The passage describes Jesus healing the servant of a Roman centurion from a distance. It says: 1) A centurion approached Jesus, asking him to heal his paralyzed servant. Though a Gentile soldier, the centurion demonstrated great faith in Jesus. 2) When Jesus offered to come to the centurion's home, the centurion insisted that Jesus only need say the word to heal him. The centurion understood Jesus' authority. 3) Impressed by the centurion's faith, Jesus healed the servant from a distance immediately, as the centurion believed. It was one of the first times Jesus referred to hell. The passage emphasizes that Jesus' grace is for all people.

2. ThePowerThePower
oftheKing:oftheKing:oftheKing:oftheKing:
GraceforOutcastsGraceforOutcasts––
HealingtheHealingthe
Centurion’sServantCenturion’sServantCenturion’sServantCenturion’sServant
Matthew 8:5Matthew 8:5--1313

3. Who is this soldier?Who is this soldier?
••To understand this miracle fully, oneTo understand this miracle fully, one
must take into account the whole ofmust take into account the whole of
the person of the centurionthe person of the centurionthe person of the centurionthe person of the centurion
••What do we know about him?What do we know about him?
••What does his presence here mean?What does his presence here mean?
••What does it all mean to us today?What does it all mean to us today?••What does it all mean to us today?What does it all mean to us today?
••We’ll answer these questions and more as weWe’ll answer these questions and more as we
go through today’s passagego through today’s passage

4. 55 And when Jesus entered Capernaum, aAnd when Jesus entered Capernaum, a
centurion came to Him, imploring Him,centurion came to Him, imploring Him,
66 and saying, “Lord, my servant is lyingand saying, “Lord, my servant is lying
paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.”paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.”paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.”paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.”
77 Jesus *said to him, “I will come andJesus *said to him, “I will come and
heal him.”heal him.” 88 But the centurion said,But the centurion said,
“Lord, I am not worthy for You to come“Lord, I am not worthy for You to come“Lord, I am not worthy for You to come“Lord, I am not worthy for You to come
under my roof, but just say the word,under my roof, but just say the word,
and my servant will be healed.and my servant will be healed. 99 For IFor I
also am a man under authority, withalso am a man under authority, with

5. another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and toanother, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to
my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he doesmy slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does itit.”.”
1010 Now when Jesus heardNow when Jesus heard thisthis, He, He
marveled and said to those who weremarveled and said to those who weremarveled and said to those who weremarveled and said to those who were
following, “Truly I say to you, I have notfollowing, “Truly I say to you, I have not
found such great faith with anyone infound such great faith with anyone in
Israel.Israel. 1111 I say to you that many willI say to you that many willIsrael.Israel. 1111 I say to you that many willI say to you that many will
come from east and west, and reclinecome from east and west, and recline atat
the tablethe table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacobwith Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
in the kingdom of heaven;in the kingdom of heaven; 1212 but thebut the

6. there will be weeping and gnashing ofthere will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth.”teeth.” 1313 And Jesus said to theAnd Jesus said to theteeth.”teeth.” And Jesus said to theAnd Jesus said to the
centurion, “Go; it shall be done for youcenturion, “Go; it shall be done for you
as you have believed.” And the servantas you have believed.” And the servant
was healed thatwas healed that veryvery moment.moment.
Matthew 8:5Matthew 8:5--13 (NASB)13 (NASB)

7. A. Jesus’ Grace is for anyoneA. Jesus’ Grace is for anyone
••Vs 5Vs 5--7,The centurion is not the guy7,The centurion is not the guy
you would expect to come to Jesusyou would expect to come to Jesus

8. 55 And when Jesus entered Capernaum,And when Jesus entered Capernaum,
a centurion came to Him, imploringa centurion came to Him, imploringa centurion came to Him, imploringa centurion came to Him, imploring
Him,Him, 66 and saying, “Lord, my servantand saying, “Lord, my servant
is lying paralyzed at home, fearfullyis lying paralyzed at home, fearfully
tormented.”tormented.” 77 Jesus *said to him, “IJesus *said to him, “Itormented.”tormented.” Jesus *said to him, “IJesus *said to him, “I
will come and heal him.”will come and heal him.”
Matthew 8:5Matthew 8:5--7, NASB7, NASB

9. A. Jesus’ Grace is for anyoneA. Jesus’ Grace is for anyone
••Vs 5Vs 5--7, lots of reasons not to expect7, lots of reasons not to expect
a centurion to visit Jesusa centurion to visit Jesus
••First, he was a professional soldier,First, he was a professional soldier,••First, he was a professional soldier,First, he was a professional soldier,
and Jesus was a man of peaceand Jesus was a man of peace
••Secondly, he was a Gentile andSecondly, he was a Gentile and
Jesus was obviously a JewJesus was obviously a JewJesus was obviously a JewJesus was obviously a Jew
••But he was apparently am man of great faith,But he was apparently am man of great faith,
based upon his actionsbased upon his actions

10. B. Understanding Authority…B. Understanding Authority…
••Vs 8Vs 8--9, the first words from the9, the first words from the
mouth of the Centurion aremouth of the Centurion are
extraordinaryextraordinaryextraordinaryextraordinary

11. 88 But the centurion said, “Lord, I am notBut the centurion said, “Lord, I am not
worthy for You to come under my roof,worthy for You to come under my roof,
but just say the word, and my servantbut just say the word, and my servantbut just say the word, and my servantbut just say the word, and my servant
will be healed.will be healed. 99 For I also am a manFor I also am a man
under authority, with soldiers under me;under authority, with soldiers under me;
and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes,and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes,
and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes,and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes,and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes,and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes,
and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he doesand to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does
itit.”.”

