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Matthew 8:3

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

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}.

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

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

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

Commentary

Matthew 8:3 (KJV) recounts one of Jesus' most striking miracles, demonstrating His divine authority and profound compassion. Following the leper's humble plea in Matthew 8:2, Jesus responds with immediate action and powerful words.

Context

In ancient Israel, leprosy was more than just a physical ailment; it was a devastating condition that rendered individuals ritually unclean and socially ostracized. According to the Mosaic Law, lepers were required to live apart from the community, cry "Unclean, unclean!" and avoid physical contact (see Leviticus 13:45-46). Touching a leper would make a clean person unclean. This backdrop highlights the revolutionary nature of Jesus' act, as He intentionally reached out to someone considered an outcast.

Key Themes

  • Compassion and Willingness: Jesus' action of putting forth His hand and touching the leper was a profound act of compassion. He didn't just speak a command from a distance; He broke social and ritual barriers to reach out to the outcast. His declaration, "I will," underscores His divine readiness and desire to heal, not just His ability.
  • Divine Authority and Power: The immediate cleansing—"And immediately his leprosy was cleansed"—reveals Jesus' absolute authority over sickness and disease. His word is not merely a wish but a powerful decree that brings instant transformation. This miracle, coming shortly after the Sermon on the Mount, serves as a powerful demonstration of the authority He had just taught about (see Matthew 7:29).
  • Cleansing and Restoration: The word "cleansed" (Greek: katharizō) implies more than just physical healing; it signifies ritual purification and restoration to community. Jesus not only cured the man's leprosy but also restored him to a full life, enabling him to participate in society and worship again, a process detailed in Leviticus 14.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "I will" (Greek: thelō) is significant. It's not a hesitant "I might" or a conditional "If I can," but a firm declaration of His divine will and unwavering intention. This reinforces the idea that Jesus' power is always accompanied by His perfect will. The word "clean" (Greek: katharizō) used for the healing emphasizes the ceremonial purification aspect, restoring the leper to a state of ritual purity, not just physical health.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful encouragement for believers today. Just as Jesus reached out and touched the untouchable leper, He is willing and able to reach into our lives, no matter how "unclean" or broken we may feel due to sin, sickness, or social isolation. His "I will" echoes through the ages, assuring us of His readiness to cleanse, heal, and restore. We are invited to approach Him with the same humble faith as the leper, trusting in His compassion and divine power for our own spiritual cleansing and renewal.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 5:13 (14 votes)

    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 (13 votes)

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

  • Matthew 11:4 (9 votes)

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

  • Matthew 11:5 (9 votes)

    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 (9 votes)

    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 (7 votes)

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

  • Genesis 1:3 (6 votes)

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