Matthew 8:8

II. THE CENTURION'S FAITH.

8. The centurion answered.

Through friends whom he had sent for this purpose (Luke 7:6).

I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof.

This humility was partly due to his consciousness that he was. Gentile, and as such not an heir of the blessings bestowed upon the Jews; but still more to the esteem in which he held Jesus in consequence of what he heard of him (Luke 7:3). Rigid Jews did not hold social intercourse with Gentiles, and the centurion may have supposed that so holy. Jewish teacher as Jesus would hesitate to come under his roof. Hospitable entertainment between those of different races was far less common then than now.

Speak the word only.

"Speak only. word," is the idea, and "my servant will be healed." Not even Martha (John 11:21) thought that Jesus could have saved her brother Lazarus without going to him. The prophet had to go to the son of the Shunammite woman in order to raise him. Yet this Gentile centurion believes that Jesus has an omnipresent power which can reach to other localities than where he is bodily present. Though he may not have known it, he had faith in his divine power.