Mt. 8:5a Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum,
Lk. 7:1 Now when He had concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum.
Lk. 7:2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die.
Mt. 8:5b A centurion came to Him, pleading with Him.
Lk. 7:3 So when he heard about Yeshua, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant.
Here we have the touching story of a Roman centurion who came to Yeshua asking Him to heal his servant. A centurion was a Roman soldier, an officer, who was in charge of a hundred men. Generally, Roman officers were anything but good and kind to the subjugated people. But, this centurion, who was in charge of the town of Capernaum, was different. The difference can be seen in the fact that he has a Jewish servant that he cares for.
There appears to be a conflict here between the Matthew and Luke accounts, but in reality, there is not. Matthew says the centurion came to Yeshua, Luke says the centurion sent the elders and then some friends to Yeshua on his behalf. From the Jewish perspective, this is the same thing. The elders came in the name (power of attorney) of the centurion, which is the Jewish way of thinking was the same as if the centurion had come personally. The Hebrew term for this act is “ketav karsha’ah” (instrument of permission).
Mt. 8:6 Saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
Lk. 7:4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was worthy.
Lk. 7:5 “For he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”
Yeshua was a Jew who addressed Himself only to Jews, and even refused to heal Gentiles. He had to be convinced that the centurion was a benefactor of the Jewish people and had even built them a synagogue. The Jewish leaders generally would not seek favors for the Romans but they knew this Roman was different.
Mt. 8:7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
Lk. 7:6a Then Jesus went with them.
Mt. 8:8a The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof.”
Lk. 7:6b And when He was already not far from the house the centurion sent friends to him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof.”
The centurion knew that Yeshua wanted no contact with Gentiles, and he therefore declared that he was not worthy of Him coming under his roof. Although the New Testament does not provide the reason for his statement, the Roman believed that the Healing Rabbi was not allowed to enter the sick man’s house because of the defilement of the Gentiles. He therefore advised Yeshua to heal from a distance. This is even more a sign of faith than having Yeshua come and lay hands on the servant.
Mt. 8:8b But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.”
Lk. 7:7 “Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word and my servant will be healed.”
This statement is so out of character for a Roman soldier that it is almost unbelievable. Romans had an attitude of aloofness towards the subjugated people that is hard to describe. People that they had conquered were considered more like worms or dogs than people. For this centurion to make this statement is an exact 180 degrees from the normal attitude of the Romans towards the Jews.
Mt. 8:9 “For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant , ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
Lk. 7:8 “For I am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘come,’ and he comes; and to my servant ‘do this,’ and he does it.”
The centurion is making kind of an odd comparison between himself and Yeshua, but it shows that he understands more than you might imagine. He has soldiers directly under him that he gives order to, and yet, he receives his orders from a higher power. He is making that same comparison with Yeshua. Yeshua has His disciples that are directly under Him and obey His instructions, and yet, Yeshua also receives His instructions from a Heavenly Power. Evidently this centurion has been receiving quite a bit of instruction from the Jewish rabbis in Capernaum and he has been listening well. This type of spiritual understanding is just not normal for a pagan soldier.
Mt. 8:10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.”
Lk. 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.”
“Not even in Israel,” a country and people with hundreds of years of experience with God, and yet, a pagan Roman soldier shows them what real faith is. The faith that Yeshua found in the Roman was not someone merely making a profession, but it was faith put into action (genuine faith).
Mt. 8:11 “And I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
According to Pharisaic theology, all of Israel will have a part in the “world to come” (Olam haBah). Righteous Gentiles can also, but it is not automatic. Yeshua tells them that many will come into the Kingdom of Heaven from the Gentiles, and yet, some Jews (sons of the kingdom) will not. The meal mentioned here is known in Jewish theology as the Banquet of the Messiah (Mishneh haMashiach). It is not automatic for the Jews, but the same for everyone. Faith, like that exhibited by the centurion, is the key.
Mt. 8:12 “But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Mt. 8:13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
Lk. 7:10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.
No comments:
Post a Comment