Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Matthew 8:13

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

But nevertheless, unto this great and marvellous work the centurion too contributed no little; which thing, we see, Christ also declared, saying, "Go thy way, and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee." Seest thou how the health of the servant proclaimed aloud both Christ's power, and the faith of the centurion, and also became a pledge of the future? Or rather it was all a proclamation of Christ's power. …

Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 26 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

"And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. And when the centurion returned to his house, at the same hour, he found his servant well." By healing the servant by His word alone, Jesus showed that He also spoke the truth when He said that the Jews would be cast out from the kingdom.

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Irenaeus

For there is no coercion with God, but a good will [towards us] is present with Him continually. And therefore does He give good counsel to all. And in man, as well as in angels, He has placed the power of choice (for angels are rational beings), so that those who had yielded obedience might justly possess what is good, given indeed by God, but preserved by themselves. ... …

Against Heresies (Book IV, Chapter 37) ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

As the Lord did not enter the centurion's house with His body, but healed the servant, present in majesty, but absent in body; so He went among the Jews only in the body, but among other nations He was neither born of a Virgin, nor suffered, nor endured human sufferings, nor did divine wonders; and yet was fulfilled that which was spoken, A people that I have not known hath served me, and hath obeyed me by the hearing of the ear. (Ps. 18:43.) The Jews beheld, yet crucified Him; the world heard, and believed.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Thomas Aquinas

God's kindness is shown, when he says, And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; be it done for you as you have believed." But the effect follows: and the servant was healed, because his word was full of power (Ec 8:4).

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Rabanus Maurus

As though He had said, According to the measure of thy faith, so be thy grace. For the merit of the Lord may be communicated even to servants not only through the merit of their faith, but through their obedience to rule. It follows, And his servant was healed in the self-same hour.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