Matthew 8:10

In Matthew 8:13 we are told that Jesus did not disappoint the centurion's expectation. But the interest of the cure is eclipsed for the evangelist by the interest of the Healer's admiration, certainly a remarkable instance of a noteworthy characteristic of Jesus: His delight in signal manifestations of faith. Faith, His great watchword, as it was St. Paul's. This value set on faith was not a mere idiosyncrasy, but the result of insight into its nobleness and spiritual virtue. καὶ εἶπε : Christ did not conceal His admiration; or His sadness when He reflected that such faith as this Gentile had shown was a rare thing in Israel. Ἀμὴν : He speaks solemnly, not without emotion. παρʼ οὐδενὶ : this is more significant than the reading of T. R., assimilated to Luke 7:9. The οὐδὲ implies that Israel was the home of faith, and conveys the meaning not even there. But παρʼ οὐδενὶ means not even in a single instance, and implies that faith in notable degree is at a discount among the elect people. Such a sentiment at so early a period is noteworthy as showing how far Jesus was from cherishing extravagant hopes of setting up a theocratic kingdom of righteousness and godliness in Israel.