Matthew 8:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus stretches out His hand, touches the man, declares His willingness, and the leprosy instantly departs.
What Does Matthew 8:3 Mean?
No one touched a leper. The law required distance, and contact would normally render the toucher unclean. Yet Jesus puts forth His hand and touches the very thing others fled. With this gesture He answers the man's question directly: 'I will.'
The touch reveals as much as the cure. Jesus is not defiled by the leper; the leper is healed by Jesus. Where others spread their condition, He spreads His cleanness. The word and the touch together accomplish the work, and the healing is immediate and complete. In this we glimpse a love that comes near to what is broken and unclean, willing not only to speak the word but to lay hold of the one in need.
Matthew 8:3 in the Original Language
hapto (ἅπτω), 'touched' -- to take hold of, to lay hands upon; Jesus deliberately makes contact with the untouchable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 8:3
What does Matthew 8:3 mean?
Jesus stretches out His hand, touches the man, declares His willingness, and the leprosy instantly departs.