Luke 7:1-10 Now when {Jesus} had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. 3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: 5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. 8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

Faith is a very important thing.
There are all types of faith in our world.

Atheists and humanists have faith. They have faith that there is no God, no Creator Who made all things. Their faith is in themselves, in what they do or perceive. These people believe that “I can do all things through myself who strengthens me”. There are many like this in the world. What does God say of those who are atheists? “The FOOL hath said in his heart, ‘there is NO GOD’. They are corrupt. Their works are abominable, and no good at all” (Psalm 14:1).

Some have faith in technology. They believe that technology will make our lives great. Medical technology will, they believe, extend life indefinitely. Artificial intelligence will usher in a paradise on the earth.

Some have great faith in politics or philosophy. They believe that, if their party or position were dominant, that America would blossom. Others put their faith in money or riches. They are like the farmer Jesus spoke of in Luke chapter 12. He had a good year of crops, so he decided to:

Luke 12: 18-19 … This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

Was this man blessed? No, for God said unto him,

Luke 12:20 … Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

The Bible tells us that Faith is “the substance on things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. It is to believe in something that has not yet come to pass. Biblical faith is not based on ourselves, but on the God Who made us. The Bible says:

Romans 14:23 … whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Genuine faith believes in the God of Scripture. Saving faith believes in God the Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. And faith cannot come from a place of pride. Faith is humbled, trusting in Someone outside of yourself.

The Truths Found In Scripture Context

As we look at our text today, we would be tempted to just dive in and talk about this Centurion. When I studied for this sermon, I wanted to rush into Luke 7 and focus on this interesting man. A Centurion is a highly skilled soldier, a Commander of a Roman Century, a group of skilled Legionnaires. Each Century could have up to a hundred skilled men. This Centurion is a highly successful man, an important man by Roman standards. I want you to remember that. But let’s take a good look at the first verse of our text.

Luke 7:1 Now when {Jesus} had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

“when {Jesus} had ended all his sayings”. Let’s not skip these words, because they are important, and explain much about this Centurion. In Luke Chapter 6, Jesus preaches what is called His “Sermon on the Plain”. You have probably all heard of the “Sermon on the Mount”, but few have been exposed to the “Sermon on the Plain”.

The “Sermon on the Mount” is the first recorded sermon Jesus preached, after He called Simon Peter, Andrew, and James and John, the sons of Zebedee to follow Him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, preaching, teaching and healing Jews. As the Jewish crowds began to follow Jesus, our Lord went up into a mountain, sat down, and began to preach (Matthew 5:1). What Jesus did was directed toward the Jews.

Many years before this day, God spoke to Israel from Mount Sinai, through the Prophet Moses. God made a covenant with Israel. On that day Israel said:

Exodus 19:8 … All that the Lord hath spoken we will do …

Israel’s faith was not in God, but in their ability to be good enough to please God. While Moses was on Sinai receiving the Law from God, in just those 40 days Israel rejected God, and created a golden calf to replace God. Throughout the history of Israel you see a nation that relied on itself, and not on God. As Jesus started His ministry, Jesus preached His Sermon on the Mount.

Just as Moses’ message from Sinai was addressed to Jews, Jesus’ message from the Mount was addressed to Jews.

The Sermon on the Plain is different from the Sermon on the Mount. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus goes up a mountain, sits down, and teaches Jews. In the Sermon on the Plain Jesus comes DOWN from a mountain after praying all night (Luke 6:12) and stands on flat land. Here He speaks not primarily to Jews, but to both Jews and Gentiles. We read:

Luke 6:17 {Jesus} came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

“Judaea and Jerusalem” are predominantly Jewish territories, whereas “Tyre and Sidon” are Gentile territories.

Jesus prayed all night long before the Sermon on the Plain, as He needed to address not just Israel, but people from diverse Gentile backgrounds.

The Sermon on the Mount has 9 Beatitudes or Blessed Teachings, whereas the Sermon on the Plain has only four. But both sermons focus on what God expects of faith.