12. B. Understanding Authority…B. Understanding Authority…
••Vs 8Vs 8--9, the first words from the9, the first words from the
mouth of the Centurion aremouth of the Centurion are
extraordinaryextraordinaryextraordinaryextraordinary
••Though a highThough a high--ranking Romanranking Roman
soldier, he recognized who Jesus really was,soldier, he recognized who Jesus really was,
showing immense faithshowing immense faithshowing immense faithshowing immense faith
••What he said was amazingWhat he said was amazing–– understandingunderstanding
authority is key to living a victorious Christianauthority is key to living a victorious Christian
life!!life!!

13. C. Healed from a distance…C. Healed from a distance…
••Vs 10Vs 10--13, there are several reasons13, there are several reasons
why Jesus healed the boy this waywhy Jesus healed the boy this way

14. 1010 Now when Jesus heardNow when Jesus heard thisthis, He, He
marveled and said to those who weremarveled and said to those who were
following, “Truly I say to you, I have notfollowing, “Truly I say to you, I have not
found such great faith with anyone infound such great faith with anyone infound such great faith with anyone infound such great faith with anyone in
Israel.Israel. 1111 I say to you that many willI say to you that many will
come from east and west, and reclinecome from east and west, and recline atat
the tablethe table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacobwith Abraham, Isaac and Jacobthe tablethe table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacobwith Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
in the kingdom of heaven;in the kingdom of heaven; 1212 but thebut the
sons of the kingdom will be cast out intosons of the kingdom will be cast out into
the outer darkness; in that place therethe outer darkness; in that place there

15. centurion, “Go; it shall be done for youcenturion, “Go; it shall be done for you
as you have believed.” And the servantas you have believed.” And the servantas you have believed.” And the servantas you have believed.” And the servant
was healed thatwas healed that veryvery moment.moment.
Matthew 8:10Matthew 8:10--13 (NASB)13 (NASB)Matthew 8:10Matthew 8:10--13 (NASB)13 (NASB)

16. C. Healed from a distance…C. Healed from a distance…
••Vs 10Vs 10--13, there are several reasons13, there are several reasons
why Jesus healed the boy this waywhy Jesus healed the boy this way
••TimeTime–– Jesus didn’t want the boy toJesus didn’t want the boy to••TimeTime–– Jesus didn’t want the boy toJesus didn’t want the boy to
suffer while He travelled theresuffer while He travelled there
••The extreme faith of the CenturionThe extreme faith of the Centurion
••A reminder of the position of the Gentiles inA reminder of the position of the Gentiles in••A reminder of the position of the Gentiles inA reminder of the position of the Gentiles in
the overthe over--all scheme of God’s salvation planall scheme of God’s salvation plan––
“afar off”“afar off”

17. C. Healed from a distance…C. Healed from a distance…
••Jesus also refers to Hell for theJesus also refers to Hell for the
first timefirst time

18. 1111 I say to you that many will come fromI say to you that many will come from
east and west, and reclineeast and west, and recline at the tableat the table
with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in thewith Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the
kingdom of heaven;kingdom of heaven; 1212 but the sons ofbut the sons ofkingdom of heaven;kingdom of heaven; 1212 but the sons ofbut the sons of
the kingdom will be cast out into thethe kingdom will be cast out into the
outer darkness; in that place there willouter darkness; in that place there will
be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 8:11Matthew 8:11--12,12,

19. 1111 I say to you that many will come fromI say to you that many will come from
east and west, and reclineeast and west, and recline at the tableat the table
with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in thewith Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the
kingdom of heaven;kingdom of heaven; 1212 but the sons ofbut the sons ofkingdom of heaven;kingdom of heaven; 1212 but the sons ofbut the sons of
the kingdom will be cast out into thethe kingdom will be cast out into the
outer darkness; in that place there willouter darkness; in that place there will
be weeping and gnashing of teethbe weeping and gnashing of teeth.”.”be weeping and gnashing of teethbe weeping and gnashing of teeth.”.”
Matthew 8:11Matthew 8:11--12,12,

20. C. Healed from a distance…C. Healed from a distance…
••Jesus also refers to Hell for theJesus also refers to Hell for the
first timefirst time
••This is an early indication thatThis is an early indication that••This is an early indication thatThis is an early indication that
the Jews would deny Jesus,the Jews would deny Jesus,
and the Church age will comeand the Church age will come
••Hell is a real place, and people who wereHell is a real place, and people who were••Hell is a real place, and people who wereHell is a real place, and people who were
supposed to be “godly” will end up theresupposed to be “godly” will end up there
••He wants no one to go thereHe wants no one to go there

21. Take Home!Take Home!
••Salvation is not only for a fewSalvation is not only for a few
people who want to be religiouspeople who want to be religiouspeople who want to be religiouspeople who want to be religious
but for anyone who will come to Him!but for anyone who will come to Him!
••All Believers need to recognize authority andAll Believers need to recognize authority and
respond correctlyrespond correctly–– this includes exerting yourthis includes exerting your
own authority as a Child of the King!!own authority as a Child of the King!!
respond correctlyrespond correctly–– this includes exerting yourthis includes exerting your
own authority as a Child of the King!!own authority as a Child of the King!!
••Jesus marveled at this guy’s faith; how is yoursJesus marveled at this guy’s faith; how is yours
today??today??