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Explanation for:
Matthew
8
:
8
And the centurion making answer, said: Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof: but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed.
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Humility is reflected in his belief that he was unworthy for the Lord to enter his home. His discernment comes from recognizing the concealed Divine presence within the physical form, understanding that it is not merely the outward appearance, even to those lacking faith, but the inner reality that would bring him aid. This discernment prompts him to express the following thoughts as well."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Let us, who seek to embrace Christ, pay attention, for He can be welcomed even in this moment; let us listen with fervor and receive Him with earnest intent. Indeed, whenever you welcomed the impoverished, the hungry, and the unclothed, you embraced and nourished Him directly. Simply say a word, and my servant will be healed. Observe how the centurion, akin to the leper, possessed a profound understanding of Christ. He did not say to appeal to God or to pray for His mercy, but simply to give a command. It is essential to consider not only the centurion's words but also his status as an Egyptian officer, revealing his admirable character. Those in positions of power often exhibit pride, failing to humble themselves in dire situations. Conversely, as we read in John, the ruler approached Jesus and pleaded, \\"Come down; my child is near death\\" (John 4:49), whereas the centurion did not do this. He acted more wisely than that ruler and those who lowered the afflicted through the roof. The centurion did not seek Christ's physical presence nor did he bring the sick man to the healer; instead, his humility indicated a divine reverence, as he instructed, \\"Just say the word.\\" He did not start with \\"Speak the word,\\" but first described the illness, demonstrating great humility by not expecting Christ to respond immediately and come to his house. Thus, when he heard Christ declare, \\"I have come to heal him,\\" he responded, \\"Say the word.\\" The sickness did not distress him; rather, even amid his suffering, he was composed, focusing not solely on the boy's health, but on maintaining respect in his actions. Although he did not demand anything, Christ made a promise. Yet he remained cautious not to overstep his dignity or impose an undue burden. Can you see his wisdom? Note the folly of the Jews, who claimed, \\"He is worthy for You to be gracious to him.\\" They ought to have appealed to the compassion of Jesus, but instead relied on human merit, failing to grasp where their worthiness lay. In contrast, the centurion recognized his unworthiness—not only of grace but of having the Lord enter his home. Thus, when he mentioned, \\"My child is lying,\\" he refrained from saying, \\"My children are lying,\\" out of the fear that he might not be deserving of such a gift, instead focusing solely on his sorrow. Yet, upon witnessing the mercy of Christ, he did not demand more but maintained his humility. If someone were to inquire why Christ did not offer him mutual recognition, we would respond that, in fact, He honored him greatly: first, by agreeing to help him without entering the house; and secondly, by ushering him into the kingdom and elevating him above the Jewish people. Because the centurion deemed himself unworthy to receive Christ into his home, he was granted access to the kingdom and the blessings associated with Abraham. You might wonder why the leper, who displayed greater faith, was not similarly praised. He did not merely say, \\"Say the word,\\" but rather, \\"If you wish,\\" as the psalmist recounts concerning the Father, \\"All that You desire, You shall do\\" (Psalm 113:11). However, the leper was commended as well. When the Savior instructed, \\"Present the gift that Moses commanded as a testimony,\\" He was implicitly indicating that this act would serve as an accusation against those who lacked faith. Moreover, it mattered whether a Jew exhibited belief or whether a Gentile did so."},{"author-name":"Augustine of Hippo","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88950a5c988a4fc06c7ae_Augustine%20of%20Hippo.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"When the Lord Jesus assured the centurion that He would come to his home to heal his servant, the centurion responded, ‘Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed.’ In declaring himself unworthy, he unveiled a dignity that allowed Christ not only to enter his home but also his heart. Such a profound expression of faith and humility could only spring from a heart that bore the presence of the One whose holiness he felt unworthy to host. It would have been of little benefit if the Lord Jesus had only visited his dwelling without being welcomed into his spirit. For the Teacher of humility, both in His words and actions, had also reclined at the table of a proud Pharisee named Simon. Yet, despite being in his home, the Son of Man found no place to rest His head in Simon's heart (Matthew 8:20)."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"I, he expresses, am unworthy because you are God; however, as the Almighty, simply declare what you will, and your word will become reality. Do you see the magnitude of faith? For this reason, Christ declared, I will come and heal him, so that the centurion might acknowledge his unworthiness and reveal his profound faith to all. Had Christ not made this declaration, the centurion would certainly not have voiced it, and the man's remarkable faith would have remained entirely concealed from those around him. Additionally, consider the centurion’s subsequent words, which demonstrate that He can bring about healing even with just a single utterance."