The Centurion Great Faith A Lesson in Jumping to Conclusions Part I

 

The Centurion Great Faith

A Lesson in Jumping to Conclusions Part I

We have all heard the saying…

 

 “Don’t jump to conclusions”

 

Or…

 

“There are two sides to every story”

 

The Story of the Centurion Soldier is a good example.

 

The account of Matthew and the account of Luke

show us we should not jump to conclusions.

 

And we should make sure we hear all sides of the story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Lesson in Jumping to Conclusions Part I

 

We have all heard the saying…

 

 “Don’t jump to conclusions”

 

Or…

 

“There are two sides to every story”

 

The Story of the Centurion Soldier is a good example.

 

You may have read Matthew’s account in Matthew 8:5-13.

 

Or, seen a movie about Jesus that had this story in it.

 

What is the picture you get reading Matthew 8:5?

 

When Jesus had entered Capernaum,

a centurion came to Him, asking for help.

 

The picture that naturally comes to mind is

 an old stone street 2000 years ago…

 

With humble homes and shops on either side.

 

Jesus is on this street with His disciples

when a soldier approached Him.

 

This is not an ordinary soldier,

 but a Centurion.

 

 A leader in the Roman army of 80 to 100 men.

 

You hear the Centurion’s voice say…

 

"Lord," he said,

"my servant lies at home paralyzed

and in terrible suffering."       

 

And when you come to the end

of the story in Matthew 8…

 

 You see Jesus looking at the Centurion

saying in verse 13…

 

Then Jesus said to the centurion,

"Go! It will be done just as you believed it would."

And his servant was healed at that very hour.

 

BUT you are WRONG!

 

As far as what the Bible tells us…

 

 Jesus and the Centurion never saw each other.

 

How do we know this?

 

Because Luke gives us greater detail.

 

Remember Matthew 8:5, 6 that says…

 

5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum,

a centurion came to him, asking for help.

6 "Lord," he said,

"my servant lies at home paralyzed

and in terrible suffering."

 

 Well, here is the way Luke describes it…

 

There a centurion's servant,

whom his master valued highly,

was sick and about to die.

3 The centurion heard of Jesus

and sent some elders of the Jews to him,

asking him to come and heal his servant.

 

Remember when the Centurian

in Matthew 8:8 says to Jesus…

 

8 The centurion replied,

“Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.

 

Luke says it this way in Luke 7:6…

 

He was not far from the house when

the centurion sent friends to say to him:

"Lord, don't trouble yourself,

for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.

 

Remember the end of the story

where Matthew says in Matthew 8:13…

 

13 Then Jesus said to the centurion,

"Go! It will be done just as you believed it would."

And his servant was healed at that very hour.

 

Luke says in Luke 7:10…

 

10 Then the men who had been sent returned

to the house and found the servant well.

 

Luke clearly gives us details showing us

every word that came from the Centurion

came through someone else…

 

Jewish Elders, and Friends

 

The account of Matthew and the account of Luke

show us we should not jump to conclusions.

 

And we should make sure we hear all sides of the story.

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

The Centurion

 

Matthew 8:5-13 NIV

 

5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering."

7 Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."

8 The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.

 

 

Luke 7:1-10 NIV

 

7 When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." 6 So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.   8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."  10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

 

 

* Hi-lighted parts are not found in the other Gospel