After
he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant. When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.” Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof. Therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.” Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well.
Luke 7:1-10
Luke 7 [1.] After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant. When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.” Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof. Therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
Luke 7 [9.] When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.” Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well.
Luke 7 [11.] Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him. Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, “Don’t cry.” He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” He who was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.
Meaning:
Jesus has finished the Sermon on the Plain, which ended with a call to hear his words and do them (Luke 6:46-49). Now Luke shows a man who trusted the word of Jesus so completely that he did not even need Jesus to come to his house. Surprisingly, he was not an Israelite but a Roman officer.
- “A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him”
A centurion commanded about a hundred soldiers. Capernaum was a border town on the Sea of Galilee with a customs post, and this officer probably served Herod Antipas, whose troops were organised on the Roman pattern. Centurions were career soldiers, often tough and respected. This one cared deeply for a slave whom many masters would simply have replaced. The servant was “at the point of death”.
- “He is worthy… for he loves our nation”
Luke alone tells us that the centurion first sent Jewish elders to Jesus. Many Jews avoided Gentile homes, so he approached through people Jesus would trust. The elders plead for him: “He is worthy”, because he loved Israel and had built their synagogue. He was probably a God-fearer, a Gentile who worshipped the God of Israel without becoming a Jew, much like Cornelius, another centurion, “a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house” (Acts 10:1-2).
- “I am not worthy for you to come under my roof”
The elders said he was worthy; the centurion says he is not. As Jesus came near, he sent friends with a second message. He did not want Jesus to be made ceremonially unclean by entering a Gentile house, and he did not think himself worthy even to meet Jesus. His humility is the key to his faith. He asked for nothing on the basis of his merits, only on the basis of Jesus’ authority.
- “But say the word, and my servant will be healed”
The centurion understood authority. He was under the orders of his superiors and gave orders to his men, and they were carried out without his being present. He saw that Jesus had the same kind of authority over sickness. Jesus needed only to speak. This is the faith of Psalm 107: “He sends his word, and heals them” (Psalm 107:20).
- “I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel”
Only twice do the Gospels say that Jesus marvelled: here at great faith, and in Nazareth at unbelief. This Gentile soldier believed more simply than many of God’s own people. Matthew adds Jesus’ words, “many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 8:11). When the messengers returned, they found the servant well. Jesus had healed at a distance by his word alone (Matthew 8:13).
The Significance of Luke 7:1-10
- Humility opens the door
Others praised the centurion’s worthiness, but he relied only on Jesus’ mercy. We come to God in the same way, not because we deserve his help but because he is gracious.
- The word of Jesus is enough
The centurion believed that a word from Jesus was as good as his presence. Today we cannot see Jesus, yet his word is just as powerful. Faith takes him at his word.
- Faith reaches beyond borders
A Roman officer was commended above many in Israel. God’s Kingdom is open to people of every nation who trust in Jesus.
Cross-References:
Matthew 8:8: "Lord, I’m not worthy for you to come under my roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed." Matthew’s account of the same healing.
Psalm 107:20: "He sends his word, and heals them" God heals by his word.
Acts 10:1-2: Cornelius, another devout centurion, who received the gospel.
Luke 4:27: God’s mercy to Naaman the Syrian, a Gentile commander.
Conclusion: A centurion in Capernaum, a Gentile who loved Israel, sent for Jesus to heal his dying servant. He considered himself unworthy to receive Jesus into his home but believed that Jesus could heal with a word, just as his own orders were obeyed. Jesus marvelled at his faith, greater than any he had found in Israel, and the servant was healed. The story shows that humble trust in the authority of Jesus’ word is the faith he looks for, from people of every nation.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible