Jesus Heals the Centurion's Servant

Saving Grace Church

Jesus Heals the Centurion’s Servant (Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10)

Teacher: Pastor Joshua Luis Pereira

(5) When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer (Note- Greek a centurion; similarly in 8:8, 13.) came and pleaded with him, (6) “Lord, my young servant (Note- Or child; also in 8:13.) lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” (7) Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” (8) But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. (9) I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” (10) When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! (11) And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. (12) But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (13) Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour. Matthew 8:5-13 (NLT)

When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people, he returned to Capernaum. (2) At that time the highly valued slave of a Roman officer (Note- Greek a centurion; similarly in 7:6.) was sick and near death. (3) When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his slave. (4) So they earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said, (5) “for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.” (6) So Jesus went with them. But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. (7) I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. (8) I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” (9) When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” (10) And when the officer’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed. Luke 7:1-10 – NLT

(54) The Roman officer (Note- Greek The centurion.) and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:54 – NLT

In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer (Note- Greek a centurion; similarly in 10:22.) named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. (2) He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. Acts 10:1-2 – NLT

(25) When they tied Paul down to lash him, Paul said to the officer (Note- Greek the centurion; also in 22:26.) standing there, “Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been tried?” (26) When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and asked, “What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen!” Acts 22:25-26 – NLT

(10) As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress. Acts 23:10 – NLT

When the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer (Note- Greek centurion; similarly in 27:6, 11, 31, 43.) named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment. Acts 27:1 – NLT

John 20:29, when he said, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

“And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die.” Luke 7:2 (NKJV)

(28) “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed. Matthew 15:28 – NLT

(1) Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 - NLT

(17) So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. Romans 10:17 – NLT

(18) Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Matthew 28:18 – NLT

(46) As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. (47) When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die. (48) Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?” (49) The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.” (50) Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home. (51) While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. (52) He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!” (53) Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus. (54) This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea. John 4:46-54 – NLT

(24) Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. (Note- Some manuscripts add and Sidon.) He didn’t want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn’t keep it a secret. (25) Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil (Note- Greek unclean.) spirit, (26) and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter.Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, (27) Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. (Note- Greek Let the children eat first.) It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” (28) She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.” (29) “Good answer!” he said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.” (30) And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone. Mark 7:24-30 – NLT

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." This verse supports your point about the importance of faith, like the Centurion's faith in Jesus' healing power. Hebrews 11:6 - NLT