Matthew 8:13, commentary and pictures

Jesus healed the paralyzed servant of a Roman centurion, who lay near death, in that same hour by His spoken word alone from miles away without entering the house or being present. The centurion had never seen Jesus but believed what he heard, broke through national prejudice, and understood that Jesus wields the power of the infinite God so that disease obeys His command as soldiers obey their commander, confessing himself unworthy and pleading his great need rather than his own goodness or works. Jesus marveled at such trust, declared He had not found so great faith even in Israel, and granted it to him according to his belief, commending believing without demanding further evidence. In healing and converting this Gentile outside acknowledged Israel, He showed His grace and love are not circumscribed to race or nation, rebuked Jewish exclusiveness and intolerance, and foreshadowed Gentiles becoming fellow-heirs and partakers of the promise in Christ by the gospel. The same tenderness that heard in that very hour still answers persistent, believing prayer according to faith for His name's glory, which is lost by failing to bring needs to Him and is gained by praying importunately, waiting patiently, and trusting His wisdom, uniting the ministry of the Word with medical missionary work as the pattern for labor.

Faith and Immediate Healing

The verse concerns a Roman centurion whose servant lay paralyzed and near death. Jesus healed that servant in the selfsame hour, at a distance miles away, by His spoken word alone, without entering the house or being physically present, showing His healing power does not depend on presence. The centurion had never seen Jesus but believed the reports he heard, and that report had given him faith. He broke through national prejudice and understood that Jesus represents the power of the infinite God, so that all created things and disease obey His word just as Roman soldiers obey a commander. His respect for God's service and his kindness toward the Jews accompanied his recognition that Jesus' teaching met the need of his soul.

Confessing himself unworthy to receive Jesus under his roof, the centurion asked only for the commanding word for the disease to depart. He trusted Christ's power and mercy and pleaded his great need rather than his own worthiness, goodness, or works. Jesus marveled at him and declared He had not found such great faith even in Israel. He granted it to him according to his belief, so that it would be done for him as he had believed and his servant was healed at that very hour. Thereby He commended believing without demanding further evidence and set such faith against doubt, exalting this faith over doubt.

By contrast, unbelief leads people to reject great light and brings condemnation, ruin, and overthrow, as shown in Israel's unbelief when its people would reject great light and suffer condemnation and overthrow.

Christ's Work Beyond Israel

The healing of the servant and the conversion of the Roman centurion are a direct working of Christ outside the acknowledged people of Israel, welcoming a Gentile's faith as also with the Syrophoenician woman. In this He sought to lead the Jews out of their exclusiveness. He gave evidence that He did not share Jewish intolerance and exclusiveness, and that His grace and love are not circumscribed to race or nation, though the disciples thought He dispensed the gifts of His grace too freely.

The reward of the Capernaum centurion's faith was lesson upon lesson to the slow disciples that people among the Gentiles were also seeking salvation and the light of truth. It revealed the mystery hid for ages that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs with the Jews and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel. Though the centurion had shown kindness to Israel, the favor shown to his faith pointed beyond Israel to heathen with no such claim. The account foreshadowed the time for active and continued work among the Gentiles, when whole communities would receive the gospel gladly. Then Gentiles could receive faith and help and be recognized as children of God belonging among God's people, and a new Israel would be grafted into the old olive tree despite Jewish unbelief.

The verse shows Jesus deliberately finding ways to reach the rich while He ministered to the poor. He worked for the centurion as a Roman and a person of standing as well as for the poor and outcast. He sought the acquaintance of such wealthy men, accepted their invitations, attended their feasts, and made Himself familiar with their interests and occupations, that He might gain access to their hearts and reveal to them the imperishable riches. In healing a Gentile's servant at his request, the verse illustrates Christ's care for people of other nations and for their relatives. That healing and His words of hope set an example for service to humanity throughout the world.

Pattern for Ministry and Prayer

The chapter in which the servant was healed in the selfsame hour joins the ministry of the Word to medical missionary work. In that union it supplies the pattern for laboring as Christ labored.

The prompt hearing and healing in the selfsame hour displays humility, tenderness, and care for the erring and for those who need sympathy and love. It reveals patient bearing with people who are wicked and sinful and whose lives and character show the deformity of sin. The same forbearance is required toward even those who have not honored the cause of God, in remembrance of how He still bears with sinfulness.

The granting of the request according to belief means Jesus answers persistent, believing prayer according to faith when what is asked is for His name's glory. Blessing is lost by failing to bring needs, cares, and sorrows to Him. It is gained by laying plans at His feet, praying importunately, and waiting patiently if the answer tarries. Such waiting trusts His wisdom, which sees the result of every action, rather than supposedly wise human plans, and then acts as though His power will send the answer without stepping in before Him in human strength.