Luke 7:8
For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it."
For I myself am a man under authority
This phrase begins with the centurion acknowledging his position within a hierarchy. The Greek word for "authority" is "ἐξουσία" (exousia), which implies a delegated power or influence. In the Roman military structure, a centurion was a commander of a hundred soldiers, yet he was still under the authority of higher-ranking officers. This reflects a broader biblical principle of submission to authority, as seen in Romans 13:1, where believers are instructed to submit to governing authorities. The centurion's understanding of authority is crucial, as it parallels the spiritual authority of Jesus, who operates under the divine authority of God the Father.

with soldiers under me
The centurion continues by describing his command over soldiers, illustrating the chain of command in the Roman army. The Greek word "ὑπὸ" (hypo) means "under," indicating a position of subordination. This military context provides a vivid picture of discipline and obedience, which the centurion uses to draw a parallel to Jesus' spiritual authority. Just as soldiers obey their earthly commanders, the centurion recognizes that Jesus has authority over sickness and the spiritual realm, expecting His commands to be obeyed without question.

I tell one, 'Go,' and he goes
Here, the centurion describes the immediate obedience of his soldiers. The Greek verb "πορεύομαι" (poreuomai) means "to go" or "to proceed," emphasizing action and movement. This reflects the centurion's confidence in the power of spoken words within his command. In a spiritual sense, this mirrors the authority of Jesus' words, which have the power to heal and transform. The centurion's faith in Jesus' ability to command healing from a distance is a profound testament to his understanding of Jesus' divine authority.

and another, 'Come,' and he comes
The command "Come" is translated from the Greek "ἔρχομαι" (erchomai), which means "to come" or "to arrive." This further illustrates the centurion's authority and the responsiveness of his soldiers. In the context of Jesus' ministry, this reflects the call to discipleship, where Jesus invites individuals to follow Him. The centurion's analogy underscores his belief that Jesus' words carry the same weight and authority, capable of summoning healing and restoration.

and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it
The phrase "Do this" is derived from the Greek "ποιέω" (poieo), meaning "to do" or "to make." This command signifies action and compliance, highlighting the centurion's expectation of obedience from his servant. In the broader biblical narrative, this reflects the call to obedience to God's commands. The centurion's statement is a powerful expression of faith, recognizing that just as his servant obeys his commands, so too will the natural and spiritual realms obey the commands of Jesus. This acknowledgment of Jesus' authority is a central theme in the Gospels, where faith in Jesus' word is often linked to miraculous outcomes.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Centurion
A Roman officer in charge of a hundred soldiers. He is a man of authority and demonstrates faith in Jesus' power to heal his servant.

2. Jesus
The central figure of the New Testament, whose authority and power are recognized by the centurion.

3. Servant
The centurion's servant who is ill and in need of healing, prompting the centurion to seek Jesus' help.

4. Capernaum
The town where this event takes place, known for being a center of Jesus' ministry.

5. Jewish Elders
They act as intermediaries between the centurion and Jesus, showing the centurion's respect and good relationship with the Jewish community.
Teaching Points
Understanding Authority
The centurion's recognition of Jesus' authority is a model for believers. Just as the centurion understands the chain of command, we must recognize Jesus' ultimate authority over all aspects of life.

Faith in Action
The centurion's faith is not passive; it prompts him to seek Jesus' intervention. Our faith should lead us to actively seek God's will and intervention in our lives.

Intercession and Humility
The centurion's approach to Jesus through the Jewish elders shows humility and respect. We should approach God with humility, recognizing our need for His grace.

Cultural and Social Barriers
The centurion, a Gentile, reaches out to Jesus, a Jewish teacher, breaking cultural barriers. This teaches us that faith transcends cultural and social divisions.

The Power of Jesus' Word
The centurion believes in the power of Jesus' word to heal. We should trust in the power of God's word to bring about change and healing in our lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the centurion's understanding of authority enhance our understanding of Jesus' authority in our lives?

2. In what ways can we demonstrate faith like the centurion in our daily challenges?

3. How can we approach God with humility and respect, as the centurion did, in our prayer life?

4. What cultural or social barriers might we need to overcome to share our faith with others?

5. How can we apply the power of God's word in situations where we seek healing or change?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 8:5-13
This parallel account of the centurion's faith highlights the same themes of authority and faith in Jesus' power to heal.

Romans 13:1
Discusses the concept of authority, emphasizing that all authority is established by God, which relates to the centurion's understanding of authority.

