The Testimony of Faithful Witnesses: The Believing Centurion - Matthew 8:5-13

Whenever we come to the Bible, we often read looking for instruction and encouragement for the day. But the Bible isn’t meant only to guide us day-by-day. The Scriptures are a historical record. They reveal what God has done and is doing in the world—and introduce us to the people who played a particular role in His plans for the world.

If you’re a longtime reader of the Bible, you’re more than likely familiar with many of these people. Some are examples of faithfulness. Others are cautionary tales against faithlessness. But all were examples of people who furthered God’s plan to give “God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.” [John 3:16, CEV]

During this series, we’re discussing the following witnesses to God’s authority and love:

• June 7: Deborah, the Dutiful Judge (Judges 4:4-10, 14, 21-22)
• June 14: Hannah, the Faithful Supplicant (1 Samuel 1:9-20, 25)
• June 28: Amos, Courageous Prophet (Amos 1:1; 2:11-12; 3:7-8; 7:10-15)
• July 5: The Believing Centurion (Matthew 8:5-13)
• July 12: Simon Peter, Restored Disciple (Mark 8:27-29; Luke 22:31-34; John 18:25-27, 21:15-17)
• July 19: Zacchaeus, Repentant Tax Collector (Luke 19:-11)
• July 26: Mary, Loyal Mother (Luke 2:15-19; John 2:1-5; 19:25-27)
• August 9: Stephen, Unwavering Martyr (Acts 6:7-10; 7:54-60)
• August 16: Saul of Tarsus, Unlikely Disciple (Acts 22:3-15)
• August 23: Timothy, Leader with a Legacy (2 Timothy 1:1-6; 3:14-16)
• August 30: Lydia, Generous Hostess (Acts 16:11-15, 40)

In the fourth session, we discussed the faithful Centurion mentioned in Matthew. The discussion and passage are below:

Matthew 8:5-13 [New International Version]

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

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. 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.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 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. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.