Matthew 8:13

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, This incident belongs to a later stage. For the exposition, see the notes at Luke 7:1....

13._Go away, and as thou believest, so may it be to thee _Hence it is evident how graciously Christ pours out his grace, when he finds the vessel of faith open. Though he addresses these words to the centurion, there can be no doubt that, in his person, he invites us all to strong hope. Hence we are also taught the reason why God is, for the most part, so limited in his communications to us: it is because our unbelief does not permit him to be liberal. If we open up the entrance to him by faith, he will listen to our wishes and prayers....

5-13 This centurion was a heathen, a Roman soldier. Though he was a soldier, yet he was a godly man. No man's calling or place will be an excuse for unbelief and sin. See how he states his servant's case. We should concern ourselves for the souls of our children and servants, who are spiritually sick, who feel not spiritual evils, who know not that which is spiritually good; and we should bring them to Christ by faith and prayers. Observe his self-abasement. Humble souls are made more humble by Christ's gracious dealings with them. Observe his great faith. The more diffident we are of ourselves, the stronger will be our confidence in Christ. Herein the centurion owns him to have Divine power, and a full command of all the creatures and powers of nature, as a master over his servants. Such servants we all should be to God; we must go and come, according to the directions of his word and...

Verse Matthew 8:13. _AS THOU HAST BELIEVED_; SO _BE IT DONE_] Let the mercy thou requestest be _equal_ to the _faith_ thou hast brought to receive it by. ACCORDING _to thy faith be it done unto thee_, is a general measure of God's dealings with mankind. To get an increase of _faith_ is to get an increase of every grace which constitutes the mind that was in Jesus, and prepares _fully_ for the enjoyment of the kingdom of God. God is the _same_ in the present time which he was in ancient days; and miracles of _healing_ may be wrought on our own bodies and souls, and on those of _others_, by the instrumentality of our faith. But, alas! _where_ is faith to be found! _AND HIS SERVANT WAS HEALED IN THE SELFSAME HOUR._] εν τη ωρα εκεινη, in that very hour. Faith is never exercised in the power a

HE WAS HEALED IN THAT SELF-SAME HOUR - This showed decisively the goodness and power of Jesus. No miracle could be more complete. There could be no imposition or deception. This account, or one similar to this, is found in Luke 7:1. There has been a difference of opinion whether the account in Luke refers to the same case as that recorded in Matthew, or whether a second centurion, encouraged by the success of the first, applied to our Saviour in a similar case and manner, and obtained the same success. In support of the supposition that they are different narratives, it is said that they disagree so far that it is impossible to reconcile them, and that it is not improbable that a similar occurrence might take place, and be attended with similar results. To a plain reader, however, the narratives

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 8:1 MESSIAH'S WORK AS COMPLEMENTARY TO HIS TEACHING. We return in this section to matter which resembles that of Mark and Luke, and undoubtedly belongs to the Framework (_vide _Introduction). St. Matthew has given a lengthy summary of the teaching of the Christ, and he now supplements it by a summary of his daily work. He is not concerned with the chronological connexion of the incidents here narrated, for this is evidently to him a matter of but secondary importance. He only desires to bring out different aspects of the Lord's life. Thus he notices— 1. Christ's miracles of healing, and the secret of his ability to perform them (verses 1-17). 2. The personal t

AND JESUS SAID UNTO THE CENTURION,.... Christ having finished the digression, returns an answer to the centurion, agreeably to his desire, saying to him, GO THY WAY; not as displeased with him, but as granting his request: for it follows, AND AS THOU HAST BELIEVED, SO BE IT DONE UNTO THEE. As he had faith to believe, that Christ could cure his servant by a word speaking, it was done accordingly. Christ by his almighty "fiat" said, let him be healed, and he was healed: just as God in the creation said, "let there be light, and there was light". He does not say according to thy prayer, or according to thy righteousness, and goodness, but according to thy faith: and it is further to be observed, that this cure was wrought, not so much for the sake of the servant, as his master; and therefore Christ says, "be it done unto thee"; let him be healed for thy sake, and restored unto thee, to th...

Matthew 8:1. _When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him._ There was a charm about his preaching, not that he modified his doctrine, or that he cut down his precepts; he spoke very plainly, very searchingly, and yet the people came to hear him. There is a something in the conscience of man that makes him turn away from that which flatters him, and makes him hear, almost against his liking, that which searches him. Matthew 8:2. _And, behold,_ Never mind about the crowd; fix your eye on the one man; behold, etc. here is a mark of attention. Matthew 8:2. _There came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean._...

6. THE KING MANIFESTED BY SIGNS OF DIVINE POWER. Chapter s 8-9. CHAPTER 8 1. The Healing of the Leper. (Matthew 8:1 .) 2. The Healing of the Centurion's Servant. (Matthew 8:5 .) 3. The Healing of Peter's Wife's Mother.(Matthew 8:14 .) 4. The Healing of All. (Matthew 8:16 .) 5. The Self-seeking Scribe and the Test of True Discipleship.(Matthew 8:18 .) 6. His Power over Nature. (Matthew 8:23 .) 7. His Power over the Demons. ...

THE CENTURION'S SERVANT (Luke 7:1; Luke 13:28 f.; _cf._ John 4:46 to John 5:3). Lk.'s version immediately follows his account of the sermon; probably it was so in Q. Mt. (_cf._ Jn.) may have understood _pais_ to mean son, not servant. Note his use of _doulos_ (slave, _cf. mg.)_ in Matthew 8:9. MATTHEW 8:7_ B_ should be read as a question. The centurion in reply admits his nnworthiness....