AN EXAMPLE OF GREAT FAITH

Passage: Luke 7:1-10

Key verse: 9

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.

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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.

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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 centurion sends for Jesus (1-6a) A certain centurion lived in Capernaum. He was a high-ranking soldier in the army and most probably a Gentile. This centurion had a servant whom he highly valued and who was also near death. The centurion asked for Jesus to come and heal his servant. He was so highly respected in the town that the Jewish elders interceded on his behalf. Is there someone whom you can bring to Jesus? 2. The centurion's great faith (6b-1 ) Jesus was on his way to the centurion's home. Then the centurion sent friends to tell him not to trouble himself. He believed that if Jesus simply said the word, his servant would be healed. As a military officer, the centurion understood authority. Those under his charge did whatever he told them to do. He believed Jesus possessed even greater authority - authority over sickness. Jesus commented that he had not seen such great faith anywhere in Israel. The servant was healed.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you possess all authority over all things. Please grow my faith in you.

One Word: 'But say the word....'