Hebrews 11:1
Defines faith as confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see, exemplified by the centurion's faith in Jesus' word.
A Full SailOwen Felltham.Luke 7:1-10
A Soldier's TrainingCharles Kingsley.Luke 7:1-10
An Endeared ServantLuke 7:1-10
Another TreatmentW. A. Edwards.Luke 7:1-10
Christ MarvellingS. Cox, D. D.Luke 7:1-10
Cues to CharacterW. Kirkman.Luke 7:1-10
Faith and ReasonBishop Moorhouse.Luke 7:1-10
Faith in its FulnessW. Clarkson Luke 7:1-10
Faith of the CenturionF. W. Robertson., J. Ogmore Davies.Luke 7:1-10
Great FaithT. Guthrie, D. D.Luke 7:1-10
He Loveth Our NationJ. C. Galloway.Luke 7:1-10
Humility Always SeasonableC. H. Spurgeon.Luke 7:1-10
Humility Does not Lessen DignityLuke 7:1-10
Importance of Servants in a HouseholdBaxendale.Luke 7:1-10
Kindness to InferiorsG. Swinnock.Luke 7:1-10
Marvellous FaithA. B. Bruce, D. D.Luke 7:1-10
Masters and ServantsDean Vaughan.Luke 7:1-10
Military ObedienceBaxendale.Luke 7:1-10
Motives of HumilityLaselve.Luke 7:1-10
Of HumilityOwen Felltham.Luke 7:1-10
Paradoxes in the Character of the CenturionJ. R. Bailey.Luke 7:1-10
Ready to ObeyLuke 7:1-10
Religion Essentially Included in the Love of Our CountryJ. Lathrop, D. D.Luke 7:1-10
Sickness the Servant of the SaviourC. New.Luke 7:1-10
The Candour and Liberality of the Centurion RecommendedR. Hall, M. A.Luke 7:1-10
The Centurion and His ServantT. B. Dover, M. A.Luke 7:1-10
The Centurion At CapernaumT. Jackson.Luke 7:1-10
The Centurion of CapernaumG. M. Grout, B. D.Luke 7:1-10
The Centurion; Or, an Exhortation to the VirtuousC. H. Spurgeon.Luke 7:1-10
The Centurion's FaithEdwin C. Bissell.Luke 7:1-10
The Centurion's FaithW. H. Aitken, M. A.Luke 7:1-10
The Centurion's FaithT. Manton.Luke 7:1-10
The Centurion's Faith and HumilityC. H. Spurgeon.Luke 7:1-10
The Centurion's Love for God's HouseJ. G. Angley, M. A.Luke 7:1-10
The Increase of FaithE. Garbett, M. A.Luke 7:1-10
The Lessons of the NarrativeW. A. Edwards.Luke 7:1-10
The Threefold Influence of FaithW. A. Edwards.Luke 7:1-10
The Usefulness of Good MenN. Emmons, D. D.Luke 7:1-10
To ChildrenA. Macleod, D. D.Luke 7:1-10
Write Me as One that Loves His Fellow-MenLuke 7:1-10
The Saviour of Sick and DeadR.M. Edgar Luke 7:1-17
People
Jesus, John, Simon
Places
Capernaum, Galilee, Judea, Nain
Topics
Authority, Bondman, Goes, Myself, Obedient, Placed, Servant, Slave, Soldiers
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Luke 7:8

     5216   authority, nature of
     8405   commands, in NT

Luke 7:1-10

     5433   occupations
     8611   prayer, for others

Luke 7:2-8

     5250   centurion

Luke 7:6-8

     8308   modesty

Luke 7:8-9

     2057   Christ, obedience

Library
June 10 Evening
As Christ forgave you, so also do ye.--COL. 3:13. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both.--I forgave thee all that debt; shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive,
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

Greatness in the Kingdom
'He that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.'--LUKE vii. 28. We were speaking in a preceding sermon about the elements of true greatness, as represented in the life and character of John the Baptist. As we remarked then, our Lord poured unstinted eulogium upon the head of John, in the audience of the people, at the very moment when he showed himself weakest. 'None born of women' was, in Christ's eyes, 'greater than John the Baptist.' The eulogium, authoritative as it was, was immediately
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Thwarting God's Purpose
'The Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of Him.' --LUKE vii. 30. Our Lord has just been pouring unstinted praise on the head of John the Baptist. The eulogium was tenderly timed, for it followed, and was occasioned by the expression, through messengers, of John's doubts of Christ's Messiahship. Lest these should shake the people's confidence in the Forerunner, and make them think of him as weak and shifting, Christ speaks of him in the glowing
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

