Matthew 8:3

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} Jesus {G2424} put forth {G1614} his hand {G5495}, and touched {G680} him {G846}, saying {G3004}, I will {G2309}; be thou clean {G2511}. And {G2532} immediately {G2112} his {G846} leprosy {G3014} was cleansed {G2511}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yeshua reached out his hand, touched him and said, "I am willing! Be cleansed!" And at once he was cleansed from his tzara`at.

Berean Standard Bible

Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

American Standard Version

And he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway his leprosy was cleansed.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 8:3 powerfully illustrates Jesus' divine authority and profound compassion through the healing of a leper. Following the leper's humble plea, Jesus responds not with a distant command, but with a revolutionary act of physical touch, immediately followed by a declarative word of healing. This instantaneous cleansing not only restores the man's physical health but also signifies his spiritual and social reintegration, demonstrating Jesus' willingness and power to break through barriers of disease, ritual impurity, and social ostracization.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This miracle is strategically placed early in Matthew's Gospel, immediately after the monumental Sermon on the Mount ([Matthew 5-7](/matthew/5 "The Sermon on the Mount")). Having just taught with unparalleled authority ([Matthew 7:28-29](/matthew/7-28-29 "Jesus' Authority in Teaching")), Jesus now demonstrates that authority in action. The healing of the leper is the first of a series of ten miracles presented in [Matthew 8-9](/matthew/8 "Matthew 8 - Miracles of Jesus"), serving as concrete evidence of His power over disease, nature, demons, and even death, thereby validating His claims and teachings. This immediate transition from authoritative word to authoritative deed underscores the unique nature of Jesus' ministry.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, leprosy (Hebrew: _tzara'at_) was a dreaded and highly stigmatized condition, often encompassing various skin diseases, not just Hansen's disease. According to Mosaic Law, individuals afflicted with leprosy were considered ritually unclean and were strictly isolated from the community ([Leviticus 13:45-46](/leviticus/13-45-46 "Laws Concerning Leprosy")). They were required to live outside the camp or city, wear torn clothes, and cry "Unclean! Unclean!" to warn others. Touching a leper would render a clean person ritually unclean, necessitating purification rituals. Jesus' act of touching the leper was therefore a profoundly counter-cultural and revolutionary gesture, defying both social custom and ritual law to demonstrate compassion and power.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel. It highlights Jesus' **Divine Authority and Power** as He commands disease and it instantly obeys, echoing the authority He displayed in His teaching ([Matthew 7:28-29](/matthew/7-28-29 "Jesus' Authority")). The act of touching and healing an outcast underscores Jesus' radical **Compassion and Inclusion**, demonstrating His willingness to reach out to the marginalized and ceremonially unclean, a theme further explored in His interactions with tax collectors and sinners ([Matthew 9:10-13](/matthew/9-10-13 "Jesus Eats with Sinners")). Furthermore, the "cleansing" of the leper points to Jesus' role as the ultimate source of **Purity and Restoration**, not just physical but also spiritual, foreshadowing His power to cleanse from sin and restore individuals to fellowship with God and community.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **touched (Greek, _háptomai'_):** From the reflexive of _háptō_, meaning "to attach oneself to" or "to touch" in various implied relations. This word emphasizes a deliberate, physical contact. In the context of leprosy, where touching was forbidden and defiling, Jesus' act of _háptomai_ was a radical demonstration of His willingness to engage with the outcast and His power to transcend ritual impurity without becoming defiled Himself. Instead, His touch imparted purity.
* **I will (Greek, _thélō'_):** Apparently strengthened from an alternate form of _hairéomai_, meaning "to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse)," "to choose or prefer," or "to wish, to be inclined to." This is not a hesitant or conditional statement but a firm, decisive declaration of Jesus' sovereign will and desire. It underscores that His power is always aligned with His perfect will and compassionate intention. He doesn't just have the ability; He has the desire.
* **cleansed (Greek, _katharízō'_):** From _katharós_, meaning "to cleanse (literally or figuratively)," "to make clean," "purge," or "purify." This term is crucial because it goes beyond mere physical healing. In the context of leprosy, "cleansing" was the specific term used in the Mosaic Law for the ritual purification process that allowed a leper to be reintegrated into the community and temple worship ([Leviticus 14](/leviticus/14 "Laws for Cleansing Lepers")). Jesus' use of this word and the immediate result signify not just a cure, but a complete restoration to a state of ritual purity and social acceptance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Jesus put forth [his] hand, and touched him,"**: This clause describes Jesus' physical action. The act of "putting forth His hand" (G1614, _ekteínō_) signifies a deliberate, intentional reach. The subsequent "touched him" (G680, _háptomai_) is profoundly significant. In a society where lepers were untouchable due to ritual impurity and fear of contagion, Jesus' physical contact was a revolutionary act of compassion. It broke through social, religious, and physical barriers, demonstrating His willingness to draw near to the marginalized and defiled, and His power to do so without becoming defiled Himself.
* **"saying, "I will; be thou clean.""**: This clause contains Jesus' powerful verbal response. His declaration, "I will" (G2309, _thélō_), is a direct affirmation of His sovereign will and desire to heal, dispelling any doubt the leper might have had about Jesus' willingness (as expressed in [Matthew 8:2](/matthew/8-2 "The Leper's Plea")). The command, "be thou clean" (G2511, _katharízō_), is a divine decree. The use of "clean" rather than merely "healed" emphasizes the restoration of ritual purity and social standing, not just physical health.
* **"And immediately his leprosy was cleansed."**: This final clause highlights the instantaneous and complete efficacy of Jesus' word and touch. The adverb "immediately" (G2112, _euthéōs_) underscores the direct and absolute power of Jesus. There was no delay, no gradual improvement, but an instant transformation. The passive voice "was cleansed" (G2511, _katharízō_) emphasizes that the cleansing was an act performed upon him by an external, divine power, confirming Jesus' authority over disease and His ability to restore what was lost.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew employs several powerful **Literary Devices** in this verse. The most prominent is **Symbolism**, where Jesus' physical touch and the leper's cleansing transcend their literal meaning. The touch symbolizes Jesus' willingness to break social and ritual barriers, embodying His radical inclusivity and compassion for the outcast. The cleansing symbolizes not only physical healing but also spiritual purification and restoration, foreshadowing His ultimate work of cleansing humanity from the defilement of sin. The **Immediacy** conveyed by the word "immediately" (G2112, _euthéōs_) serves to emphasize Jesus' absolute divine authority and power, demonstrating that His word is not merely a suggestion but a potent, instantaneous command. Furthermore, the **Direct Discourse** of Jesus' "I will; be thou clean" highlights His personal will and authority, making His divine agency explicit and undeniable. The narrative also uses **Contrast** between the leper's defiled state and Jesus' pure touch, and between the social ostracization and the immediate restoration, amplifying the miraculous nature of the event.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 8:3 stands as a profound theological statement about the nature of Jesus' ministry and person. It reveals a Messiah who is not only powerful enough to command disease but also compassionate enough to defy social and religious norms to reach the untouchable. This act of intentional touch and immediate cleansing underscores Jesus' authority over all forms of impurity—physical, ritual, and ultimately, spiritual. His "I will" signifies that His power is always aligned with His perfect, loving will, assuring us of His readiness to engage with our brokenness. This healing serves as a microcosm of the Gospel: Jesus drawing near to the unclean, speaking a word of power, and bringing about complete transformation and restoration, inviting the marginalized back into community and fellowship.

