MattheW 8:15 | 1545 ate ly he was cleansed of his lep ro sy . 4 Then Jesus said to him , “ See that you don ’ t tell any one . But go , show your self to the priest and of fer the gift Mo ses com mand ed , as a tes ti mo ny to them .”
The Faith of the Centurion
8:5-13pp — Lk 7:1-10
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When Jesus had en tered Ca per na um , a centu ri on came to him , ask ing for help . 6 “ Lord ,” he said , “ my ser vant lies at home par a lyzed , suf fering ter ri bly .”
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Jesus said to him , “ Shall I come and heal him ?”
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The cen tu ri on re plied , “ Lord , I do not de serve to have you come un der my roof . But just say the word , and my ser vant will be healed . 9 For I my self am a man un der au thor i ty , with sol diers un der me . I tell this one , ‘ Go ,’ and he goes ; and that one , ‘ Come ,’ and he comes . I say to my ser vant , ‘ Do this ,’ and he does it .”
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When Jesus heard this , he was amazed and said to those fol low ing him , “ Tru ly I tell you , I have not found any one in Is ra el with such great faith . 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west , and will take their plac es at the feast with Abra ham , Isaac and Ja cob in the kingdom of heav en . 12 But the sub jects of the king dom will be thrown out side , into the dark ness , where there will be weep ing and gnash ing of teeth .”
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Then Jesus said to the cen tu ri on , “ Go ! Let it be done just as you be lieved it would .” And his ser vant was healed at that mo ment .
Jesus Heals Many
8:14-16pp — Mk 1:29-34 ; Lk 4:38-41
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When Jesus came into Pe ter ’ s house , he saw Pe ter ’ s moth er-in-law ly ing in bed with a fe ver .
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He touched her hand and the fe ver left her , and she got up and be gan to wait on him . make a person unclean ( Lev 5:3 ), but in this case Jesus ’ touch heals the leper . Jesus ’ response would have been as shocking as the leper ’ s request . Physical contact apparently was unnecessary to effect healing , since Jesus later demonstrates the power to heal from a distance ( Mt 8:5 – 13 ). By touching the leper , Jesus dramatically shows God ’ s love for outcasts . 8:4 See that you don ’ t tell anyone Jesus was strategic about displaying his power and revealing his identity as the Messiah . show yourself to the priest Priests at the temple examined people with leprosy to verify that their leprosy was completely gone . They would then carry out the purification ritual ( Lev 14:1 – 32 ). the gift Moses commanded Two clean birds , used in the purification ritual ( Lev 14:1 – 7 ). 8:5 Capernaum Town where Jesus based his ministry in Galilee ( Mt 4:13 ). See note on Lk 4:31 . centurion A Roman military officer who commanded about 80 men . These officers served their entire careers as soldiers and were highly experienced and esteemed . asking for help The Greek word used here , parakaleō , carries the sense of strongly urging or begging . Matthew ’ s choice of words would have conveyed a shocking scene : A high-ranking Roman military official — part of the imperial forces currently occupying Palestine — begs for help from one of the subjugated people , even calling him “ Lord ” ( Mt 8:8 ). 8:6 lies at home paralyzed , suffering terribly The servant is bedridden and in great pain ; in Luke ’ s parallel account ( Lk 7:1 – 10 ), he is about to die . The Greek term used here , paralytikos , refers to being disabled or crippled . This healing backs up Matthew ’ s earlier report about Jesus ’ power to heal paralysis , among other conditions ( Mt 4:24 ). 8:8 Lord See note on v . 2 . I do not deserve The centurion humbles himself before Jesus , who would have been perceived as a lowly Jewish rabbi . He also might be indicating an awareness that Jews could not acceptably enter the homes of Gentiles ( see Ac 10:28 ; 11:3 ). just say the word A statement of faith . The centurion expresses belief not only in Jesus ’ authority over sickness and disease , but also over time and space ( anticipating his ability to heal from a distance ). 8:9 a man under authority The centurion served within a chain of command ; his own authority was derived from those above him . He seems to recognize a similar situation with Jesus , whose authority comes from God ( Mt 11:27 ;
28:18 ). Just as the centurion can command his soldiers or slaves and know that his orders will be accomplished , so too — he perceives — can Jesus . All Jesus has to do is say the word ( v . 8 ), and it will be done ( compare v . 32 ). 8:10 he was amazed Matthew frequently refers to the astonishment of Jesus ’ audience ( e . g ., 8:27 ; 9:33 ; 15:31 ; 22:22 ), but this is the only place in this Gospel where Jesus himself is astonished ( compare Mk 6:6 ; Lk 7:9 ). Truly I tell you Jesus employs this statement throughout his ministry to emphasize the words that follow . anyone in Israel with such great faith Jesus makes the astounding statement that no Jew has as much faith as this Gentile ( non-Jew ). Jesus often describes his own followers as having very little faith ( Mt 6:30 ; 8:26 ; 14:31 ; 16:8 ). 8:11 many will come from the east and the west Refers to many Gentiles , in addition to the centurion . Jesus is pointing to the time when people all over the world would become his followers . will take their places at the feast Refers to the Messianic banquet that will accompany the end of the age ( compare Mt 22:1 – 14 ; Rev 19:6 – 10 ). The Old Testament predicts a gathering of Israel from all over the earth ( e . g ., Isa 43:5 – 6 ; Ps 107:3 ), as well as the Gentiles ’ worship of God ( e . g ., Isa 2 ; 60:3 – 4 ; Mic 4:1 – 2 ; Zec 8:20 – 23 ). Abraham , Isaac and Jacob The three patriarchs of the Jewish faith . 8:12 the subjects of the kingdom This may refer to some Jewish people ( Mt 13:38 ), who expected to be heirs of God ’ s future blessing ( compare 8:10 ), but by extension it refers to people in general who claim belief in Jesus but don ’ t actually practice his message ( 7:21 – 23 ; 25:31 – 46 ). will be thrown outside A consequence of their unbelief or lack of faith . into the darkness Elsewhere , darkness refers to distance from the light of God ’ s gracious presence ( 4:16 ). The place of God ’ s wrath is depicted as the gloom of darkness , probably signifying departure from his presence ( 2Pe 2:17 ; Jude 13 ). weeping and gnashing of teeth Reflects the unspeakable anguish of being separated from God ( compare Mt 13:42,50 ; 22:13 ; 24:51 ; 25:30 ). 8:13 just as you believed Likely expresses the cause of the healing . 8:15 she got up and began to wait on him Probably refers to serving Jesus food and drink . He takes care of her physical needs ( sickness ), then she takes care of his ( hunger and thirst ).