07/05/2026 Weekly Bible Lesson: The Believing Centurion

However, there was one, an outsider, who not only recognized the powerful authority of Jesus but also trusted that the Lord could answer his need remarkably. Can we have such a faith, which stands out from the crowd, like this centurion, impressing Jesus when we come seeking His favor in our lives?

Verse 5-7 – The Roman officer seeks Jesus to restore the health of his servant. In Luke’s account (7:1-10), we learn that some Jewish elders speak on behalf of the centurion, sharing why this foreigner deserves Jesus’s attention. Despite being an outsider, the centurion loves the people of Israel and is instrumental in building a synagogue. They believe he was worthy of Jesus’s time and assistance. Matthew condenses the event by having the centurion make the request himself.

Upon making the request, Jesus is willing to heal the servant from his sickness, a tormenting paralysis. Luke has the centurion believing it would be fatal if something were not done quickly. Time is of the essence, and Jesus agrees to go to the centurion’s home to restore health to the servant.

Verses 8-9 — A twist in this account comes when the centurion stops Jesus in His tracks. While the religious leaders, in Luke’s account, speak of his worthiness to be helped, the centurion does not consider himself worthy of Jesus entering his home. It is not that his home is rundown; he probably had one of the better homes in Capernaum (he had the means to construct a synagogue in the city). His attitude of unworthiness is due to acknowledging the greatness of Jesus, and he does not want to be the cause for Jews to think less of Him. In The Fourfold Gospel, McGarvey and Pendleton mentioned how “(t)he centurion, well knowing that it was unlawful for Jews to go into the houses of Gentiles, lest they should sully the sanctity which they desired to maintain, wished to spare Jesus any embarrassment.”

He also acknowledges the great authority of Jesus by saying the Lord could command the sickness to leave right where He is. In his own profession, he is accustomed to orders being given and subsequently followed. He had done it himself as one who was under authority, following the edicts passed down to him from Rome. The soldiers under him would complete the commands given, whether he was in their presence or not. He equated his military directives with the authoritative power of Jesus. Disease is no match for the commanding restorative dominance of Jesus. This ailment would leave the sick servant without Jesus needing to step into the house.

Matthew records this and many other miracles not to teach that Jesus will restore the health of everyone. The miracles were to validate that He is the long-awaited Messiah, who can heal more than the aches and pains of the body. More importantly, Jesus can heal the scars and stains of sin that poison our connection with God.

Verses 10-13 — Jesus is astonished and marvels at the centurion’s faith. Most of Jesus’s healings were with a touch or a word spoken directly to the individual. Even Martha thought that if Jesus had only been in Bethany, Lazarus would not have died (John 11:21). This centurion recognizes that Jesus did not need to be nearby to rebuke the sickness. It is not about how close Jesus is to the problem but of us drawing close to Him in trust as we seek His will to answer our requests.

This is the type of faith that grants one an invitation to share in the kingdom of heaven, enjoying the eternal celebration with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Entrance would not be based on bloodlines but on personal belief. “Those who think that Jesus gave or gives faith should note this fact. If Jesus had given the centurion faith, he could not have been surprised to find that he had it…. It would seem, however, irreconcilable with the character and the affectionate nature of Christ, to bestow faith in such profusion upon this Gentile stranger, and withhold every spark of it from his near kinsmen and fellow-townsmen. Faith is no miraculous gift” (The Fourfold Gospel).

Unfortunately, those who ought to be part of the kingdom, those who should have been prepped for the arrival of the Messiah, who witnessed the great signs and speeches of Jesus, will find themselves cast out. They will not be part of the festivities of the kingdom of heaven but will be tossed into outer darkness. This is not annihilation—it is an actual location where activity will be taking place. Instead of the joy and blessedness of heaven, those in outer darkness will undergo weeping and gnashing their teeth. There will be sorrow and anguish for those who refuse to deeply and sincerely trust in Jesus.