Matthew 8:5

Saturday, 1 March 2025   Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, Matthew 8:5   “And Jesus, having entered into Capernaum, a centurion, he came to Him, invoking Him” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus, having cleansed the leper, instructed him to go directly to the priest and offer the gift commanded by Moses. Now, the narrative changes direction, saying, “And Jesus, having entered into Capernaum.”   It should be noted that some manuscripts omit the name of Jesus. For example –   “When He entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him.” Holman   If the inclusion of the name is not original, someone may have inserted it to clarify that it was Jesus, not the leper who entered Capernaum. That seems a bit obvious, however. If the name is original and now missing in those manuscripts, it may be a copyist’s error that came about for one reason or another.   Either way, the surrounding context leaves no doubt about who the verse is referring to. Jesus had come down from the mount, met a leper on the way to where He was going, and then continued on to His destination, which was Capernaum. Once inside the city, it next says, “a centurion, he came to Him, invoking Him.”   The hekatontarchos, centurion, is introduced here. The word is derived from hekatón, a hundred, and archó, to rule or reign. Thus, he is a Roman soldier who rules over a cohort of one hundred men.   It is highly unusual that a man with such authority would actively seek out a Jew, much less plead with him over a matter. In such a position, it would be expected that he might send one of his underlings to Jesus and direct him to do whatever it is he has on his mind. But the man’s approach is an exception.   If it is the same account being referred to, which seems likely, the same narrative in Luke 7 gives a bit more background, saying –   “So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 ‘for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.’” Luke 7:3-5   However, no discrepancy between the two should be considered. By sending elders of the Jews instead of one of his underlings, he is making a personal appeal through the elders rather than an authoritative demand through a soldier. The reason for sending the elders is more fully explained in Luke as well.   For now, this man has made a personal appeal to Jesus, invoking Him to come for a personal reason. As for translating the word parakaleó as invoke here, the reason is that one of its meanings is to call earnestly for. But there is associated with it the sense of a capability of the one being invoked that is beyond that of the one invoking.   For example, one might invoke a spirit, god, lawful edict, etc. This centurion is making a particular appeal to Jesus as an authoritative figure, able to do something that is beyond himself or those whom he is sending. As these are elders, it shows an immense trust in Jesus that extends beyond what one would normally expect of another, including leadership figures in Israel.   Life application: The words of Matthew in this account are already setting the stage for what is to become a normal theme from this point on. It is something that was seen, however, early in Matthew when Magi came to the land of Israel to worship the Child.   The Gentiles are taking on a position within the narrative that is contrasted to that of the Jews. This might seem out of place, but it is precisely what was prophesied by the Lord through Isaiah –   “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.” Isaiah 11:10   As the story of the interaction between Jesus and this centurion continues, ask yourself why the Lord included this account in His word. Then consider the world around you and how it continues to be relevant today. As you read through the book of Acts, consider what it is saying from this same perspective.   What is God looking for? The answer is faith. Pay attention to this key point. Both testaments of Scripture ultimately reveal this truth.   Lord God, may we be people of faith who live faithfully in Your presence. Give us the willpower and focus to not get distracted by our own supposed goodness or our own good deeds. Rather, may we understand that who we are, what we have, and what we can offer are all given by You and belong to You. May we align our lives to show that we believe this is true. Amen.