Read Introduction to Matthew
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.” 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. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour.’
8:5
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,
Capernaum was Jesus’ base of operations on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee.
A centurion was a career Roman officer who commanded 100 men, a man of significant authority.
8:6
saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
The centurion showed compassion for his servant with paralysis.
8:7
And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
Jesus offered to visit the servant where the centurion lived. To go to the house of a Gentile was a cultural barrier.
8:8
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.
The centurion expressed faith that Jesus’ presence was not necessary to heal his servant; He could heal by speaking “a word.” It was as though the centurion were asking, “Please give the order to heal him.”
8:9
For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
The centurion said in effect, “As I take orders and give orders, I accept the authority of your words, Jesus.” The centurion understood the principle of authority.
8:10
When Jesus heard it, He marveled,
The Gospels only occasion two times where Jesus marveled: (1) here of the centurion and (2) at the unbelief of the Jews (Mk 6:6).
and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
The centurion was a Gentile with “great faith.” The word “such” indicates a unique faith.
8:11
And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus indicated that Gentiles would flock to His kingdom from all directions. They will “sit down” (literally recline) at a banquet with the greats of Israel.
8:12
But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The “sons of the kingdom” are Jews of the nation Israel. Note the striking contrast between a Gentile centurion who believed and Israel as a nation that rejected the Messiah. Unbelieving Jews will be expulsed from the kingdom, whereas Jesus will accept Gentiles into the kingdom.
8:13
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
Jesus rewarded the centurion for his faith by healing the servant instantly. Jesus healed without going to the servant.
PRINCIPLE:
God places different people in different situations to reach different people.
APPLICATION:
Jesus used the leper to speak to the priesthood. He used the story of the centurion to speak to the Gentiles. This is about the anticipation of Gentiles coming to Christ. The story of the epistles is about the actual mission to Gentiles after going to the Jews first.
Where are you placed in God’s scheme to reach people?
Hi grant
Just wondering what your thoughts are on this: The account in Luke chp seven says that the centurion sent representatives and did not go himself whereas this Matthew account of the incident has him speaking personally with Jesus. How do we reconcile these differences?
Sanna, the centurion did not go himself. The words here are his words presented by his intermediaries. He probably felt unworthy to talk to Jesus face-to-face because he thought he would be rebuffed because he was in the military.