THE CENTURION'S FAITH

Passage: Luke 7:1-10

Key verse: 7b

NIV

The Faith of the Centurion(A)

7 When Jesus had finished saying all this(B) to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.(C) 8 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.”

9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Read full chapter
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant

7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, (A)he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant[a] who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion[b] heard about Jesus, (B)he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, (C)“He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us (D)our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, (E)do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But (F)say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with 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.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, (G)he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such (H)faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Luke 7:2 Or bondservant; also verses 3, 8, 10
  2. Luke 7:3 Greek he
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. A compassionate soldier (1-5)

Roman soldiers were not noted for compassion , but this centurion valued highly the life of his slave. When his slave was about to die, he did everything he could do to save him. He even curbed his Roman pride and humbly asked a favor of the Jewish elders. He did not despise the occupied people. He respected them and even used his own money to build a synagogue. His actions reveal his basic humanity, his longing to know God, his respect for people and his shepherd's heart.

2. Such great faith (6-10)

He sent for Jesus, then sent again to ask Jesus not to come--'Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.' He believed the power and authority of Jesus' word. On a human level, the centurion's word carried authority. Men under him obeyed his commands. He also obeyed the commands of his superior officers. He saw Jesus as a spiritual general whose word was absolute. Jesus was amazed at this man's faith.

Prayer: Lord, give me a shepherd's heart and faith that prays. Teach me to respect and love people and give me faith to obey your word.

One Word: Just say the word