1 Now
when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered
Capernaum. 2 And a
certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent
elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged
Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 “for he loves our nation, and has built us
a synagogue.” 6 Then
Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the
centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself,
for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself
worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under
authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and
to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
9 When
Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the
crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not
found such great faith, not even in Israel!” 10 And those who were sent, returning to the
house, found the servant well who had been sick.
Commentary
Vs. 1 “Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum.”
The Lord Jesus then having concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people; for Jesus’ Word is not just for the twelve, or His own disciples and followers, but for all people everywhere, for it is by His Word that He draws all people to Himself, John 12:32); and so, having completed all His sayings in the hearing of all the people, Jesus now enters Capernaum again, the most prominent city on the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee, the area where Jesus first called His disciples, and thus it will be from there that Jesus will not only teach many, but where many of His miracles and healings will take place (consider Mark 2:1-12; Luke 4:31-39; John 4:46-54; John 6 etc.).
Vs. 2-3 2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant.
Therefore, when Jesus entered Capernaum; His Name and Fame already being widespread in the region; and a certain Centurion; that is a Roman military commander who had a sick servant who heard that Jesus was now in Capernaum, believing that Jesus could heal his servant, he now sends to Him some elders of the Jews to plead with Him and come heal his servant. Now generally the Jews distained all Roman authority, especially their military authority, since it was by them, they were kept in subjection to the Rome. Nonetheless this centurion, like the one later mentioned in Acts chapter 10, will stand out for his faith in the One true God.
Vs. 4-5 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”
And so, it was when these elders of the Jews came to Jesus, they earnestly begged Him to heal the centurion’s servant, saying to Jesus that he was deserving, “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”
Quite a remarkable statement for them to say about him, therefore he clearly must have endeared himself to them, and not just in building them a synagogue (i.e. a place of worship), for even before they mentioned that they said, “he loves our nation.” Therefore, he must have been a just and righteous man indeed for them to be willing to appeal to Jesus on his behalf.
Vs. 6-8 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
Jesus then having heard the elders of Jews pleas now goes with them. Now as Jesus drew near the place where the centurion’s servant lay sick, the centurion sends some friends to Jesus saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” Vs. 7-8
In the centurion’s words to Jesus there is not only great humility; but also, and most importantly faith. Which are key ingredients to having the Lord Jesus Christ answer one’s own prayers. Indeed, so confident was the centurion in Jesus ability to heal his servant that he says to Jesus through the messengers he sent to Him, “But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” Vs. 7-8
This Roman Centurion then had come to learn from his own experiences that just as he directs men to go here or go there, or to do this or to do that, and so they do because he is a man under the authority of Rome, and thus he is exercising its authority when he speaks and commands such things, thus the men obey him. So, Jesus being under God’s Authority when He speaks, He too has all of God’s Power and Authority behind Him.
Vs. 9-10 9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” 10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.
Therefore, when Jesus heard the centurions word sent to Him by his messengers, He marveled at him, because here was a man who was not of the covenant people of God, who had not been, or seen, or known of all of God’s Mighty works done for the people of God down through the ages, and more specifically he did not have the Lord Jesus Christ walking in the midst of his own doing all of the Mighty signs and deeds that Jesus was doing right then in and amongst the Jews, and yet here he is totally confident in Jesus’ ability, and more importantly Authority, over all of or anything in creation, to heal his servant with just a Word. Jesus then upon hearing what the centurion said, and marveling at it, now turns to the crowd and says, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” Which itself is an incredible declaration coming from the Son of God, of not just that man’s faith, but sadly what was so desperately lacking in Israel, and often even now is often lacking amongst the New Covenant people of God. Therefore, this Roman centurion though not being of the covenant people of God will by his own words and faith become an object lesson to all the people of God, of trusting and believing that God Almighty and His Son have all Authority and Power to do whatever they will to do.
Therefore, when the messengers returned to the centurion’s house, they found the servant who had been sick total healed! Now what is most interesting is that Jesus didn’t even speak a Word to heal him, or lay hands on him, or do anything that would’ve been a visible sign to those who were then with Him, that He had healed him, He simply honored the centurion’s faith and willed it to be done and it was. A simple transaction then between God and a person in need, and such is the same today as Jesus Christ doesn’t need anything from us, other than for us to believe in Him and then He too will heal and save us. No fanfare, no great displays of worship and praying and sensational outcry’s, just believe in Him and you too will become a part of the New Covenant people of God, bound to Him (and secured by His Spirit to God) under the New Covenant, not the Old.
