizes the instantaneous nature of the healing, leaving no room for doubt or a gradual recovery. It serves as undeniable proof of Jesus' divine power and the direct fulfillment of His authoritative declaration, validating both His word and the centurion's extraordinary faith.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 8:13 employs several powerful **literary devices**. The most prominent is **Direct Discourse**, as Jesus' exact words to the centurion are recorded, lending immediacy and authority to the narrative. The phrase "as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee" functions as a form of **Divine Fiat** or **Authoritative Declaration**, where Jesus' spoken word directly brings about the desired reality, much like God's creative commands in Genesis. The inclusion of "in the selfsame hour" serves as **Emphasis** and **Verification**, highlighting the instantaneous and undeniable nature of the miracle, leaving no room for skepticism about its authenticity or the source of its power. This swift outcome also creates a sense of **Dramatic Irony**, as the Gentile centurion's faith is immediately rewarded, contrasting with the often-hesitant or unbelieving responses of some within Israel.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 8:13 profoundly illustrates the transformative power of faith when directed towards Jesus' divine authority. It reveals that God's power is not limited by physical presence, social status, or ethnic background, but is activated by a believing heart. The centurion's faith, characterized by humility and a profound understanding of spiritual authority, becomes the conduit through which God's healing power flows, demonstrating that the Kingdom of Heaven is open to all who approach Jesus with genuine trust. This narrative serves as a timeless testament to the principle that God responds to faith, often in proportion to its depth and the boldness of its expression, extending His grace beyond conventional boundaries.

* [Matthew 9:29](/matthew/9-29 "Matthew 9:29 - According to Your Faith")
* [Hebrews 11:6](/hebrews/11-6 "Hebrews 11:6 - Faith is Essential to Please God")
* [Acts 10:34-35](/acts/10-34-35 "Acts 10:34-35 - God Shows No Partiality")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of the centurion's servant in Matthew 8:13 offers profound insights for contemporary believers. It challenges us to examine the nature and depth of our own faith. Do we truly believe that Jesus possesses absolute authority over every circumstance, even those that seem impossible or distant? The centurion did not ask Jesus to come to his house, but simply to "speak the word," demonstrating an extraordinary trust in Jesus' power to transcend physical limitations. This invites us to cultivate a faith that relies not on our ability to manipulate circumstances or demand a specific method of intervention, but on the sheer, unbridled authority of Christ's word. When we face illness, financial hardship, relational brokenness, or any seemingly insurmountable obstacle, this verse encourages us to approach Jesus with the same humble yet resolute faith, trusting that His word alone is sufficient to bring about transformation. It reminds us that our belief is not merely a passive assent but an active posture of trust that can unlock divine action in our lives, often with immediate and undeniable results, just as it did for the centurion's servant.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does the centurion's faith teach me about the nature of true belief in Jesus' authority?**
* **In what areas of my life am I limiting God's intervention by a lack of faith or by insisting on a specific method of healing/deliverance?**
* **How can I cultivate a faith that trusts implicitly in Jesus' spoken word, even when circumstances seem to contradict it?**

### FAQ

**Why was the centurion's faith so remarkable, especially for Jesus to commend it as "great"?**

Answer: The centurion's faith was remarkable for several reasons. Firstly, he was a Gentile, a Roman military officer, and thus outside the covenant people of Israel. For him to recognize Jesus' authority and seek His help demonstrated a spiritual insight that transcended his cultural and religious background. Secondly, his faith was characterized by extraordinary humility; he did not feel worthy for Jesus to enter his home, yet he fully believed in Jesus' power. Most significantly, he understood Jesus' authority in a profound way, stating that Jesus did not need to be physically present but could simply "speak the word" to heal from a distance, much like his own authority over his soldiers. This level of spiritual discernment, acknowledging Jesus' power over space and physical presence, astonished Jesus, who declared, "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith" ([Matthew 8:10](/matthew/8-10 "Matthew 8:10 - Jesus Marvels at Faith")).

**Does Matthew 8:13 guarantee that all illnesses will be healed if one has enough faith?**

Answer: While Matthew 8:13 powerfully demonstrates the connection between faith and healing, it does not guarantee that every illness will be healed if one simply has "enough" faith. The Bible presents a complex picture of healing, where God's sovereign will, timing, and purposes are always paramount. While Jesus often responded to faith with healing, there are instances where healing did not occur, or where God's purpose involved suffering for a greater good (e.g., [2 Corinthians 12:7-10](/2_corinthians/12-7-10 "2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - Paul's Thorn in the Flesh")). This verse highlights that when healing *does* occur, faith is often a key component, and Jesus' authority is absolute. It encourages us to approach God with bold faith for healing, while also trusting in His ultimate wisdom and perfect plan, even when the outcome is not what we expect. The primary lesson is the boundless nature of Jesus' authority and the responsiveness of God to genuine, humble faith.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 8:13, with its vivid portrayal of Jesus' authoritative word bringing instantaneous healing, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus as the divine Son of God. The centurion's recognition of Jesus' power to heal from a distance by mere command foreshadows the comprehensive scope of Christ's redemptive work. Just as Jesus spoke and the servant was healed, so too, by His word and ultimate sacrifice, does He bring spiritual healing and life to all who believe. His authority over physical ailment in this passage points to His greater authority over sin and death, the ultimate diseases that plague humanity ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin")). The centurion's Gentile faith, commended by Jesus, prefigures the inclusion of all nations into God's family through Christ's atoning work on the cross ([Ephesians 2:11-16](/ephesians/2-11-16 "Ephesians 2:11-16 - Christ Breaks Down Barriers")). Jesus, the Word made flesh ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")), demonstrates in Matthew 8:13 that His very utterance carries the power to transform reality, a power fully unleashed in His resurrection, which conquered death itself and opened the way for eternal life for all who place their faith in Him ([John 11:25-26](/john/11-25-26 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). Thus, the healing of the servant is a powerful microcosm of the profound spiritual healing and restoration that Christ offers to all humanity, through faith in His name.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 9:29

Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Matthew 9:30

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See [that] no man know [it].

Mark 9:23

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth.

John 4:50

Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

Matthew 17:20

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

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.

John 4:52

Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.