Luke 7:1 Now when {Jesus} had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

“Capernaum” is a very interesting place. When Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth and preached, He was driven from Nazareth (Luke 4:16, 28-30). So Jesus walked away from Nazareth and began to minister in Capernaum. Jesus has ministered in Capernaum before, both teaching and preaching, as well as healing people. We read:

Luke 7:2-5 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. 3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: 5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

The Centurion heard that Jesus was in Capernaum. As I said before, a Centurion is an important man. He leads 80-100 skilled soldiers. He is a commander, an officer of importance. But notice something about this Centurion.

This man loved his men. His men were not tools, things to be used then thrown away. This man cared deeply for his men. He was an important man, but he realized his importance comes only because the men that follow him are cherished. His “servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die”. The Centurion wanted Jesus to heal his trooper.

The Centurion could have dressed up in his military gear, and marched to where Jesus was, arrogantly demanding Him to come. He could have, but he didn’t. The Centurion went to the “elders of the Jews” and asked that they represent him before Jesus. These “elders of the Jews” were more than likely highly regarded Pharisees or Sadducees, important people in Israel. The Centurion sent these elders “beseeching {Jesus} that He would come and heal his servant”. The word “beseeching” is the Greek ἐρωτάω erōtáō, {pronounced er-o-tah’-o}, which means “to request, to ask, to pray to”. The word erōtáō tells us that, though this man was a “Very Important Person”, he realized that Jesus was MUCH MORE important.

When these elders come to Jesus, we see something else about this Centurion. We read:

Luke 7:4-5 … when they came to Jesus, they besought Him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: 5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue

Word Study: The word “besought” is an interesting compound word, the Greek παρακαλέω parakaléō, {pronounced par-ak-al-eh’-o}, which means “to come alongside, to beg, to comfort, to intimately request”. These elders are pleading with Jesus to come and minister to this Centurion’s servant. This Centurion – though a commander of the soldiers of Rome – has not used his position to drive down Israel. No, as a matter of fact, this Centurion did what Jesus preached in his Sermon on the Plain. Jesus said:

Luke 6:27-28 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

The average Israelite hated Rome for conquering and occupying Israel. This Centurion understood Israel’s hatred of Rome, and did not hold their hatred in his heart. This Centurion did as Jesus said:

Luke 6:31-36 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

The Centurion “loved Israel”, though he was part of the occupying force. The Centurion proved his love for Israel by “building a synagogue” in Capernaum, a place where Jesus had taught, and the Bible was shared to Israel.

How did Jesus respond? He didn’t say a word. Jesus saw the Centurion’s faith in what the elder’s said of him. We read:

Luke 7:6 … Then Jesus went with them. …

God responds to faith. Genuine faith moves the heart of God. Why? Because:

Genuine, God Honoring Faith Is Humble

The faith that saves, the faith that brings a blessing, is the faith that is humble. Humility is in short supply in our world today. Sadly, human pride gets more out of control every day. The Bible says:

1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Human Pride!: Over the last two plus years, America has been humbled by the Coronavirus. Not just America, but the whole world has been humbled by the Coronavirus. Churches and businesses went through lock downs. We were told to cover our faces with masks. Vaccines were developed, and we were ordered to get vaccines. Some local churches dissolved under the pride, as various groups lobbied for one side or the other. During the worst of the virus, people in arrogance destroyed private and public property. Racism flourished, and rather than join hands we pointed fingers, because we all felt that we were superior to the other side. The Prophet Amos said:

Amos 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?

King Nebuchadnezzar, once arrogant, thinking himself to be a god, repented once he experienced the disciplining hand of the True God. Nebuchadnezzar said:

Daniel 4:35 … all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing {compared to God}: and {God} doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and NONE can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest thou?

The God of the Scripture, He is LORD of all. The Pandemic should have humbled us as a nation, but instead we found other things to be arrogant about. The “devil like a roaring lion, went about seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8), and he got a belly full.