A Gluttonous Man and a Winebibber
'The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!'--LUKE vii. 34. Jesus Christ very seldom took any notice of the mists of calumny that drifted round Him. 'When He was reviled He reviled not again.' If ever He did allude to them it was for the sake of the people who were harming themselves by uttering them. So here, without the slightest trace of irritation, He quotes a malignant charge which was evidently in the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Worthy-Not Worthy
'... They besought Him ... saying, That he was worthy for whom He should do this:... 6. I am not worthy that Thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7. Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto Thee....' --LUKE vii. 4. 6. 7. A Roman centurion, who could induce the elders of a Jewish village to approach Jesus on his behalf, must have been a remarkable person. The garrison which held down a turbulent people was not usually likely to be much loved by them. But this man, about whom the incident
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Go into Peace
'And He said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee: go in peace.'--LUKE vii. 50. We find that our Lord twice, and twice only, employs this form of sending away those who had received benefits from His hand. On both occasions the words were addressed to women: once to this woman, who was a sinner, and who was gibbeted by the contempt of the Pharisee in whose house the Lord was; and once to that poor sufferer who stretched out a wasted hand to lay upon the hem of His garment, in the hope of getting
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Jesus at the Bier
'And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14. And He came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And He said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And He delivered him to his mother.'--LUKE vii. 13-15. We owe our knowledge of this incident to Luke only. He is the Evangelist who specially delights in recording the gracious relations of our Lord with women, and he is also the Evangelist who
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

John's Doubts and Christ's Praise
'And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. 19. And John calling unto him two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou He that should come? or look we for another? 20. When the men were come unto Him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto Thee, saying, Art Thou He that should come? or look we for another? 21. And in the same hour He cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind He gave sight. 22. Then Jesus, answering,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Two Debtors
'There was a certain creditor which had two debtors; the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell Me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43. Simon answered and said, I suppose that he to whom he forgave most.'--LUKE vii.41-43. We all know the lovely story in which this parable is embedded. A woman of notoriously bad character had somehow come in contact with Jesus Christ, and had by Him been aroused from her
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Forgiveness and Love.
TEXT: LUKE vii. 36-50. HOWEVER much admiration and honour was given to our Saviour by many of His contemporaries during His life on earth; however powerfully a yet greater number were struck, at least for the moment, by His exalted character; still just His greatest words and His noblest deeds often remained dark even to the noblest and best around Him, and seemed to the rest a piece of insolent pretension. When He spoke of His eternal relation to the Eternal Father, even His more intimate disciples
Friedrich Schleiermacher—Selected Sermons of Schleiermacher

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke vii. 2, Etc. ; on the Three Dead Persons whom the Lord Raised.
1. The miracles of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ make indeed an impression on all who hear of, and believe them; but on different men in different ways. For some amazed at His miracles done on the bodies of men, have no knowledge to discern the greater; whereas some admire the more ample fulfilment in the souls of men at the present time of those things which they hear of as having been wrought on their bodies. The Lord Himself saith, "For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them;
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke vii. 37, "And Behold, a Woman who was in the City, a Sinner," Etc. On the Remission of Sins,
1. Since I believe that it is the will of God that I should speak to you on the subject whereof we are now reminded by the words of the Lord out of the Holy Scriptures, I will by His assistance deliver to you, Beloved, a Sermon touching the remission of sins. For when the Gospel was being read, ye gave most earnest heed, and the story was reported, and represented before the eyes of your heart. For ye saw, not with the body, but with the mind, the Lord Jesus Christ "sitting at meat in the Pharisee's
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

On Dress
"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of -- wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." 1 Pet. 3:3, 4. 1. St. Paul exhorts all those who desire to "be transformed by the renewal of their minds," and to "prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God," not to be "conformed to this world." [Rom. 12:2]
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Saving Faith
I. WHAT WAS IT THAT SAVED the two persons whose history we are about to consider? In the penitent woman's case, her great sins were forgiven her and she became a woman of extraordinary love: she loved much, for she had much forgiven. I feel, in thinking of her, something like an eminent father of the church who said, "This narrative is not one which I can well preach upon; I had far rather weep over it in secret." That woman's tears, that woman's unbraided tresses wiping the Saviour's feet, her coming
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 20: 1874

