 Previous Chapter |
 Return to Outline |
 Ask Questions |
 Next Chapter |
We will combine the two in the study of this opinion, remembering that Matthew was writing to the Jew and that Luke was writing to the Roman. After combining the two we come up with the following outline:
As we have seen previously, Jesus used the city of Capernaum in the Providence of Galilee, as the base of most of His three years of ministry. Capernaum was located on the north tip of the Sea of Galilee.
Our story concerns a Centurion with a sick servant. The Centurion was a Roman and a Gentile, yet, contrary to that, he was a godly man. He was a considerate man as evidenced by his concern for his servant. He was a influential man as evidenced by the fact that Jewish Elders came to Jesus on his behalf. He was a humble man as evidenced by his respect for Jesus.
Note the way the Jewish Elders handled this man's request:
So Jesus went toward the Centurion's house, only to be met again by another display of the Centurion's faith and humility. Roman Centurions were not normally humble people yet this man did not feel worthy to even come into the presence of Jesus. Notice he sends friends to Jesus, with a message, as he sees Him approaching. "Lord, do not trouble yourself for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, therefore, I did not come to you." "Just say the word and my servant will be healed." (No Jew could go into the home of a Gentile without becoming unclean and in need of purification.)
The Centurion further showed his humility and regard for Jesus by reminding Jesus of the legal power that he had over the people in that sector of Galilee, being able to command them to come and go as he saw fit, but to Jesus, he conceded all of his authority and became an unworthy believer.
Notice the great faith of this man. Remember the story of another event in the life of Christ when friends of a paralytic let their friend down through a hole in the roof of a home where Jesus was staying , believing that if they could just get their friend into the presence of Jesus, he would be healed, and Jesus seeing their ingenuity and persistence, commented on their "working faith". How much greater was the faith of this Centurion, for he had a "trusting faith", believing that all that was needed was to make Christ aware of his servants need and if it was His will, He could heal by the power of His word, wherever or whatever the need might be. Jesus commenting on this, accepted him as He does all believers, but He also applauded him, a honor reserved for great believers.
Jesus said, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." Here Jesus got on a subject that had got Him thrown out of Nazareth, a subject no Jew wanted to talk about, yet He took the opportunity to bring home a point to His new band of followers, the fact of His salvation and grace. Can you imagine how hard it was for the Jews to take His phrase of a Gentile's faith? And then He added insult to injury by including the Gentile in the Kingdom of Heaven and saying that many of them would be saved. This was a prophecy of the gathering from all over the world of strangers, to the Covenant given to Abraham, coming to know Jesus as their personal Savior and thus being part of the Kingdom of God. Another point was brought out and that was that they would be admitted into the Kingdom of Grace here on earth. "They shall set down with Abraham, we shall all meet together in Heaven." Then Jesus says that many of the Jews shall perish. Matthew Henry says of this, "The children of the kingdom shall be cast out, the Kingdom of which they boasted at being part of, shall be taken from them. In the Day of Judgement, it will be of no avail for men to have been "children of the kingdom" (children of professing parents) either Jew or Gentile, for men will be judged not by their heritage but by what they have done with Jesus Christ.
Then a strange punishment is prophesied, "They shall be cast into outer darkness." "Darkness" is described as a place without hope, without light, separated from God and shut out of Heaven, the city of light.
The story ends with Jesus healing the Centurion's servant, "Be it done as you believe." "Only believe, all things are possible, if only we believe." The Roman Centurion may not have understood the complete nature of Christ and His mission but in his opinion, Jesus had the ability to heal and deserved all the honor and respect that he could give him. Though this Centurion was a Roman soldier and his very presence was a constant reminder of their subjection to Rome, yet Christ favored him even commended him for his faith, therein teaching us to do good to our enemies.
Though the Centurion was a Gentile, Christ accepted him. Now the words of good old Simeon began to be fulfilled that this Jesus would be a light unto the Gentiles as well as the Glory of His people Israel. The Jews Christ touched and ministered to personally, but the Gentiles He healed from afar, for to them He would send His word to heal them spiritually and physically.
Previous Chapter |
Return to Outline |
Ask Questions |
Next Chapter |