Mat 8:8-10 | PNT | STEP | The centurion answered . Through friends whom he had sent for this purpose ( ). I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof . This humility was partly due to his consciousness that he was a Gentile. Rigid Jews did not hold social intercourse with Gentiles, and the centurion may have supposed that so holy a Jewish teacher as Jesus would hesitate to come under his roof. Speak the word only . "Speak only a word" is the idea, and "my servant will be healed". Not even Martha ( ) thought that Jesus could have saved her brother Lazarus without going to him. His faith was great.

Matthew 8:8-10

The centurion answered. Through friends whom he had sent for this purpose (Lu 7:6).

I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof. This humility was partly due to his consciousness that he was a Gentile. Rigid Jews did not hold social intercourse with Gentiles, and the centurion may have supposed that so holy a Jewish teacher as Jesus would hesitate to come under his roof.

Speak the word only. "Speak only a word" is the idea, and "my servant will be healed". Not even Martha (Joh 11:21) thought that Jesus could have saved her brother Lazarus without going to him. His faith was great. For I am a man under authority, etc. The meaning is: "If I, in my subordinate station, am obeyed, how much more thou, who art over all, and whom disease serve as their master". As he could say, "Go", to a soldier and was at once obeyed, so Jesus could say, "Go", to the disease, and it would obey him. When Jesus heard [it], he marvelled. There are two cases in the Lord's history where he is said to have marvelled; here and in Mr 6:6. In one case he marvels at the faith of a Gentile; in the other at the unbelief of the Jews.

I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. The greatness of his faith is shown in his lofty conception of the power and dignity of Christ. This great faith was found, not in Israel, but in a Gentile. In one case beside, that of the Syrophoenician woman (Mt 15:28), also a Gentile, the Lord commends the greatness of faith.