},{"author-name":"Nicephoros (Theotokis)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8958407451968d9c204fb_Nicephoros%20(Theotokis).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":18,"exegesis-text":"The astonishment of the centurion mirrors that of the esteemed Prophet Moses. When Moses encountered the sacred voice declaring, \\"I am the God of thy Father, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,\\" he immediately turned his face away, overwhelmed with reverence to gaze upon God (Ex. 3:6). In contrast, the centurion, upon hearing that Jesus had come to heal his servant, responded with profound humility, saying, \\"Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under the roof of my house.\\" His words reflect his sense of unworthiness to receive the honor and grace of welcoming the Son of God into his dwelling. Furthermore, the depth of his faith is illustrated in his next statement: \\"But only utter the word.\\" He believed that just a single commanding utterance from Jesus was enough to heal his servant. Who else has the power to dispel physical afflictions and restore health with just one word, except for God, who is sovereign over all? The centurion recognized Jesus Christ as the true, all-powerful God. He further clarified his faith through the following example:"},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"I am not worthy... Just say the word\\" reflects the profound humility of the centurion, highlighting his recognition of his own spiritual inadequacy both as a human and as a Gentile. This awareness made him acutely conscious of the vast divide between himself and Jesus, leading him to feel unfit to welcome the Son of God into his home. The phrase \\"only say the word\\" demonstrates the centurion's unwavering faith in the Lord’s power as a miracle-worker, signifying that a single command from Him is sufficient to bring about His will."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In his humble heart, he reflected solely on his sense of unworthiness. The centurion responded, ‘LORD, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof.’ This profound humility reveals that genuine faith differentiated by a deep awareness of one’s own unworthiness is the faith that leads to salvation. As Blessed Augustine noted, at the moment when the centurion deemed himself unworthy to welcome the Lord into his home, he was, in fact, most deserving, for Jesus Christ did not merely enter the confines of his dwelling but came into his very heart. St. Chrysostom encourages, ‘Let us listen, those of us who wish to receive Christ; it is within our reach to welcome Him—let us hear, believe, and embrace Him with the utmost diligence. For when you welcomed the needy, the hungry, and the naked, you indeed received and cared for Him directly.’ ‘O Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof!’ This echoes the blessed voice that instructs all who approach the Communion of the Divine Mysteries, Archbishop Nicephorus observes. This sacred voice admonishes those who partake unworthily of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. St. Chrysostom points out that the centurion, akin to the leper, possesses a correct understanding of Christ. He did not plead, ‘Pray, call upon God, and appease Him,’ but rather asserted, ‘SAY ONLY THE WORD,’ and my servant shall be healed! It is remarkable that a man outside the Jewish tradition held such an exalted view of Christ. Thus, concerned that Christ, in His humility, might refrain from healing his servant through His word, the centurion declared:"},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"As the procession neared the dwelling of the ailing man, the centurion, feeling unfit to host Jesus under his roof, dispatched his associates to greet Him. He instructed them to convey his message: “Do not exert Yourself, Lord, for I am not deserving of You entering my home; thus, I did not presume to approach You myself. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I, too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under my command. I tell one to go, and he goes; to another, come, and he comes; and to my servant, do this, and he does it.” The accounts of the centurion’s servant's healing are given by the Evangelists Matthew and Luke, each presenting a slightly differing narrative. According to Matthew, the centurion approached Jesus directly, requesting healing for his servant with a simple command; Luke, however, states that the centurion did not meet Jesus personally but instead sent Jewish elders initially and later friends to ask Him to come and heal his servant. Some suggest these may refer to different individuals, but I (Chrysostom) believe they are describing the same person. A question arises: why does Matthew depict the centurion as saying he is unworthy for Jesus to come to his house, while Luke shows that he requested Jesus to come? It is likely that when the centurion intended to approach, he was dissuaded by the Jewish elders, who flattered him with assurances of their eagerness to summon Jesus themselves, saying, “He loves our people and has built us a synagogue,” completely unaware of the true commendable acts of the centurion. Once the centurion was free from their persuasions, he sent to clarify, “Do not think my absence is due to laziness; rather, it stems from my feeling unworthy to welcome You into my home.” It is plausible that he himself later went out and