Matthew 8:9

“They maintain that he is the centurion mentioned in the Gospel, who addressed the Saviour in these words: “For I also am one having soldiers and servants under my authority; and whatsoever I command they do.”” — editor's note: Matt. viii. 9; Luke vii. 8.

“…having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. viii. 9.

“…him, and put him before all those of the people of Israel who had believed, saying: “Verily, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith in Israel.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. viii. 7–10.

“…at home sick of the palsy, and he is grievously tormented;” and so forth, on to the place where it is said, “And his servant was healed in the self-same hour.”” — editor's note: Matt. viii. 5–13.

“The faith of that Centurion He on this account chiefly praised, and said that He had not found in Israel so great faith, because he believed with so great humility as to say, “I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof.”” — editor's note: Matt. viii. 5–10; Luke vii. 6, 7

“…must charge him with rashness, who willed not that He should come into his house, believing that the disease of his servant would depart at His mere command.” — editor's note: Matt. viii. 8, 9

““I also,” saith he, “am a man set under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh: and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.”” — editor's note: Matt. viii. 9.

“Show us that they shall be cut off: “But the children of the kingdom shall go into outer darkness.”” — editor's note: Matt. viii. 5–12.

“…me, but what I command, that is done, though the injunctions be various (“for I say to this man, go, and he goeth; and to another, come, and he cometh”:) much more wilt Thou Thyself be able.” — editor's note: Matt. viii. 9.

The Lord having taught His disciples on the mount, and healed the leper at the foot of the mount, came to Capharnaum. This is a mystery, signifying that after the purification of the Jews He went to the Gentiles.

For Capharnaum, which is interpreted, The town of fatness, or, The field of consolation, signifies the Church, which was gathered out of the Gentiles, which is replenished with spiritual fatness, according to that,…

This centurion was of the Gentiles, for Judaea had already soldiers of the Roman empire.

This centurion was the first-fruits of the Gentiles, and in comparison of his faith, all the faith of the Jews was unbelief; he neither heard Christ teaching, nor saw the leper when he was cleansed, but from hearing…

All these things he recounts with grief, that he is “sick,” that it is with “palsy;” that he is “grievously afflicted” therewith, the more to shew the sorrow of his own heart, and to move the Lord to have mercy. In…

But some say that he says these things in excuse of himself, as reasons why he did not bring the sick man himself. For it was impossible to bring one in a palsy, in great torment, and at the point to die. But I…

Spiritually interpreted, the Gentiles are the sick in this world, and afflicted with the diseases of sin, all their limbs being altogether unnerved, and unfit for their duties of standing and walking. The sacrament…

Or, in the centurion are figured those of the Gentiles who first believed, and were perfect in virtue. For a centurion is one who commands a hundred soldiers; and a hundred is a perfect number. Rightly, therefore,…

The Lord seeing the centurion’s faith, humbleness, and thoughtfulness, straightway promises to go and heal him; “Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.”

Jesus here does what He never did; He always follows the wish of the supplicant, but here He goes before it, and not only promises to heal him, but to go to his house. This He does, that we may learn the worthiness…

Had not He said, “I will come and heal him,” the other would never have answered, “I am not worthy.” It was because it was a servant for whom he made petition, that Christ promised to go, in order to teach us not to…

As we commend the centurion’s faith in that he believed that the Saviour was able to heal the paralytic; so his humility is seen in his professing himself unworthy that the Lord should come under his roof; as it…

Conscious of his gentile life, he thought he should be more burdened than profited by this act of condescension from Him with whose faith he was indeed endued, but with whose sacraments he was not yet initiated.

By declaring himself unworthy, he shewed himself worthy, not indeed into whose house, but into whose heart, Christ the Word of God should enter. Nor could he have said this with so much faith and humility, had he not…

Mystically, his house was the body which contained his soul, which contains within it the freedom of the mind by a heavenly vision. But God disdains neither to inhabit flesh, nor to enter the roof of our body.

And now also when the heads of Churches, holy men and acceptable to God, enter your roof, then in them the Lord also enters, and do you think of yourself as receiving the Lord. And when you eat and drink the Lord’s…

The thoughtfulness of the centurion appears herein, that he saw the Divinity hidden beneath the covering of body; wherefore he adds, “But speak the word only, and my servant will be healed.”

He knew that Angels stood by unseen to minister to Him, who turn every word of his into act; yea and should Angels fail, yet diseases are healed by His life-giving command.

Also he therefore says that it needed only a word to heal his son, because all the salvation of the Gentiles is of faith, and the life of them all is in the precepts of the Lord. Therefore he continues saying, “For I…

He has here developed the mystery of the Father and the Son, by the secret suggestion of the Holy Spirit; as much as to say, Though I am under the command of another, yet have I power to command those who are under…

If I who am under command have yet power to command others, how much more Thou whom all powers serve!

Thou are able without Thy bodily presence, by the ministry of Thy Angels, to say to this disease, Go, and it will leave him; and to say to health, Come, and it shall come to him.

Or, we may understand by those that are set under the centurion, the natural virtues in which many of the Gentiles were mighty, or even thoughts good and bad. Let us say to the bad, Depart, and they will depart; let…

What is here said seems to disagree with Luke’s account, “When the centurion heard concerning Jesus, he sent unto him elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.” [Luke 7:3] And again,…

But some say that these are two different occurrences; an opinion which has much to support it. Of Him in Luke it is said, “He loveth our nation, and has built us a synagogue;” but of this one Jesus says, “I have not…

Matthew therefore intended to state summarily all that passed between the centurion and the Lord, which was indeed done through others, with the view of commending his faith; as the Lord spoke, “I have not found so…

For indeed there is no necessary contradiction between Luke’s statement, that he had built a synagogue, and this, that he was not an Israelite; for it was quite possible, that one who was not a Jew should have built…

Matthew 8:9 and Luke 7:8 share the same wording (29 words).

Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Matthew 8:5–9 (4) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Against Heresies I.7.

Cited together in On the Profit of Believing Chapter 32.

Cited together in On the Profit of Believing Chapter 32.

Cited together in On the Profit of Believing Chapter 32.

Cited together in On the Profit of Believing Chapter 32.

Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 16.

Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 16.

Cited together in Hilary of Poitiers on Matthew 8:5–9 (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Haymo of Halberstadt on Matthew 8:5–9 (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 16.

Cited together in Haymo of Halberstadt on Matthew 8:5–9 (Catena Aurea).