power logo

Centurion's servant, lying paralyzed and tormented.

 Alpha & Omega logo
Home / teachings / Healings
Matthew 8:5-13 Luke 7:1-10
5And when Jesus had entered into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, beseeching Him, 6and saying, Lord, my son lies at home paralyzed and grievously tormented. 7And Jesus says to him, I will come and heal him. 8The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my boy will be healed. 9For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, Go! And he goes; and to another, Come! And he comes; and to my servant, Do this! And he does it. 10When Jesus heard, He marvelled and said to those who followed, Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel. 11And I say to you that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of Heaven. 12But the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13And Jesus said to the centurion, Go. And as you have believed, so let it be to you. And his boy was healed in that hour.
MKJV
 1And when He had ended all His words in the ears of the people, He entered into Capernaum. 2And a certain servant of a centurion who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3And when he heard of Jesus, he sent the elders of the Jews to Him, begging Him that He would come and heal his servant. 4And coming to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that he was worthy, he for whom You give this; 5for, they said, He loves our nation, and he has built us a synagogue. 6Then Jesus went with them. But He being yet not far off from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, Lord, do not trouble Yourself. For I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7Therefore neither did I think myself worthy to come to You; but say a word, and my servant will be healed. 8For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers. And I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it. 9And hearing these things, Jesus marveled at him. And turning to the crowd following Him, He said, I say to you, I have not found such faith, no, not in Israel. 10And they who were sent, returning to the house, found the sick servant well.
MKJV
Insights
  • The centurion first made his request known to Jesus: Ask, seek and knock, {Matthew 7:7 & Luke 11:9}. At times we have not because we ask not, James 4:2/
  • The elders that were sent as spokesmen (in Luke's account), felt that they needed to somehow justify the request by saying the centurion was deserving of this healing. God's gifts are free, we cannot buy or earn them.
  • We can certainly see the centurion's humility and how he exulted Jesus in this account, yet he did not forfeit his healing request, we need to do the same. Sometimes we view humility as being to timid to ask, this is false humility. True humility is realizing our needful state and that without Jesus we can do nothing.
  • As Jesus said the centurion had great faith, and that came from knowing his authority. The centurion related it to having a servant and giving an order. If you have authority over that servant, you do not doubt that your order will be done. And in Luke's account of the healing the centurion relays to Jesus that, "he also is a man set under authority". He realized that Jesus also operated through authority. We can see this in the scripture, He is the King or kings, and the Lord of lords, {1 Timothy 6:15 & Revelations 19:16}.
  • Jesus / God is above all principality and powers, for He has spoiled them, {Colossians 1:16 & 2:15}. Jesus did healings and miracles through knowing His authority and we need to do likewise.