Luke 7:1-10

Jesus Friend of Believers

Luke 7:1–10 (ESV)

1 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, 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, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, 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 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, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

Luke 7:1–10 (ESV)

1 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.

This is close in geographic proximity to the sermon on the plain Luke 6

This is close in time

This is close in topic

The last parable of house built on the rock is about having an unshakable and genuine in Jesus and His Word.

2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him.

Luke B. What the People—Particularly “The Elders of the Jews”—Thought of a Certain Centurion: “He Is Worthy.”

Centurions were generally men of good reputation

Centurion—Centurions were the backbone of the Roman army, in charge of discipline. They commanded a century (100) but most often oversaw 60-80 troops.

“servant was highly valued”—could mean respected or honored.

servant was very ill. According to Matt. 8:6 he was bedridden with paralysis, suffering terribly, fearfully tormented.

3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, 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, “He is worthy to have you do this for him,

“He is worthy,” said the Jewish elders. Worthy of what? Of receiving as a favor from Jesus the healing of this desperately ill servant? However well-meant this appraisal may have been, it smacks of the doctrine of human merits. It should be borne in mind that those who spoke thus were Jewish elders!

5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.”

New Testament 7:1–10—A Pagan’s Amazing Faith

7:3–5. Non-Jews who feared God and donated substantial sums to the Jewish community were well respected. Centurions’ salaries were much higher than those of their troops, but for this centurion to have built the local synagogue represented a great financial sacrifice. The main point lies in the contrasting views of worthiness (7:4, 6).

6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.

Jesus heads out to the house. In Matthew it says Jesus said I will go and heal him.

Where the elders say the centurion is worthy. The centurion says he is unworthy.

Luke (C. What He (The Centurion) Thought of Himself: “I Am Not Worthy.”)

the centurion, on hearing that Jesus was on the way to his home, in fact was already nearby, becomes overwhelmed with the sense of his own unworthiness. After all, who is he in comparison with this Exalted One, this personal embodiment of majestic authority, all-embracing power, and condescending love, a love that bridges every chasm and overleaps every obstacle of race, nationality, class, and culture?

Luke (C. What He (The Centurion) Thought of Himself: “I Am Not Worthy.”)

It is clear that this man is filled with a sense of personal unworthiness. He is deeply convinced of his own insignificance in comparison with Jesus. Let Jesus therefore simply speak the word of healing! That is all that will be necessary to bring about a complete recovery.

The centurion says Lord. Kurios, Jesus is Lord.

New Testament (7:1–10—A Pagan’s Amazing Faith)

7:6. The centurion was not a full convert to Judaism and thus retained some of his uncleanness as a Gentile, especially in regard to the food in his home. To invite a Jewish teacher into such a home would have been offensive under normal circumstances, but in this case the community’s elders want to make an exception (7:3).

The Gospel of Luke i. The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant 7:1–10

The thought is hardly of ritual uncleanness but of unworthiness, like that felt by John the Baptist, before the authority of a teacher sent from God

7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed.

The centurion did not feel worthy for Jesus to come to him nor for him to come to Jesus.

New Testament 7:1–10—A Pagan’s Amazing Faith

7:7. During their twenty or so years of service in the Roman army, soldiers were not permitted to marry. Many had illegal local concubines, an arrangement that the army overlooked and the concubines found profitable. But centurions, who could be moved around more frequently, would be less likely than ordinary soldiers to have such relationships; they often married only after retirement. By ancient definitions, however, a household could include servants, and household servants and masters sometimes grew very close—especially if they made up the entire family unit.

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.”

New Testament (7:1–10—A Pagan’s Amazing Faith)

7:8. The centurion demonstrates that he understands the principle of authority that Jesus exercises. Roman soldiers were very disciplined and except in rare times of mutiny followed orders carefully.

The Gospel of Luke (i. The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant 7:1–10)

The centurion knows that Jesus can heal simply by a command, for he also (καὶ γὰρ ἐγώ) is a person who is under authority and can use his delegated authority to give orders that others must obey; so Jesus being under the authority of God can give orders to others.

Centurions Loves

His servant

His subjects

Submission

9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

New Testament (7:1–10—A Pagan’s Amazing Faith)

7:10. Some Jewish stories circulated about miracle workers, but reports of long-distance healings were rare and were viewed as more extraordinary than other miracles. Thus people would view this healing as especially miraculous.

Luke D. What Jesus Thought of Him: “Not Even in Israel Have I Found Such Great Faith.”

To be sure, also in Israel Jesus had found faith (Luke 5:5, 8–11; 6:20–23, 47, 48), but not a combination in one person of a love so affectionate, a considerateness so thoughtful, an insight so penetrating, a humility so outstanding, and a trust so unlimited. In many cases was not what Jesus had found “little faith”?