Matthew 8:1-13 ▼

1 When Jesus came down from the hillside, large crowds followed him.

2 Suddenly, a leper came up to him, fell down before him, and said, |Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean.|

3 So Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and said, |I do want to. Be clean!| And instantly his leprosy was made clean.

4 Then Jesus told him, |See to it that you don't speak to anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest, and then offer the sacrifice that Moses commanded as proof to the authorities.|

5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a centurion came up to him and begged him repeatedly,

6 |Sir, my servant is lying at home paralyzed and in terrible pain.|

7 Jesus told him, |I will come and heal him.|

8 The centurion replied, |Sir, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed,

9 because I, too, am a man under authority and I have soldiers under me. I say to one of them 'Go' and he goes, to another 'Come' and he comes, and to my servant 'Do this' and he does it.|

10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and told those who were following him, |I tell all of you with certainty, not even in Israel have I found this kind of faith!

11 I tell all of you, many will come from east and west and will feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom from heaven.

12 But the unfaithful heirs of that kingdom will be thrown into the darkness outside. In that place there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.|

13 |Go,| Jesus told the centurion, |and it will be done for you, just as you have believed.| And his servant was healed that very hour.