Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 8:3

"And he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway his leprosy was cleansed." — Matthew 8:3 (ASV)

Jesus put forth his hand and touched him—The act itself was proof of both his will and his power to heal. He did not fear becoming unclean by that contact and was therefore not subject to the law that forbade the touch. And He met the one element of doubt in the sufferer’s mind with the words—and perhaps even more, with the tone or look that conveyed pity—I will; be clean. Mark adds that he had compassion on him.

Immediately his leprosy was cleansed—We may venture to picture the process to our minds: the skin cleansed, the sores closed, the diseased whiteness giving way to the tints and tones of health.