repeated this sentiment. Bishop Michael further elaborated on Chrysostom's insights, noting that Matthew employs a common rhetorical style, suggesting that words spoken through intermediaries can be presented as though directly spoken. In contrast, Luke details the events more precisely. Thus, Matthew frames the dialogue with Jesus as if it were with the centurion, while it transpired via Jewish elders and friends. It is also possible that after his friends delivered the message, the centurion himself approached Jesus. Recognizing his unworthiness to receive Jesus in his home, it stands to reason that he could not remain composed upon seeing Jesus approach, compelling him to come out and greet Him. Therefore, both Evangelists provide accurate accounts of this occurrence, albeit each omitting certain details; thus, we must harmonize their narratives. Initially, the Jewish elders approached Jesus, followed by the centurion’s friends, and ultimately the centurion himself came forth. Luke relays the exchange between Jesus and the Jewish elders with the centurion's friends, while Matthew emphasizes the centurion's faith-filled declarations, which are pivotal to the narrative. In reconciling the apparent discrepancies between the Evangelists, it is essential to acknowledge that none of them claimed to chronicle every detail of Christ's earthly ministry.\\n\\n*The Evangelist Matthew, recounting the healing of the centurion's servant, prominently highlighted the centurion's faith, who sought healing for his servant from a distance with the assertion: \\"Just say the word, and my servant will recover\\" (Matthew 8:8). Matthew underscored these words to illustrate the Lord's lament over the disbelief of the Jews and to foretell a grim fate for them. This emphasis on the strength of the centurion's faith and the subsequent utterances of Jesus were crucial to Matthew's narrative, whereas the specifics of who delivered the healing request and how the centurion sent his friends were less significant. His focus remained on the remarkable act of healing, the centurion's faith, and the Lord's prophecies regarding the Jewish people's fate. Luke, having penned his Gospel later and likely using Matthew's account, aimed to incorporate additional details overlooked by Matthew. That Luke merely sought to supplement Matthew's account is clear from his concise presentation of the Lord's words, which he abbreviated to avoid redundancy. Therefore, upon considering the intentions behind each Evangelist's writing, we can conclude that there is no contradiction in their reports."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Christ promptly acknowledged their plea, stating, “I will come and heal him.” However, en route, they encountered other messengers from a devout and humble centurion. This centurion, through his messengers, implored Christ not to enter his unworthy abode as a Gentile, but rather to heal the afflicted servant with merely a spoken word, just as He had restored the king’s son. While a centurion commands his servants to fulfill his wishes, could not Christ also instruct His unseen servants to carry out His divine will without needing to physically undertake the task Himself?"},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"When the Lord was nearby, the centurion, acutely aware of his own unworthiness and firmly believing in His limitless power, sent his friends to request that He not trouble Himself, but rather declare a single authoritative command: Lord, do not come, for I am not worthy that You should enter my home; however, I am not worthy to approach You; just say the word, and my child will be restored to health; for I too am a man under authority, with soldiers at my command; I say to one, Go, and he goes; to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it. By entrusting his servant’s healing to just one word from the Lord, the centurion demonstrated profound faith in His divine authority."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"From the Mount of Beatitudes, Jesus journeyed to Capernaum. In this city, there was a centurion who deeply cared for a servant who was gravely ill. Upon learning that Jesus had arrived, the centurion wished to seek His help to heal his servant. However, as a Gentile, he felt unworthy to approach Jesus directly; instead, he sent Jewish elders to intercede on his behalf. These elders earnestly pleaded with Jesus, emphasizing the centurion's generosity towards the Jewish people and his many good deeds. Jesus chose to accompany them.\\n\\nRemarkably demonstrating faith and humility, the centurion, upon hearing that Jesus was nearby, sent his friends with the message: “Do not trouble Yourself, Lord, for I am not worthy that You should come under my roof.... Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. The omnipotent word of Your might will certainly achieve its purpose: just as the soldiers under my command obey my commands without question, so too will the forces of evil depart from my servant at Your command, O Prince of life and death.” The depth of faith demonstrated by this Gentile astonished Jesus, leading Him to declare that He had not encountered such faith in all of Israel. According to Matthew, Jesus also prophesied that many Gentiles would exhibit greater faith and would enter the Kingdom of God, while those considered the children of the Kingdom in the Old Testament would be cast out.\\n\\nFollowing this, the Lord granted the centurion’s plea, and at that very hour, the servant was healed, so that when the messengers returned, they found him already restored to health."}]}
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