Day #284

Sermon - Audio
Matt 8:1-13, Luke 7 - Reading
Matt 8:1-13, Luke 7 - Audio

Daily Insights - Please Comment

Matthew 8:1-13 and Luke 7

Matthew 8:1-13

v. 1 – A centurion is a Roman officer in charge of a hundred men.

v. 2 – The man acknowledges that Jesus has the right to decide whether to grant the request. This is not a lack of faith; it is the ultimate act of dependence on God’s compassion.

v. 4 – “offer the gift that Moses commanded” – This is a reference back to the law. Lev. 14:2-32

v. 8 – Addressing Jesus as Lord, the Roman centurion reveals a remarkable sensitivity for Jewish traditions, saying that he is unworthy of receiving Jesus into his Gentile home. A Jew who entered the home of a Gentile became ceremonially unclean.

v. 10 – The centurion understands that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, something no one in Israel understands. Jesus commends the centurion for his faith.

v. 11-12 – “recline at the table” refers to joining the patriarchs at the end-time banquet in the kingdom of heaven. (Rev. 19:9).

Luke 7

v. 1-5 – In Luke’s account, others came to Jesus on his behalf, but Matthew does not mention them. The accounts are not contradictory; Matthew simply abbreviates the story.

v. 9 – “not even in Israel” – is this foreshadowing the entry of Gentiles into the kingdom of God? Jesus commends the centurion for his humble faith – one of the few places where Jesus commends the way in which someone approaches Him.

v. 12 – To be a widow revealed the desperate economic situation of the woman.

v. 14 – “bier” is a plank that served as an open coffin used to carry the dead body outside the city to its burial place. Jesus is not concerned about becoming ceremonially unclean, for he is not made unclean when he touches the dead…instead he bring life.

v. 22 – Jesus does not answer John’s question directly but gives evidence demonstrating that he is the “coming one” predicted in the Old Testament.

v. 28 – John was still considered part of the old covenant system. Therefore the one who is least in the kingdom of God (one who has believed in Jesus and has become a member of the new covenant kingdom) is actually great than John.

v. 35 – God’s way is shown to be right by the followers of John and Jesus.

v. 37-38 – Her actions would have been considered improper, therefore it took great courage to honor Jesus in this way.

v. 39 – Simon accuses Jesus of not being a true prophet since a true prophet would not allow a sinful woman to touch him.

v. 41 – Five hundred denarii is approximately 20 month’s wages.

v. 50 – “Your faith has saved you.” The woman experienced the forgiveness of her sins not because of love, but through her faith.