Matthew 8:6-10

 

Mat 8:6 (KJB)

And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

 

This centurion must have a heart of compassion for the servant. The word here for “servant” in the Greek also speaks of a child or one who is young. Maybe the centurion had a servant who had a child that was sick but nevertheless, he had pleaded with Jesus the situation at his home. The word “palsy” is speaking about one who is paralyzed and probably could not walk and was suffering much pain owing to his physical infirmity. The centurion probably saw the healing of the leper and was encouraged to know that maybe his servant could be healed. In the life of an unbeliever, sin can cause much emotional and physical pain especially if the sin ends up with a debilitating disease or anything which attacks the body.

 

Mat 8:7 (KJB)

And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

 

Jesus responds to the centurion in like manner, He offered to come to his home and heal the servant. He saw that the centurion knew that He could heal his servant, so Jesus responds in a quick manner to the faith this man shows. It is a lesson for all of us that when we come to the Lord with a request, showing no faith will result in no result. If we come to the Lord in faith knowing He is more than capable of responding positively to our request and if it is His will, then we will receive what we request.

 

Mat 8:8 (KJB)

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.

 

There are two situations present. The first one is that if Jesus would have gone into the centurions home, He would have become defiled because the centurion was a Gentile. The second one is the centurion who probably knew Jewish custom and the law and did not want that to happen so he showed enough faith in Jesus that all He had to do was say the word and the servant would become well again. This centurion was truly humble because even though the Romans thought that they were the superior race, this man did not sport that attitude. This also teaches us that no matter where any of God’s Elect are on this earth, when it is their appointed time to be saved, then God will save them.

 

Mat 8:9 (KJB)

For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

 

The centurion understood the concept of authority and then goes on to explain to Jesus that he has charge of 100 soldiers and when he commands one to be dispatched somewhere or one to come to him for some reason, they obey. He understood the reality that Jesus had enough power that He did not have to come to the centurion’s home but His authority and power were absolute and all He had to do was to say the word and what He spoke would come to pass.

 

Mat 8:10 (KJB)

When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

 

The centurion had borne witness to the power of the Lord knowing that distance is not a hindrance for the Lord. By realizing this fact, he was showing tremendous faith in the Lord and so far Jesus had met some with faith but the majority did not have faith, but not one held the faith level of this centurion. Jesus then states that even in Israel, no one was found who had the great faith of this Gentile centurion. Even with all the learning the Jews had coupled with their history could not even yield one person thus far who could match the faith level of the centurion. This is one of the two places in Scripture where Jesus marvelled. The other which caused Him to marvel is found in Mark 6:6. (Mark 6:6 KJV) And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. Jesus marvelled because of the unbelief of the Jews. This is why the true Gospel was given to the Gentiles for the purpose of taking it worldwide. (Acts 13:48 KJV) And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

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