5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 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.
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. 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.
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. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 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. (Matthew 8:5-13 KJV)
The Faith of a Centurion
This passage recounts Jesus healing a centurion’s servant who was paralyzed. This took place in Capernaum, where Jesus lived at the time (Matthew 4:13). Wherever he went, he brought blessing.
The people involved were a centurion—a Gentile, a Roman, and an officer in the army, likely the commander of the Roman garrison in Capernaum. Despite being a soldier, he was a devout man. God has faithful followers in every profession. Though he was a Roman soldier stationed among the Jews as a sign of their subjugation, Jesus, the King of the Jews, still showed him favor. He taught us to do good even to those considered enemies. Though he was a Gentile, Jesus accepted his request. This fulfilled the prophecy that Christ would be a light to the Gentiles.
The centurion’s servant was the one who was sick. In Christ, there is no favoritism; he is as ready to heal the servant as he is the master. Jesus himself took the form of a servant, showing his care for even the lowliest. This story highlights a remarkable exchange of faith and grace between Jesus and the centurion.
The centurion approached Jesus with deep humility and confidence in his power. Unlike Naaman the Syrian, who demanded a cure from Elisha, this centurion came as a humble petitioner, recognizing Jesus’ authority. He addressed him as “Lord,” demonstrating both reverence and faith. Rather than turning his disabled servant away or neglecting him, the centurion sought the best help he could find. Many came to Jesus on behalf of their children, but this man came for his servant, showing his kindness. A good master wins the loyalty of his servants by treating them with care.
After Jesus offered to come and heal his servant, the centurion responded, “Lord, I am not worthy for you to come under my roof” (Matthew 8:8). Though he was a man of high rank, he recognized his unworthiness before Christ. No position or status should make us feel entitled before God. He believed that Jesus did not need to be physically present to heal his servant but could do so with a single word. This showed his understanding that Jesus’ power was not limited by distance. Unlike human doctors, Jesus’ word alone was enough to heal. The centurion compared Jesus’ authority over sickness to his own authority over his soldiers. Just as his commands were immediately obeyed, he believed Jesus’ commands had power over illness.
Jesus marveled at the centurion’s faith, saying he had not found such great faith in Israel. This statement emphasized that true faith is not about nationality but trust in Christ. He then told the centurion, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed,” and his servant was healed at that moment (Matthew 8:13).
The centurion tells Jesus his servant’s condition and is about to ask for healing when Christ responds first with a kind and powerful word: “I will come and heal him” (Matthew 8:7). This does not just show Christ as kind but as almighty. When prophets and apostles worked miracles, they did so through a derived power. Christ, however, speaks with authority because He acts by His own power. Ministers today can only say, “I will come and pray for him,” but Christ says, “I will come and heal him.” It is a blessing that Christ can do more for us than our ministers can. The centurion asks for healing; Christ promises both His presence and healing, showing more favor than was asked. Christ often exceeds the expectations of those who seek Him.
This also highlights Christ’s humility. He would not go down to see a nobleman’s sick child who insisted on His coming (John 4:47-49), but He offers to go see a servant. He values the lowly and gives honor to those who seem to lack it. His willingness to come humbles the centurion, making him confess his unworthiness. Christ’s gracious condescension should lead us to greater humility before Him.
He commends the centurion’s faith and uses it to speak a kind word about the Gentiles (Matthew 8:10-12). This shows the power of strong yet humble faith in obtaining blessings from Christ. Concerning the centurion himself, Christ not only accepts his faith but also marvels at it and publicly praises it. Christ admires him, not for his social status, but for his faith. Though Christ knew his faith beforehand—since he himself gave it—he still expresses amazement to teach us what to admire: not worldly success, but holiness and trust in God. Spiritual attainments should impress us more than any earthly achievements.
He praises the centurion before others: “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” This honors the centurion, a Gentile, showing that faith, not heritage, is what Christ seeks. At the same time, it shames Israel, which had all the privileges of God’s covenant but lacked such faith. The attainments of some with little spiritual advantage will condemn those who had much but made no good use of it. Christ said this to provoke His followers to holy emulation, urging them not to let a Gentile surpass them in the very faith that made Abraham great.
Concerning others, Christ uses this event to contrast Jews and Gentiles in salvation, challenging Jewish expectations. Many Gentiles will be saved (Matthew 8:11). The centurion’s faith previews the broader conversion of the Gentiles and their adoption into God’s people. Jesus declares this with certainty: “I say to you…” Though this was pleasing to Him, it was displeasing to the Jews, as seen when a similar statement enraged the people of Nazareth (Luke 4:27).
Christ describes those who will be saved: “Many will come from the east and the west.” Though He had said before that few find the way of life (Matthew 7:14), here He speaks of a vast multitude being saved. Though conversions may seem few now, in the end, Christ will bring many sons to glory (Hebrews 2:10). He describes their salvation: They will come together to Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:1).
They will enter the kingdom of grace on earth, being blessed with faithful Abraham (Galatians 3:14). They will also enter the kingdom of glory in heaven, sitting down in fellowship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Those once separated by time, place, or status will meet in heaven. The rich man in hell saw Abraham, but Lazarus sat with him. Holy company is part of heaven’s joy.
Many Jews will be lost (Matthew 8:12). A shocking judgment: “The children of the kingdom will be thrown out.” Jews who persist in unbelief, though they were born into the covenant, will be cut off. Being outwardly part of the church will not save them if they lack true faith. A terrifying punishment: They will be cast into outer darkness, excluded from God’s presence. This applies both to their spiritual blindness on earth (Romans 11:8-10) and to eternal damnation in hell, where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
In hell, there will be great sorrow—endless grief under God’s wrath. There will be rage and regret—seeing the joy of the saved while realizing their own lost opportunity.
He heals the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:13). Christ grants the request in a way that blesses both the servant and the centurion: “As you have believed, so let it be done for you.” The servant receives healing, but the centurion receives confirmation of his faith. Christ often rewards those who intercede for others. The miracle happens instantly, proving Christ’s power. The diseases He healed were often the most difficult to cure naturally—especially paralysis, which medical experts regarded as nearly incurable, especially in long-term cases. Yet Christ heals with a word, demonstrating His omnipotence.