Luke 7:1-10
(Matthew 8:5-13)
The centurion’s servant
Overview
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Background
The centurion and his servant
The centurion and the Jews
The centurion and Jesus
Jesus response to the centurion
So what?
Background
• Differences between Matthew and Luke’s
accounts
• Jesus had been teaching
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Lord of the Sabbath
Love for enemies
Judging others
Trees and their fruit
Wise and foolish builders
• Jesus entered Capernaum (1)
– Matthew 11:23-24
The centurion and his
servant
• Wealthy professional career soldier from
occupying force
• He comes to faith in the God of Israel!
• His life and attitudes are changed
– He is respected by the Jews
– He values his servant (2)
• Wants to help him (3)
– He hears about Jesus
– He sends the elders of the Jews to Jesus
The centurion and the
Jews
• The Jews come to Jesus and plead
earnestly (4)
– He deserves to have you do this (5)
• He loves our nation
• He built our synagogue
• Their wrong desires and motives
• Jesus goes with them (6)
The centurion and
Jesus
• The centurion’s humility (6)
– Don’t trouble yourself
– Don’t deserve to have you under my roof
– This is why I didn’t come myself
• The centurion’s faith (7&8)
– Just say the word
– I too am a man under authority
Jesus response to the
centurion
• Jesus responds to his faith by healing his
servant (10)
• Jesus was amazed (9)
• Faith is a gift from God
• Jesus admires / acknowledged his faith
• Centurion had greater faith than many
Jews
• Matthew says many Jews will be
excluded
So what?
• Do we seize the opportunity to share our faith with
everyone – even visitors?
• Are we willing to share the gospel with our “enemies”?
• Do we believe that God can save anyone?
• Do we truly see and value what God values?
• Are our lives being changed?
• Are we seeing other people’s lives being changed?
• Are we more concerned to correct people’s false ideas
than to meet their needs?
• Are we humble yet bold like the centurion?
• Do we admire and acknowledge faith and service?
• Are we making sure that we have true faith
and are not “missing the point”?