Luke 7 - What Does It Mean to Have Great Faith?

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Enduring Word Commentary - Luke 7

Verses for Today:

The Faith of the Centurion

7 When Jesus had finished saying all this 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. 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.

Commentary

Luke continues to show us Jesus' love for the outsider. Jesus heals the centurion's slave. The centurion was a fairly high ranking Roman military officer, who oversaw 80 to 100 Roman soldiers. We see the love he has for his servant even though master's like him had a right to kill their slaves if they got injured to look for a new healthier slave. (Guzik)  

The centurion also knew about Jesus, as most of the people in the area. They had heard of his miraculous healing of all kinds of diseases and sicknesses. The centurion apparently had a relationship with the Jewish elders, as he asked them to bring word to Jesus of his slave's condition. Apparently he was a man who was liked by the Jews, because he helped them build their synagogue. 

The centurion was a Gentile, but many Gentiles were God-fearers who were sometimes baptized and became part of the Jewish faith. We see the man's humility when he learned Jesus was coming to his house, he did not consider himself worthy to be in Jesus; presence, so he asked his servants to tell Jesus. He was a man of authority but he realized a greater authority in Jesus. 

Though centurion was used to giving orders to the men under his authority, he believed Jesus could heal his servant with just one word. Jesus didn't even need to come to his house. Jesus was amazed at this man's faith. He had not seen this kind of faith in anyone so far, least of all the Jewish leaders. When the men went back to the centurion's house, sure enough his servant was healed. 

Application for Life 

1. Do you exhibit the same kind of faith and humility the centurion did? Why was Jesus so impressed by what the centurion asked for, and the manner in which he asked? 

The centurion exhibited "great faith", because he trusted in Jesus' authority to just say the word and his servant would be healed. 

Though the man was used to giving orders, he saw a greater authority in Jesus. He also used his authority to have mercy and compassion on his servant, which he did not to do. I am sure his character was rare in the Roman army, which is why Jesus pointed out the "great faith" he exhibited.

2. If you are a person who has authority over others, do you treat them like the centurion did in this story? Do you use your influence to bring Jesus into their life when they need it the most?

Prayer

Jesus, we want to have the same faith as the centurion. Help us to have the same humility as he did in caring for his servant and having the boldness to do whatever it took to get you involved. May we care and provide for the people whom we have authority over!