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Matthew 8:8
ESV But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.
NIV The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
NASB But the centurion replied, 'Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
CSB "Lord," the centurion replied, "I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
NLT But the officer said, 'Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.
KJV The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
NKJV The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.

What does Matthew 8:8 mean?

Jesus has agreed to a request from a Roman centurion to heal his servant who is paralyzed, suffering, and near death (Matthew 8:5–7). From Luke's report on this same event (Luke 7:1–10), we know that Jesus set out for the centurion's home.

Now the centurion objects to this. He declares that he is unworthy to have Jesus in his house. He calls Jesus "Lord," and it is possible that the centurion recognizes Jesus as the Messiah. He definitely understands Jesus to be a powerful and important person. It may also be that the centurion is being respectful to the Jewish customs, which do not normally allow a Jewish person to enter the home of a Gentile.

Clearly, this military officer understands that Jesus' power to heal is not limited in any way by distance. He says that one word from Jesus will be enough to heal his servant. He will go on to explain that he sees in Jesus the same authority over life and health as he, himself, has over the soldiers at his command (Matthew 8:9). Jesus will remark (Matthew 8:10) that He has not seen this level of faith in His power and authority among any of the Jewish people He has interacted with.
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