The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Matthew #2515a

JESUS HEALS THE CENTURION

                 Matthew 8:5
                 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him,

"Caper-nahum" means city of consolation or comfort and "The Comforter" was indeed there when the centurion, which means captain of 100, came to Him and "beseeched" Him.

[6] And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
Consider that this centurion did not ask for a healing for himself, but rather for his servant upon whom he obviously had great compassion. His servant was sick of the palsy which means that he was paralyzed.
[7] And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
Take heed, for we are about to learn a great lesson concerning faith from this Roman gentile centurion! Christ said the "He would come" and heal his servant but notice what the centurion's reply was:
[8] The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
The centurion was an humble man indeed who understood the power and the authority of the "Word" which he documents in the example he now gives:
[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.
The centurion knew as one who had power and authority himself, that his own spoken words as a captain were all that was required to make things happen. Do you get the point, dear Christian? Christ is now going to compare this gentile's tremendous faith in the power and authority of the Word of God to the faith of the house of Israel*?

Why?

Because the majority of us Christians have forsaken (ignore) His Word and follow after the traditions of men which make void the Word of God... else we would not be a nation of Biblical illiterates, would we?


* Note: If you are not familiar with who the so-called "Lost 10 Tribes of the House of Israel" are and where they reside today, log unto pamphlet #1064 and #1120.
                             [10] When Jesus heard it, He marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Again, why is Christ comparing the centurion's faith and belief in the power and authority of the Word of God to that of Israel's? Because the majority of the House of Israel, i.e. America, Great Britain, Canada, etc., do not have that kind of belief and trust in the power of His Word. Many of us have forsaken His Word and rather follow after the traditions of men.

Now notice what Christ has to say next concerning the lesson to be learned in this matter.

Matthew 8:11
And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Dr. Bullinger notes in the Companion Bible on page 1323 that the word "many" is an inoffensive expression (called an euphemism)which Christ uses to refer to the "gentiles". In other words, Jesus Christ will open salvation to all people and many gentiles will come and sit down with Abraham in the kingdom of heaven while many of Israel will miss the cut. That's right, whosoever will can become a child of Abraham, whose name means "father of many nations".
[12] But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Christ is speaking about those Christians we read of in the last chapter who cry Lord, Lord, but do not study nor follow the Word of God. They therefore do not know the Word of God which means they do not know Jesus Christ. Let us gain some additional insight from Luke's account:
Luke 13:26-30
Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

[27] But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

[28] There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

[29] And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

[30] And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Again, Abraham means "father of many nations" for it would be through him that the promised seed, Messiah, would come and offer salvation to all. So what does "there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last" mean? Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (gentiles)." Salvation was first given unto Israel, yet there shall be "many" (gentiles) who take part in the first resurrection, i.e. sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, while many of Israel will have to wait until last, until the end of the Millennium at the second resurrection.
Matthew 8:13
And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is the power and the authority! Know and Believe in His Word and you can claim the promises He has made to you!

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


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