A Gracious Dismissal
THE main part of my subject will be--that gracious dismissal, "Go in peace." To her who had been so lately blest, the word "Go" sounded mournfully; for she would fain have remained through life with her pardoning Lord; but the added words "in peace" turned the wormwood into honey--there was now peace for her who had been so long hunted and harried by her sins. Rising from the feet she had washed with tears, she went forth to keep her future footsteps such as those of a believing, and therefore saved,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

Go in Peace
"And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."--Luke 7:50. THERE appear to have been four stages in Christ's dealing with this woman. I know not what had preceded the narrative as we have it recorded in this chapter; I need not enter into that question now. There had, doubtless, been a work of the Spirit of God upon that woman's heart, turning her from her sin to her Saviour; but when she stood at our Master's feet, raining tears of penitence upon them, wiping them with the hairs
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 48: 1902

Liii. The Contemplation of Death.
16th Sunday after Trinity. S. Luke vii. 12. "Behold, there was a dead man carried out." INTRODUCTION.--The name of the village where the miracle was wrought which is recorded in this day's Gospel, was Nain, and the meaning of the name is "Pleasant" or "Beautiful." A sweet little village, you can picture it to yourself where you like, in the East, anywhere in Europe, here in England, it is all the same, an "Auburn" among villages, with thatched cottages, and green pastures, and the cows coming home
S. Baring-Gould—The Village Pulpit, Volume II. Trinity to Advent

Answer to Mr. W's Third Objection.
Our author says: p. 19. By way of objection to the letter of these three miracles, Let us consider the condition of the persons raised from the dead.--Where then was his wisdom and prudence to chuse these three persons above others to that honour? p. 20. I answer, that Jesus did not ordinarily choose the subjects of his miracles, but heal'd those chiefly who earnestly implored his mercy, or who pressed on him to be healed, or importunately desired it of him by others, when they could not possibly
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles

Justifying or Sanctifying Grace
Sanctifying grace is defined by Deharbe as "an unmerited, supernatural gift, imparted to the soul by the Holy Ghost, by which we are made just, children of God, and heirs of Heaven." As it makes sinners just, sanctifying grace is also called justifying, though this appellation can not be applied to the sanctification of our first parents in Paradise or to that of the angels and the sinless soul of Christ. Justification, as we have shown, consists in the infusion of sanctifying grace, and hence it
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

Jesus Raises the Widow's Son.
(at Nain in Galilee.) ^C Luke VII. 11-17. ^c 11 And it came to pass soon afterwards [many ancient authorities read on the next day], that he went into a city called Nain; and his disciples went with him, and a great multitude. [We find that Jesus had been thronged with multitudes pretty continuously since the choosing of his twelve apostles. Nain lies on the northern slope of the mountain, which the Crusaders called Little Hermon, between twenty and twenty-five miles south of Capernaum, and about
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus' Feet Anointed in the House of a Pharisee.
(Galilee.) ^C Luke VII. 36-50. ^c 36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. [We learn from verse 40 that the Pharisee's name was Simon. Because the feast at Bethany was given in the house of Simon the leper, and because Jesus was anointed there also, some have been led to think that Luke is here describing this supper. See Matt. xxvi. 6-13; Mark xiv. 3-9; John xii. 1-8. But Simon the leper was not Simon the Pharisee. The name Simon was one of the most common among the Jewish
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Raising of the Young Man of Nain - the Meeting of Life and Death.
THAT early spring-tide in Galilee was surely the truest realisation of the picture in the Song of Solomon, when earth clad herself in garments of beauty, and the air was melodious with songs of new life. [2625] It seemed as if each day marked a widening circle of deepest sympathy and largest power on the part of Jesus; as if each day also brought fresh surprise, new gladness; opened hitherto unthought-of possibilities, and pointed Israel far beyond the horizon of their narrow expectancy. Yesterday
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Woman which was a Sinner
The precise date and place of the next recorded event in this Galilean journey of the Christ are left undetermined. It can scarcely have occurred in the quiet little town of Nain, indeed, is scarcely congruous with the scene which had been there enacted. And yet it must have followed almost immediately upon it. We infer this, not only from the silence of St. Matthew, which in this instance might have been due, not to the temporary detention of that Evangelist in Capernaum, while the others had followed
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

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