5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
Jesus comes to Capernaum. It is important to note that this is where Jesus lived (Matthew 4:13). A Centurion comes to him, asking for help. This is significant because a Centurion is a Roman soldier. Rome is the oppressor of Israel during this time frame, so he is an enemy of the Jewish people. He is also a Gentile. Why is this important? Because the centurion is coming to Christ for an unselfish reason. A Gentile is coming for help from a Jewish teacher. We can see that this Centurion has a kind heart, for he is coming to Christ on the behalf of a sick servant. In this time frame a slave was merely property and the slave owner even had the right to kill a slave without stepping outside the law. The request is not made in a casual way, but a pleading way.
7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
First, Jesus asks if he should go to heal the servant. This is important because in this time frame, it was against traditional Jewish custom to enter the house of a Gentile. But with Jesus, manmade traditions don’t matter when the law of God is at hand.
The Centurion’s reply is candid and honest: He doesn’t feel worthy for Jesus to come into his house. Why? Perhaps this kind-hearted man understood that he was in exact opposition to the Jewish culture, and by extension, Jesus himself. But here his faith is on display. Because of his perceived unworthiness, he still believes that Jesus only needs to “say the word” in order to heal. He knows Jesus is the true authority, healing by word or touch.
As a soldier, he understands that his men are under his authority, but makes the claim that he understands Jesus’ authority over life and death and healing. Like the men under his charge obey, so do the elements of the world obey Jesus.
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
Jesus marvels at the Centurion’s faith. The Centurion’s confidence in Jesus ability to heal shows something to Jesus he hasn’t seen in all of Israel. And he had to get it from a Roman soldier! Mind you, Jesus has been in the company of the Pharisees, the supposed spiritual head of the Israelite nation. Jesus also says that many Gentiles will come to sit with Abraham, Issac and Jacob, meaning that there will be many Gentiles in heaven, those who mimic the faith of this man.
Verse 12:Jesus mentions the subject of the kingdom, and says they will be thrown outside. As many Gentiles will be in heaven, it doesn’t mean that just because you are Gentile you are in. The reverse is true as well. Just because you are Jewish doesn’t mean you are saved either. The subjects of the kingdom, the Pharisees, who walk in human exhalation and don’t really believe, will be cast out as unbelievers.Their proximity to their religion means little to God. The relationship, the faith, is what counts.
And finally, because of the Centurion’s great faith, Jesus heals the servant.