Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 8:6

"and saying, Lord, my servant lieth in the house sick of the palsy, grievously tormented." — Matthew 8:6 (ASV)

On “Lord,” see comment on 7:21–23. The servant of this centurion had a form of paralysis, though we do not know its precise nature. Jesus’ response to the centurion’s request for healing is likely a question: “Shall I [emphatic; i.e., I, a Jew] come and heal him?” (cf. 15:2–28). This response was based on Jesus’ desire to find out exactly what the centurion was after and what degree of faith stood behind his ambiguous request (v.6).