A Leper And A Centurion.

A LEPER AND A CENTURION.

Matthew 8:1-13.

At the beginning of the Sermon of the Mount Jesus had been ‘set’ and ‘His disciples came unto Him’ (cf. Matthew 5:1). At the end of the Sermon we were told of the other people who had been listening in, how they had been amazed at His teaching: ‘For He taught as one having authority, and not as the scribes’ (cf. Matthew 7:28-29).

MATTHEW 8:1. So now Jesus “came down from the mountain,” effectively reaching down to those who were outside the inner circle of disciples so that, if they were willing, He could draw some of them to Himself also.

And ‘great multitudes followed Him.’ Whether they were sincere seekers after righteousness, or simply curious; or needing healing like the leper - He was there for them anyway.

MATTHEW 8:2-4. Coming Down the Mountain: The Proactive Faith of the Leper.

(Matthew 8:2). Behold! The untouchable comes away from the margins of society, and worships the Lord. The leper has faith in Jesus’ ability to heal him, and submits to His will.

(Matthew 8:3). Jesus touches the leper! Jesus is willing, and speaks the word. The transformation is immediate.

(Matthew 8:4). There is a time to be silent (cf. Ecclesiastes 3:7). Jesus does not court popularity, but gives the former leper instructions in accordance with the ceremonial law of the time. A clean bill of health is a testimony to the doctors that Jesus’ has healed us.

Leprosy is often used as a figure for sin. Jesus proved His willingness to cleanse us from our sin by pouring forth the fountain of His life’s blood on the Cross of Calvary. When we are made right with God through the Lord Jesus Christ, the next step is initiation into the believing community.

MATTHEW 8:5-13. Capernaum: The Great Faith of the Centurion.

(Matthew 8:5). Matthew’s Gospel has much about it that highlights the fact that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah. Yet the second healing of the New Testament involved a Gentile. A Roman centurion, in an act of true submissive prayer, brought his situation to Jesus and laid it as His feet.

(Matthew 8:6). The centurion told Jesus of his servant’s torment. It is not for us to tell Jesus how and when He should act, but merely to lay out our problems before Him. This outsider stated his case, but made no demands.

(Matthew 8:7). Again Jesus expressed His willingness. He would come to the centurion’s home. Jesus would heal the servant.

(Matthew 8:8). The centurion recognised his own unworthiness, and submitted to Jesus’ authority. One word from Jesus would suffice.

(Matthew 8:9). This experienced soldier understood Jesus’ commission in light of his own.

(Matthew 8:10). Jesus marvelled at the man’s great faith. He marvelled, too, that he did not find such faith in Israel, which was the Church of the day. Sometimes those who are settled back on their lees, complacent in spirit, need to learn from those in the margins.

I wrote this verse in the front cover of my copy of George Muller’s biography. Like all believers, Mr Muller believed God for the saving of his own soul, and that of others. Brother George trusted Jesus for everything from his first sixpence to the building of the orphanage in Bristol, England, which bore his name.

(Matthew 8:11). East and west join Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (cf. Revelation 7:9). The Gentiles are grafted in whilst, for the time being, Israel is broken from her root (cf. Romans 11:12-24).

(Matthew 8:12). Some people who enjoy outward blessings will be cast out, at last, into hell.

(Matthew 8:13). Jesus dismissed the centurion. That man had one last test of his faith: he had to stay in belief all the way home. When he got home and enquired how things were going with his servant he would be told that there had been a remarkable recovery, a miraculous healing no less, at the very moment that Jesus had spoken the word (cf. John 4:46-53).