Keraia
Matthew 8

Matthew 8:9

The Faith of the Centurion · Matthew 8:5–13
Read Matthew 8

Translations

Modern
For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes, and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.”
Traditional
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.
Literal
For I also 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.”
Latin
Nam et ego homo sum sub potestate constitutus, habens sub me milites, et dico huic: Vade, et vadit: et alii: Veni, et venit: et servo meo: Fac hoc, et facit.

Original

Greek
English
For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes, and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.”

Notes

Matthew 8:8–10

The centurion recognized the authority of Jesus. From his own experience, he knew his soldiers quickly obeyed his orders. He realized that God had given Jesus the authority to perform miracles. The centurion’s faith demonstrates that the kingdom of God includes people from all nations (8:11).

Matthew 8:5–13

Jesus once again served people who were pushed aside or rejected. The centurion was a Gentile soldier. Helping him would have caused strong anger from both nationalistic Jews and separatist Jews.

Matthew 8:1–9:34

Here, the kingdom of God appears with supernatural power (see Matthew 4:23–25; 11:2–6). It reaches people who were previously excluded from God's blessings. This included:

  • non-Jewish people,

  • lepers,

  • blind people,

  • sick women,

  • people possessed by demons,

  • tax collectors,

  • those with long-term bleeding, and

  • the dead.

Jesus showed compassion to people in need. But the religious leaders reacted with anger and opposition. Jesus called his followers to respond with faith and to walk in discipleship (living as his learners and followers).

Events

Parallels

Luke 7:1–10 John 4:43–54

Glossary

Centurion Gospel of Matthew Heal, Healing Jesus Christ John the Baptist Magi Miracle Principalities and Powers Servant Word, Word of God, Words of God

Topics

Centurion of Capernaum, Comes to Jesus in Behalf of his Servant Heathen: Divine Revelations Given to The Centurion at Capernaum Heathen: The Centurion at Capernaum Intercession of Man with God Jesus, the Christ: Heals the Servant of the Centurion (Near Capernaum) Jesus, the Christ: Miracles of Heals the Centurion's Servant Miracles of Jesus, in Chronological Order: Restores the Centurion's Servant Prayer: Answered: Centurion, for his Servant Servant: Bond by the Roman Centurion Servant: Good of the Roman Centurion Servant: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Servants: Good: Servants of Centurion The Roman Empire: Allusions to Military Affairs of Strict Obedience to Superiors