Matthew 8:9 · Clearspring

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Other translations

WEBBE

For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and tell another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and tell my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

BSB

For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes, and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.”

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.

ASV

For I also am a man under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

BBE

Because I myself am a man under authority, having under me fighting men; 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.

Original Greek

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καὶ kai Also G2532 γὰρ gar for G1063 ἐγὼ egō I myself G1473 ἄνθρωπός anthrōpos a man G444 εἰμι eimi am G1510 ὑπὸ hupo under G5259 ἐξουσίαν exousian authority G1849 τασσόμενος tassomenos appointed G5021 ἔχων echōn having G2192 ὑπ hup᾽ under G5259 ἐμαυτὸν emauton myself G1473 στρατιώτας stratiōtas soldiers G4757 καὶ kai and G2532 λέγω legō I say G3004 τούτῳ toutō to this [one] G3778 πορεύθητι poreuthēti do go G4198 καὶ kai and G2532 πορεύεται poreuetai he goes G4198 καὶ kai and G2532 ἄλλῳ allō to another G243 ἔρχου erchou do come G2064 καὶ kai and G2532 ἔρχεται erchetai he comes G2064 καὶ kai and G2532 τῷ tō to the G3588 δούλῳ doulō servant G1401 μου mou of mine G3165 ποίησον poiēson do enact G4160 τοῦτο touto this G3778 καὶ kai and G2532 ποιεῖ.¶ poiei he enacts [it] G4160

The early church

All 7

Wherefore he said likewise, "For I also am a man set under authority;" that is, Thou art God, and I man; I under authority, but Thou not under authority. If I therefore, being a man, and under authority, can do so much; far more He, both as God, and as not under authority. Thus with the strongest expression He desires to convince Him, that he saith this, as one giving not a similar example, but one far exceeding. For if I (said he), being equal in honor to them whom I command, and under authority, yet by reason of the trifling superiority of my rank am able to do such great things; and no man contradicts 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. And some actually read the place in this way, "For if I, being a man," and having inserted a stop, they add, "having soldiers under authority under me." But mark thou, I pray thee, how he signified that Christ is able both to overcome even death as a slave, and to command it as its master. For in saying, "come, and he cometh," and "go, and he goeth;" he expresses this: "If Thou shouldest command his end not to come upon him, it will not come." Seest thou how believing he was? For that which was afterwards to be manifest to all, here is one who already hath made it evident; that He hath power both of death and of life, and "leadeth down to the gates of hell, and bringeth up again." Nor was he speaking of soldiers only, but also of slaves; which related to a more entire obedience.

John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Matthew

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

Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

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 me; so also Thou, though under the command of the Father, in so far as Thou art Man, yet hast Thou power over the Angels. But Sabellius perhaps affirms, seeking to prove that the Son is the same as the Father, that it is to be understood thus; 'If I who am set under authority have yet power to command, how much more Thou who art under the authority of none.' But the words will not bear this exposition; for he said not, 'If I being a man under authority,' but, 'For I also am a man set under authority;' clearly not drawing a distinction, but pointing to a resemblance in this respect between himself and Christ.

Pseudo-Chrysostom · d. 500Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

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 us call the good, and they shall come; and our servant, that is, our body, let us bid that it submit itself to the Divine will.

Haymo of Halberstadt · d. 853Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

(ord.) Thou art 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.

Glossa Ordinaria · d. 1274Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 5–13

This centurion was a heathen, a Roman soldier. Though he was a soldier, yet he was a godly man. No man's calling or place will be an excuse for unbelief and sin. See how he states his servant's case. We should concern ourselves for the souls of our children and servants, who are spiritually sick, who feel not spiritual evils, who know not that which is spiritually good; and we should bring them to Christ by faith and prayers. Observe his self-abasement. Humble souls are made more humble by Christ's gracious dealings with them. Observe his great faith. The more diffident we are of ourselves, the stronger will be our confidence in Christ. Herein the centurion owns him to have Divine power, and a full command of all the creatures and powers of nature, as a master over his servants. Such servants we all should be to God; we must go and come, according to the directions of his word and the disposals of his providence. But when the Son of man comes he finds little faith, therefore he finds little fruit. An outward profession may cause us to be called children of the kingdom; but if we rest in that, and have nothing else to show, we shall be cast out. The servant got a cure of his disease, and the master got the approval of his faith. What was said to him, is said to all, Believe, and ye shall receive; only believe. See the power of Christ, and the power of faith. The healing of our souls is at once the effect and evidence of our interest in the blood of Christ.

Read Matthew Henry on Matthew 8 →

Parallel passages

1

The same words or events elsewhere.

Luke 7:8

Cross-references

13

Topics

Servant