Matthew 8:13

As thou hast believed.

The Centurion believed that Jesus could heal his servant by speaking the word, without going to his house, and Christ tells him that it shall be according to his faith.

In that hour,

At the moment these words were spoken, the servant was well. Like the other miracles of the Lord, it seemed as easy for Christ to heal the palsied servant as to speak. It was always true of him that he spake and it was done.

PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE.

FAITH.--There is here no analysis of faith, and no definition of it. It seemed to be assumed by Christ that all would understand what faith is. The thing is enacted, not described. Men philosophize about Christ, study and scorn about him, do everything but to trust him. Trusting,. mean, after the simple method of this Centurion who went to him for help. Faith is at once the most active and the most quiet of all qualities.-- Adam.

MARVELLED.--Christ marvelled on earth but at two things, faith and unbelief. Twice he commends greatness of faith, once in the case of the Syro-phenician woman, and the other in the case of this Centurion. Both were Gentiles. Midway between the Jew and Gentile stood the woman of Sychar and the other Samaritans who believed without. miracle that he was the "Christ who should save the world."

CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM.--The Lord meant primarily the Jews, but he means, farther, all who enjoy special privileges and neglect them. Every child of Christian parents, all who have the Bible in their homes, all who are reared in. land of churches where they can hear the gospel preached, all who can know of Christ if they will, are "Children of the Kingdom." Shall they be cast into outer darkness, or will they come to Christ?

FAITH SAVES.--Because it leads to action. It is not. passive but an active quality. It leads the Centurion to appeal to Christ and to trust him. It saves all moved by it to come to, trust and obey the Lord.

POINTS FOR TEACHERS.

1. Show when this miracle occurred, just after the great Sermon, after the principles of the Kingdom were unfolded. 2. Show where it occurred and the relation of Capernaum to Christ's ministry. 3. Bring out what. Centurion was, name the New Testament Centurions, their relation to the Jewish people, the character of this one. 4. Show his race, how Gentiles stood to Jews, what Jews thought of them, the significance of this miracle, and its prophecy of the future. 5. Bring out the incidents of the lesson, the beloved servant at the point of death, no human help, the appeal to Christ as the only hope, how that appeal was made. 6. Note the quality commended in the Centurion, how it was exhibited, how greater than found "in Israel." 7. Show why Christ gives such importance to faith, why without faith it is impossible to please God, how faith saves. 8. Show wherein we must be like the Centurion if we would be healed. 9. Point out the prophecy in "coming from the East and the West," etc., and how it has been fulfilled. 10. Note the prophecy in the "Children of the Kingdom" being cast out, and how it has been fulfilled; how too it might be fulfilled in us. 11. Call for the practical applications in this lesson and for hints by which we may profit.