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Chapter 32—An Army Officer Asks Help for His
Servant
This chapter is based on
Matthew 8:5-13
;
Luke 7:1-17
.
Christ was grieved that His own nation should require outward
signs of His Messiahship. But He marveled that the centurion who
came to Him did not even ask Him to come in person to perform the
miracle. “Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.”
The centurion’s servant, stricken with palsy, lay at the point
of death. Among the Romans, servants were slaves, bought and
sold and treated with abuse and cruelty. But the centurion, tenderly
attached to his servant, greatly desired his recovery. He believed that
Jesus could heal him. The reports he heard had inspired him with
faith.
This Roman was convinced that the Jews’ religion was superior
to his own. He had broken through the prejudice and hatred that sep-
arated the conquerors from the conquered, and had shown kindness
to the Jews. In the teaching of Christ he found that which met the
need of the soul. All that was spiritual within him responded to the
Saviour’s words. But he felt unworthy to come into the presence of
Jesus, and appealed to the Jewish elders to request the healing of his
servant. They were acquainted with the Great Teacher, and would,
he thought, know how to approach Him so as to win His favor. As
Jesus entered Capernaum, He was met by a delegation of the elders.
They urged that “he was worthy for whom He should do this: for he
loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.”
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Jesus immediately set out for the officer’s home; but, pressed
by the multitude, He advanced slowly. The centurion, in his self-
distrust, sent Him the message, “Lord, ... I am not worthy that
Thou shouldest come under my roof.” But the Saviour kept on His
way. Venturing at last to approach Him, the centurion said, “Neither
thought I myself worthy to come unto Thee.” “Speak the word only,
and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority,
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