• Matthew 8:3
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 3 καὶ And ἐκτείνας having stretched out τὴν the χεῖρα hand ἥψατο he touched αὐτοῦ of him λέγων saying Θέλω, I am willing, καθαρίσθητι· be you cleansed; καὶ and εὐθέως immediately ἐκαθαρίσθη was cleansed αὐτοῦ of him ἡ the λέπρα. leprosy.

  • Matthew Study Notes—Chapter 8
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 8:3

      he touched him: The Mosaic Law required that lepers be quarantined to protect others from contamination. (Le 13:45, 46; Nu 5:1-4) However, Jewish religious leaders imposed additional rules. For example, no one was to come within four cubits, that is, about 1.8 m (6 ft) of a leper, but on windy days, the distance was 100 cubits, that is, about 45 m (150 ft). Such rules led to heartless treatment of lepers. Tradition speaks favorably of a rabbi who hid from lepers and of another who threw stones at them to keep them at a distance. By contrast, Jesus was so deeply moved by the leper’s plight that he did what other Jews would consider unthinkable​—he touched the man. He did so even though he could have cured the leper with just a word.​—Mt 8:5-13.

      I want to: Jesus not only acknowledged the request but expressed a strong desire to respond to it, showing that he was motivated by more than just a sense of duty.