* [Mark 1:40-42](/mark/1-40-42 "Jesus Heals a Leper")
* [Luke 5:12-13](/luke/5-12-13 "Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy")
* [Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "The Blood of Christ Cleanses")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 8:3 offers profound encouragement and a powerful call to faith for believers today. Just as Jesus did not hesitate to reach out and touch the leper, breaking through barriers of fear and ritual impurity, so too is He willing and able to reach into the deepest parts of our lives, no matter how "unclean," broken, or isolated we may feel due to sin, past failures, or present struggles. His emphatic "I will" echoes through the ages, assuring us of His divine readiness and desire to cleanse, heal, and restore us completely. This passage invites us to approach Him with the same humble faith and desperate need as the leper, trusting in His compassion and absolute power for our own spiritual cleansing, healing, and restoration to full fellowship with God and His people. It reminds us that no condition is too dire, no person too defiled, for the transformative touch and word of Jesus.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "unclean" areas in your life are you hesitant to bring before Jesus, fearing His unwillingness or inability to touch them?**
* **How does Jesus' immediate "I will" challenge your perceptions of His willingness to intervene in your personal struggles?**
* **In what ways can you, empowered by Christ, extend a "touch" of compassion and inclusion to those who are marginalized or "untouchable" in your community today?**

### FAQ

**Why was touching a leper so significant, and why did Jesus do it?**

Answer: In ancient Israel, touching a leper was strictly forbidden by Mosaic Law ([Leviticus 13:45-46](/leviticus/13-45-46 "Laws Concerning Leprosy")) because it would render the person touching ritually unclean. Lepers were social outcasts, forced to live in isolation. Jesus' act of touching the leper was profoundly significant because it defied these deeply ingrained social and religious norms. He did it to demonstrate His radical compassion, His willingness to draw near to the marginalized, and His divine authority over impurity. Unlike others who would become unclean by touching a leper, Jesus' touch did not defile Him; instead, His touch imparted purity and healing, signifying His unique power as the Son of God.

**What is the meaning of Jesus saying, "I will"?**

Answer: The leper in [Matthew 8:2](/matthew/8-2 "The Leper's Plea") approached Jesus saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." His question was not about Jesus' ability, but His willingness. Jesus' emphatic response, "I will," (Greek: _thélō_) is a powerful declaration of His sovereign will and compassionate desire. It removes all doubt about His readiness to heal and cleanse. It signifies that His power is always coupled with His perfect, loving intention. This phrase assures us that Jesus is not only capable but also eager to bring about healing and restoration.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 8:3 is a profound foreshadowing of Jesus' ultimate work of redemption and cleansing. Just as Jesus physically touched the leper, breaking through barriers of ritual impurity and social ostracization, so He would ultimately "touch" humanity in its deepest state of spiritual uncleanness—sin. His willingness to physically engage with the defiled body of the leper anticipates His willingness to take on human flesh and bear the defilement of the world's sin on the cross ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "Christ Became Sin for Us")). The immediate cleansing of the leper by Jesus' word and touch points directly to the instantaneous and complete purification from sin available through faith in His atoning sacrifice ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "The Blood of Christ Cleanses")). His declaration, "I will; be thou clean," finds its ultimate fulfillment in His divine purpose to redeem and purify a people for Himself, making them holy and blameless before God ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Christ Cleanses the Church")). Thus, the healing of the leper is not merely a miracle of physical restoration, but a vivid parable of the spiritual cleansing and restoration that Jesus, the Lamb of God, accomplishes for all who believe ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

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

Luke 5:13

And he put forth [his] hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

Psalms 33:9

For he spake, and it was [done]; he commanded, and it stood fast.

Matthew 11:4

Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

Matthew 11:5

The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

2 Kings 5:14

Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Mark 1:41

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth [his] hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

Genesis 1:3

¶ And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.