Matthew 8:9
For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
The verse is the appeal of a Roman centurion at Capernaum for his gravely ill servant, made by one who had not seen Jesus but believed reports of Him, felt unworthy to approach Him or receive Him under his roof, and cared for his servant and for the Jewish people. He explained his confidence from his own place as a man under higher Roman authority yet obeyed by soldiers and servants who go, come, and do as ordered without his going to them. He trusted that Jesus could heal from a distance by speaking the word alone, because Jesus represents the power of the infinite God whom all created things and disease obey, with angels surrounding Him to carry His word to the sickroom. His simple, unselfish faith rested on Jesus' power and mercy rather than his own worthiness or seeing a sign, and Jesus praised it as greater than any He had found in Israel. Its rewarding shows that Jesus' love and grace are not circumscribed by race or nation, so Gentiles become fellow-heirs with Jews and partakers of His promise, and those who bear His message are themselves men under higher authority who must lead by righteousness and not harsh control.
Centurion's Setting and Words
The appeal belongs to a Roman centurion at Capernaum who sought Jesus for his servant lying gravely ill. He had not seen Jesus himself but had learned of Him through reports that inspired belief in His power to heal. He felt unworthy both to approach Jesus and to receive Him under his roof, while his plea revealed tender care for his servant and respect and kindness toward the Jewish people.
He explained his confidence from his own experience as a man under higher authority, himself subject to Rome yet having soldiers and servants under him. His orders to go, to come, and to do this were obeyed without his going to them in person. As his command over soldiers was obeyed, so he reasoned Christ could heal by speaking without coming to the servant.
He trusted that Jesus could heal the servant from a distance without coming to the house or under his roof, by speaking the word alone. His faith did not depend on seeing a sign and did not question Jesus' power to do what was asked. Only a word was needed, and that word alone would be enough to heal.
He recognized that Jesus represents the power of the infinite God, so that all created things and disease obey His word. Angels surround Christ, and heavenly messengers can be summoned to carry His word to the sickroom to bring healing. By that word disease is commanded to depart and healing is brought to the sufferer.
His confidence was a simple, unselfish faith resting on Christ's power and on His mercy rather than on his own worthiness. It did not depend on seeing and did not question, but trusted the spoken word. Jesus praised it as greater faith than any He had found in Israel.
Gospel Beyond Israel
The rewarding of the centurion's faith at Capernaum shows that Jesus does not share Jewish intolerance and exclusiveness. His love and the gifts of His grace are not to be circumscribed to race or nation. There are no national or territorial boundaries to the gospel, for Gentiles too could receive salvation and share in God's promise.
The act teaches the hid mystery that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs with the Jews and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel. It is an instance of Christ working directly beyond Israel's acknowledged people and among people outside Israel. By it He sought to lead the Jews out of exclusiveness and to bring Gentiles to the gospel. The centurion's conversion shows Gentiles recognized as children of God, converted and welcomed into the work of the gospel.
That conversion anticipated the later gathering of Gentile communities into God's church. Yet the centurion had shown kindness to Israel, and still his faith was used as lesson upon lesson to disciples who were slow to learn and who thought grace was dispensed too freely.
Christ's work for this Roman ruler shows His deliberate study to find ways of reaching the rich while He ministered to the poor. His ministry was not limited to the poor and outcast but also reached people of standing and responsibility who would hear His word. He sought the acquaintance of the Roman ruler together with the wealthy and cultured Pharisee and the Jewish nobleman. He 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.
Pattern for Ministry Today
Matthew 8 joins the ministry of the Word with medical missionary work and gives the pattern for following Christ's methods. The healings of the leper, the centurion's servant, and Peter's mother-in-law in that chapter display His humility and His tenderness and care for the erring and for those needing sympathy and love. Even those who have not honored God's cause and whose lives and character show the deformity of sin must therefore be borne with. Such forbearance comes from remembering personal sinfulness and wickedness and how Jesus still bears with us.
Those who suppose they are to have authority in bearing a most solemn message to the world are themselves men under authority, ruled by a power higher than that of any earthly potentate. A person with authority may also be under a higher authority, and leaders in Christ's work answer to God. They must not use position to control others or act harshly, but are to be guided by God's Spirit and give an example of righteousness. People from other nations came to Christ for healing and help for relatives or friends, listened to His teaching, were moved by the truth, and received hope and healing. Christ's dealings with them set the example for service to people throughout the world.