Story: The Faith of the Centurion

Category: New Testament
Scriptures: Matthew 8:5-8:13 Luke 7:1-7:11

Commentary

The scene described here is quite enchanting. At the beginning of our Lord's public life, during his ministry in Galilee, envoys came seeking a miracle. They were sent by a centurion, an important person in the city, whose servant was gravely ill, to ask for his cure.

The centurion didn't consider himself worthy to appear before Jesus, nor for Jesus to enter into his house, that of a gentile. Everything points to the officer having a high concept of Jesus' dignity and to his knowing the laws and customs of the Jewish people regarding their dealings with gentiles. Therefore, when he learned that Jesus was coming towards his house, he sent a second group of messengers asking him not to bother to come there. They made their message known to our Lord with words that churches invoke regularly: Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof . . . But say the word, and let my servant be healed.

Our Lord praised this man's attitude and exclaimed to the multitude accompanying him: I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. When the messengers returned to the house, the servant was already cured. St. Luke emphasized that Jesus marveled at the centurion's humility and faith. This time it had been a gentile, that is, someone who didn't belong to the Chosen People, who had given an example of faith, filling our Lord with joy.

See Commentary

Matthew 8:5-8:13

5 When he came into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking him,

6 and saying, “Lord, my servant lies in the house paralyzed, grievously tormented.”

7 Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

8 The centurion answered, “Lord, I’m not worthy for you to come under my roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

9 For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and tell another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and tell my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, “Most certainly I tell you, I haven’t found so great a faith, not even in Israel.

11 I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven,

12 but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

13 Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way. Let it be done for you as you have believed.” His servant was healed in that hour.

Luke 7:1-7:11

1 After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

2 A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death.

3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant.

4 When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him,

5 for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.”

6 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.

7 Therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed.

8 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.”

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.”

10 Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well.

11 Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him.