The Gospels Compared
Luke 7:2-10
A Centurion asks Jesus to heal his servant Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:2-10 Luke 7:2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. Matthew 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, Luke 7:3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him Matthew 8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. that he would come and heal his servant. Luke 7:4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: Luke 7:5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Matthew 8:7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. Luke 7:6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Matthew 8:8 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. Luke 7:7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. Matthew 8:9 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]. Luke 7:8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth [it]. Matthew 8:10 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. Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 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. Matthew 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 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. Luke 7:10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
Who brought the Centurion's request to Jesus? Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:2-10 It clearly states that the Centurion came to Jesus in Matthew 8:5. But it also says that the Jewish elders came to Jesus also. The order of events seem to be that the Centurion first sent the Jewish elders Luke 7:3. Jesus then agreed to go. Then the Centurion came to Jesus Matthew 8:5. Jesus walked everywhere he went. Centurions commanded hundred-men groups in the Roman legion. "Such men were prestigious members of a relatively small class governing the military." (Achtemeier, Paul J., Th.D., Harper ' s Bible Dictionary, San Francisco: Harper and Row, Publishers, Inc. 1985). Therefore, the centurion most probably had a horse upon which to ride to and from Jesus. If this is so, then he probably returned to his home, checked on the servant and then sent friends Luke 7:6 to speak to Jesus saying that the Centurion was not worthy for Jesus to even enter his home. Jesus continued on. Then, as Jesus neared the home, the Centurion himself approached Jesus Matthew 8:8 to tell Jesus that he was not worthy for Him to enter his house. The slave is sick Luke 7:2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. Jewish elders entreat Jesus Luke 7:3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. Luke 7:4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: Luke 7:5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Centurion approaches Jesus Matthew 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, Matthew 8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. Jesus goes Matthew 8:7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. Centurion sent friends to Jesus Luke 7:6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Luke 7:7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. Centurion says he is not worthy Matthew 8:8 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 speaks of authority Matthew 8:9 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]. Luke 7:8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth [it]. Jesus' words and the servant is healed. Matthew 8:10 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. Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 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. Matthew 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 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. Luke 7:10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.