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Epiphany · The Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Matthew 8:1-13

The Man With Leprosy

January 25, 2026

Christ and the Centurion, Paolo Veronese
Christ and the Centurion, Paolo Veronese, c. 1571Toledo Museum of Art
The centurion kneels in full armour on a crowded Venetian street while Christ stops to listen, with soldiers and onlookers pressing in from both sides.The reading is the man who said only speak the word, and the painting is him saying it.Paolo VeroneseThe most sumptuous of the Venetian painters, hauled before the Inquisition for filling a Last Supper with dogs, dwarfs and drunkards, and who simply renamed the picture.Toledo Museum of ArtAn Ohio museum founded by a glass manufacturer, free to enter, with a celebrated collection of glass.Toledo Museum of Art
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 8:1-13Mt 8:1-13
EpistleRom. 1:8-17Rom 1:8-17Alt. EpistleRom. 12:16-21Rom 12:16-21
Old Testament2 Kings 5:1-15a2 Kgs 5:1-15a
PsalterPs. 110:1-4Ps 110:1-4

Overview & Insights

“Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” (Matthew 8:2)

As Matthew’s earlier summary of Jesus’ teaching (4:23–25) indicates, Jesus’ messianic ministry is characterized by preaching (4:17), teaching (5:1–7:29), and healing (8:1–9:38). This section of Matthew introduces Jesus’ healing and miraculous ministry in Galilee, accentuating themes of Jesus’ authority, the importance of faith for discipleship, and Gentile inclusion in the coming kingdom of God. Jesus’ authority and corresponding faith in Jesus will be themes that pervade chapters 8–9. Matthew also cites from Isaiah’s Servant Songs (Isa. 42:1–4; 49:1–6; 50:4–9; 52:13–53:12) to connect Jesus’ healing ministry to Isaiah’s servant figure (Isa. 53:4, quoted in Matt. 8:17). By using Isaiah, Matthew indicates that Jesus is the Isaianic “servant” who willingly and compassionately takes on Israel’s suffering as Israel’s representative for the purpose of bringing God’s kingdom and salvation.

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Take it further: Matthew 8:1-13

Commentary

Matthew 8 Commentary: Healing, Teaching, and MiraclesMt 8 Commentary: Healing, Teaching, and Miracles Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik walks verse by verse through the cleansing of the leper and the centurion's faith with an evangelical eye for the text.

Matthew 8:1 Classic Commentaries ComparedMt 8:1 Classic Commentaries Compared BibleHub

Ranks Barnes, Gill, Ellicott, and the pulpit commentaries side by side for the opening of the reading.

Matthew 8 CommentaryMt 8 Commentary Precept Austin

Gathers word studies, cross references, and preacher quotations on the healings that open Matthew's miracle cycle.

Matthew 8 (Word on Fire Bible)Mt 8 (Word on Fire Bible) Word on Fire · Bishop Barron

Bishop Barron's Catholic reflections on the healings and Jesus' authority over sickness.

Background & Word Study

Matthew 8:1 Greek InterlinearMt 8:1 Greek Interlinear BibleHub

Shows the Greek text with parsing and Strong's numbers for close study of the healing narratives.

Book of Matthew Summary (chapters 1-13)Book of Mt Summary (chapters 1-13) BibleProject

Animated overview of the first half of Matthew, where these healings show Jesus' authority breaking in.

Holiness (theme video) BibleProject

Traces the biblical idea of holiness, illuminating why touching a leper to make him clean is so striking.

The Church Fathers

Matthew 8 with the Church Fathers (Catena)Mt 8 with the Church Fathers (Catena) Catena

Collects patristic and medieval comment on each verse of the leper and centurion accounts.

Sermons & Reflections

Matthew 8:1-4 (Sacred Space)Mt 8:1-4 (Sacred Space) Sacred Space · Irish Jesuits

Jesuit guided prayer on the cleansing of the leper that opens this reading.

Art & Music

Revised Common Lectionary art and image index Vanderbilt

Searchable gallery of paintings and images for the healing scenes across the Christian tradition.

Study Hub

Matthew (Textweek lectionary resources)Mt (Textweek lectionary resources) Textweek

Aggregates commentary, sermon, art, and worship links for passages throughout Matthew's Gospel.

Questions preachers ask

What healings open Matthew 8?

Coming down the mountain, Jesus cleanses a leper with a touch and heals the centurion's servant at a word, marveling at the faith he has not found in Israel.

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