Matthew Henry Commentary Matthew 8:5-13

"And when he was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth in the house sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And he saith unto him, I will come and heal him. And the centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. And when Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven: but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast forth into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; as thou hast believed, [so] be it done unto thee. And the servant was healed in that hour." — Matthew 8:5-13 (ASV)

This centurion was a Gentile, a Roman soldier. Though he was a soldier, yet he was a godly man. No one's calling or place will be an excuse for unbelief and sin. Notice how he states his servant's case. We should concern ourselves with the souls of our children and servants who are spiritually sick, who do not feel spiritual evils, who do not know what is spiritually good; and we should bring them to Christ by faith and prayers.

Observe his self-abasement. Humble souls are made more humble by Christ's gracious dealings with them. Observe his great faith. The more diffident we are of ourselves, the stronger will be our confidence in Christ. In this, the centurion acknowledges him to have Divine power, and a full command of all the creatures and powers of nature, as a master over his servants. We should all be such servants to God; we must go and come according to the directions of his word and the ordering of his providence.

But when the Son of Man comes, he finds little faith; therefore, he finds little fruit. An outward profession may cause us to be called children of the kingdom; but if we rest in that, and have nothing else to show, we will be cast out. The servant got a cure for his disease, and the master got the approval of his faith. What was said to him is said to all: Believe, and you will receive; only believe.

See the power of Christ and the power of faith. The healing of our souls is both the effect and evidence of our share in the blood of Christ.