Matthew 8 9

Matthew 8:9 kjv

For I am a man 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.

Matthew 8:9 nkjv

For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

Matthew 8:9 niv

For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

Matthew 8:9 esv

For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

Matthew 8:9 nlt

I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, 'Go,' and they go, or 'Come,' and they come. And if I say to my slaves, 'Do this,' they do it."

Matthew 8 verses

Matthew 8 9 Meaning

Matthew 8:9 captures the Roman centurion's profound understanding of authority. He uses a military analogy to express his faith: just as he, a man under the authority of Rome, commands his soldiers who immediately obey, so Jesus, operating under a higher, divine authority, needs only to speak a word for healing to occur, without needing to be physically present. His statement underscores that true power lies in the authoritative command itself, not in the physical act.

Matthew 8 9 Context

This verse is part of a powerful series of demonstrations of Jesus' authority immediately following the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7). Having taught with unique exousia (authority), Jesus now enacts it. Before this, Jesus healed a leper by touch, an act challenging conventional purity laws. Now, a Gentile Roman centurion approaches Him for healing. The Centurion's humble and insightful response (Matt 8:8-9) profoundly impresses Jesus, who declares it "great faith," surpassing any He had found in Israel. Historically, centurions were highly disciplined, trusted Roman officers overseeing approximately eighty to one hundred soldiers, known for their strict adherence to military command and absolute obedience. This historical backdrop lends weight to the centurion's analogy and highlights his unique spiritual insight. The narrative contrasts the centurion's proactive faith with the sometimes-reluctant faith of the Jewish leaders, implicitly challenging ethnocentric religious views and foreshadowing the global reach of the Gospel.

Matthew 8 9 Word analysis

• For I also am: The Greek word for "also" (καὶ - kai) suggests a point of commonality. The centurion implies a parallel between his own understanding of delegated authority and Jesus's divine authority. He acknowledges that if he, an ordinary man, wields effective authority, then Jesus's inherent, far greater authority must be supremely effective.
• a man under authority: The Greek phrase is "ἄνθρωπος ὑπὸ ἐξουσίαν" (anthrōpos hypo exousian).
  • ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos): "man," "human being," emphasizing his humanity and finite position.
  • ὑπὸ (hypo): "under," "subject to," clearly indicating his subordinate status.
  • ἐξουσίαν (exousian): "authority," "power," "right," "jurisdiction." Here, it signifies authority that has been delegated to him by a higher power (e.g., the Roman Emperor, the military hierarchy). He possesses no inherent or self-derived authority.
• with soldiers under me: Greek "ἔχων ὑπ’ ἐμαυτὸν στρατιώτας" (echōn hyp' emauton stratiōtas). This explicitly demonstrates the practical outworking of his "under authority" status. He receives orders, and then gives orders, showing the chain of command in action. "Soldiers" highlights his military context.
• and I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it: This repeated pattern highlights unquestioning and immediate obedience to authoritative command. The military context implies a clear understanding that commands, once issued, are followed without question or delay. The diversity of commands ('Go,' 'Come,' 'Do this') and targets (general soldier, then a specific servant) underscores the pervasive reach of his delegated authority. The centurion's deep insight is in recognizing that Jesus' inherent divine authority would work with even greater power and certainty, needing no physical action other than a spoken word.

Matthew 8 9 Bonus section

• The centurion, a Gentile, demonstrated faith exceeding that found in many within Israel, serving as an early indicator that God's salvation would extend beyond ethnic boundaries to include all who believe, regardless of background.
• This passage challenges human attempts to confine God's power or method. The centurion grasped that divine power transcends human limitations and expectations, often requiring only a word.
• The centurion's profound respect for authority, stemming from his military discipline, provided him with a unique lens through which to comprehend Jesus's divine power. His analogy wasn't merely intellectual; it reflected a deep submission to the principle of command and obedience.
• The incident foreshadows the ultimate declaration of Jesus' complete authority in Matthew 28:18, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."

Matthew 8 9 Commentary

Matthew 8:9 offers a profound glimpse into the nature of true spiritual authority. The centurion, a military man, understands implicitly what many spiritual leaders of the day struggled to grasp: power resides in the authoritative word itself, not in the physical proximity or specific rituals. He draws an analogy: just as his delegated military authority compels instant obedience from his subordinates, so Jesus' inherent divine authority (His exousia) over illness and spiritual forces guarantees the immediate outcome of His command. The healing did not require Jesus to travel to the house or touch the servant; His word alone carried the power. This insight into Jesus' authority as distinct from mere human ability reveals the centurion's "great faith," a faith that trusts in the spiritual reality and efficacy of Christ's supreme command. It points to a theology where God’s powerful word acts effectively even across distances, echoing God's creative command in Genesis ("Let there be...").