The Centurion, a man who had lived through numerous battles, paid attention to God. He put his trust not in his own abilities, but in the coming Messiah. This Centurion humbled himself. We read:

Luke 7:6-7 … And when {Jesus} was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

The Centurion had not sent the elders of Israel to fetch Jesus because HE was important. The Centurion asked the elders of Israel to go to Jesus because his mindset was “I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof”. As Jesus preached His Sermon on the Mount, the Pharisees thought that THEY were worthy, but JESUS was UNWORTHY. But this Centurion said, “I am not worthy”. The words translated “NOT worthy” is the Greek οὐ ἱκανός ou hikanós, {pronounced hik-an-os’}, which means “I am not sufficient, I am not much, I am not enough”. The Prophet John the Baptist made the same statement when the Pharisees asked if he were the Christ, the Messiah. John said, “I am not worthy to carry Jesus’ shoes” (Matthew 3:11). This Centurion said,

Lord, trouble not Thyself: for I am not worthy

Jesus is Lord. The Centurion is nothing. Oh, by the world’s standards, this was an important man. But this man had a humbled heart. God can bless those with the humbled hearts. Greatness comes from those with humbled hearts. God can use the humble. God can save the humble.

God used a humble Moses to write the foundation of Scripture.
God used a humble Noah to save a world from destruction.
God used a humble Joseph to save two nations from destruction,
so that Messiah could come into the world.
God used a humble David to kill Goliath with a stone and a sling.
God used a humble Daniel to plant faith in Babylon so that
Wise Men would one day worship Jesus.

The Centurion says:

Luke 7:8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

The Centurion doesn’t say, “I am a man IN authority”. No, but he says, “I also am a man set under authority”. The arrogant can never lead. The arrogant can never be blessed. Note first the word “also”. The Centurion saw Jesus as a man under authority. Our Lord Jesus was sent to this earth by the Father. There is no arrogance even in the Trinity of God. The Father leads the Godhead. The Son is sent of the Father. Jesus said,

Matthew 10:40 (ESV) … whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

John 5:22-24, 37 (ESV) For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 37 … the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me.
John 7:16 (ESV) … My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.

John 8:16 (ESV) … My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.

I could go on and on, but you need to understand this. There is power in humility. God Himself models humility. It is the devil who promotes “Just do you” mentality, or “be yourself”. The Son of God says, humble yourself. This is where power with God is.

Humble Faith Is Marvelous To God

Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Word Study The Centurion had a faith that caused Jesus to “marvel”. Do you see it? “When Jesus heard it, He MARVELED”. This is the Greek θαυμάζω thaumazō which means “to hold in admiration, to wonder at, to marvel”.

When we look at Jesus and see all that He did, we marvel at Him. When Jesus calmed the storm with but a word, His disciples marveled at Jesus (Matthew 8:27). When Jesus healed a paralyzed man, the crowds marveled (Matthew 9:8). When Jesus cursed a fig tree, and it died in a day, His disciples marveled (Matthew 21:20). Jesus is marvelous (Matthew 21:42). Why would Jesus love us so? The love of Christ is indeed marvelous!

Do you know there are two places in scripture where Jesus is said to marvel? It is here, and in

Mark 6:6 … and Jesus marveled because of their unbelief …

When Jesus went to His hometown of Nazareth, He marveled at their unbelief. Their unbelief was so strong that Jesus could do no mighty work there. Oh, He healed a few people. But Jesus could not do as He did in Capernaum.

Leaving Nazareth, marveling at Nazareth’s unbelief, Jesus went to Capernaum and marveled at the faith of not a Jew, but a Gentile, a Roman Centurion!

Beloved, God cannot work in your life unless you possess genuine faith. The way you achieve genuine faith is by humbling yourselves under the mighty hand of God. We hear God’s Word, trust it, and DO it.

When Jesus ended the Sermon on the Plain, His last word was this:

Luke 6:46-49 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Jesus never met that Centurion face to face, and yet Jesus marveled at his faith. Once more, Jesus never said a word. Faith moved Him to go to the Centurion’s home, and faith causes Jesus to heal the Centurion’s servant. The Scripture says God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6), those who humble themselves in His mighty presence. Let us learn to say with David,

1 Chronicles 29:10-13 … Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. 11 Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

May God draw us all to the same place as this Centurion. For Christ’s glory, and for the spread of God’s Kingdom we pray. Amen and Amen!