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
5
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.”
7
Jesus said to him,“ Shall I come and heal him?”
8
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.”
10
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.”
13
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
14
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.
15
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).