Scripture Quotations
Commentary
Vs. 1 “Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum.”
The Lord Jesus then having concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people; for Jesus’ Word is not just for the twelve, or His own disciples and followers, but for all people everywhere, for it is by His Word that He draws all people to Himself, John 12:32); and so, having completed all His sayings in the hearing of all the people, Jesus now enters Capernaum again, the most prominent city on the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee, the area where Jesus first called His disciples, and thus it will be from there that Jesus will not only teach many, but where many of His miracles and healings will take place (consider Mark 2:1-12; Luke 4:31-39; John 4:46-54; John 6 etc.).
Vs. 2-3 2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant.
Therefore, when Jesus entered Capernaum; His Name and Fame already being widespread in the region; and a certain Centurion; that is a Roman military commander who had a sick servant who heard that Jesus was now in Capernaum, believing that Jesus could heal his servant, he now sends to Him some elders of the Jews to plead with Him and come heal his servant. Now generally the Jews distained all Roman authority, especially their military authority, since it was by them, they were kept in subjection to the Rome. Nonetheless this centurion, like the one later mentioned in Acts chapter 10, will stand out for his faith in the One true God.
Vs. 4-5 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”
And so, it was when these elders of the Jews came to Jesus, they earnestly begged Him to heal the centurion’s servant, saying to Jesus that he was deserving, “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”
Quite a remarkable statement for them to say about him, therefore he clearly must have endeared himself to them, and not just in building them a synagogue (i.e. a place of worship), for even before they mentioned that they said, “he loves our nation.” Therefore, he must have been a just and righteous man indeed for them to be willing to appeal to Jesus on his behalf.
Vs. 6-8 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
Jesus then having heard the elders of Jews pleas now goes with them. Now as Jesus drew near the place where the centurion’s servant lay sick, the centurion sends some friends to Jesus saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” Vs. 7-8
In the centurion’s words to Jesus there is not only great humility; but also, and most importantly faith. Which are key ingredients to having the Lord Jesus Christ answer one’s own prayers. Indeed, so confident was the centurion in Jesus ability to heal his servant that he says to Jesus through the messengers he sent to Him, “But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” Vs. 7-8
This Roman Centurion then had come to learn from his own experiences that just as he directs men to go here or go there, or to do this or to do that, and so they do because he is a man under the authority of Rome, and thus he is exercising its authority when he speaks and commands such things, thus the men obey him. So, Jesus being under God’s Authority when He speaks, He too has all of God’s Power and Authority behind Him.
Vs. 9-10 9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” 10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.
Therefore, when Jesus heard the centurions word sent to Him by his messengers, He marveled at him, because here was a man who was not of the covenant people of God, who had not been, or seen, or known of all of God’s Mighty works done for the people of God down through the ages, and more specifically he did not have the Lord Jesus Christ walking in the midst of his own doing all of the Mighty signs and deeds that Jesus was doing right then in and amongst the Jews, and yet here he is totally confident in Jesus’ ability, and more importantly Authority, over all of or anything in creation, to heal his servant with just a Word. Jesus then upon hearing what the centurion said, and marveling at it, now turns to the crowd and says, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” Which itself is an incredible declaration coming from the Son of God, of not just that man’s faith, but sadly what was so desperately lacking in Israel, and often even now is often lacking amongst the New Covenant people of God. Therefore, this Roman centurion though not being of the covenant people of God will by his own words and faith become an object lesson to all the people of God, of trusting and believing that God Almighty and His Son have all Authority and Power to do whatever they will to do.
Therefore, when the messengers returned to the centurion’s house, they found the servant who had been sick total healed! Now what is most interesting is that Jesus didn’t even speak a Word to heal him, or lay hands on him, or do anything that would’ve been a visible sign to those who were then with Him, that He had healed him, He simply honored the centurion’s faith and willed it to be done and it was. A simple transaction then between God and a person in need, and such is the same today as Jesus Christ doesn’t need anything from us, other than for us to believe in Him and then He too will heal and save us. No fanfare, no great displays of worship and praying and sensational outcry’s, just believe in Him and you too will become a part of the New Covenant people of God, bound to Him (and secured by His Spirit to God) under the New Covenant, not the Old.
Scripture Quotations
New King James Version. (1982): Thomas Nelson
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