Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 8:2

"And behold, there came to him a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." — Matthew 8:2 (ASV)

And, behold,

Never mind about the crowd; fix your eye on the one man; behold, etc.—here is a mark of attention.

There came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.

He could not live in the city, but he might be found on the mount, in the outskirts of the crowd, where he would hear that gracious voice; and he came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if you will, you can make me clean, in which I detect no unbelief, but rather a very strong faith. "If you do but will, I can be made clean." And Jesus, seeing the man was willing to dispense with any outward form, used one.

This verse begins with a “behold.” It was not remarkable that great multitudes came to Jesus, but it was a marvel that a leper should believe that He could remove an incurable disease. The leper rendered to Christ divine homage, and if Jesus had been merely a good man, and nothing more, He would have refused the worship with holy indignation. Those who call Jesus “Lord,” and do not worship Him, are more diseased than the leper was.

His was a high degree of faith, for, so far as we know, no one had previously believed in Jesus in this fashion. Leprosy breeds great despair, but this poor soul rose superior to all doubt. If Jesus willed it, even he might be healed.

He did not doubt the Savior’s will when he said, “Lord, if thou wilt.” No, rather, he so believed in our Lord’s power, that he felt that He had only to exercise His will and the cure would be effected at once. Have we as much faith as this? Are we convinced that the mere will of Jesus would make us whole?

Lord, I can and do go as far as this and further still.