Matthew 8:5-13
The Credentials of the King
Read…
Heb. 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Pray
Intro
√ The Credentials of the King
You’ll remember that we said that the next two chapters
record Jesus on a “miracle tour”! Tearing up the
Healing the sick
Raising the dead
Casting out demons
Rebuking the wind and waves
Matthew’s purpose in recording this section is to provide us with the credentials that prove Jesus is the long-awaited King.
That is, only the true King would be able to do the things that Jesus did!
The other half of the story as we saw last week is the response of the people to the King.
The leper responded to Jesus’ teaching with faith…
…faith that Jesus had the authority to heal him and make him clean.
As we pick up Matthew’s account we are introduced to another man of faith.
Ap. Faith is the key to open the door to the Kingdom
Keep in mind that this section springs forth from Jesus’ teaching on the mountain.
It’s meant to be understood in the context of the Sermon on the Mount.
As such the Holy Spirit Who inspired Matthew to write his Gospel is calling our attention to the application of what Jesus just finished teaching.
That is…
How does a person become righteous?
How does a person gain entrance into the
By faith in Jesus Christ!
As we read in our opening verse it is impossible to please God without faith!
So, as we study through chapters 8 and 9 don’t miss what the Lord wants to speak to you about how He wants you to respond to Him – with faith!
The authority of the King (vs. 5-9)
Matt. 8:5 Now
when Jesus had entered
Matt. 8:6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
Matt. 8:7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
Matt. 8:8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.
Matt. 8:9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, “Go,’ and he goes; and to another, “Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
√ The authority of the King
Jesus had just finished healing (cleansing) the leper and
resumes His journey toward
…where He’s met by a Centurion.
Centurion was a Roman officer in charge of a military unit of 100 men.
A position of authority and respect.
Normally not liked by the Jews because they hated all Romans whom they saw as oppressors.
However, Luke tells us that this man was well respected and loved by the Jewish people in the area because he loved them and had even built them a synagogue.
Ex. The ruins of the synagogue can still be seen today! Also, Roman “prayer chapel” just found in the area of Armageddon!
Like the leper, this Centurion comes to Jesus seeking a miracle.
1) Heroes of faith
Before we move on let’s take note of who it is that have responded to the Lord’s message…
A leper & a Gentile
Both despised by the Jewish religious leaders!
The leper was perceived as sinner (John 9:2)
The Centurion a Duraflame Log for the fires of hell.
The point is that the people who should have responded in faith, the Pharisees and religious leaders…
…didn’t!
Instead those who respond in faith to Jesus’ message and experience His power were the outcasts of Jewish society.
Ap. The message of the Kingdom is an invitation to all!
There are no prerequisites to hear and to respond to the Gospel.
Everyone is welcome and the only criteria to be accepted by the King is to come in faith!
The point is that a person doesn’t have to clean up their life first, or change religions to find an open door to the King…
…one just has to come as they are believing that Jesus has the authority to grant them their most urgent need.
2) Impulse of faith
The expression of faith is always proceeded by some need. Some great need creates an impulse in a person’s life to step out in faith.
The most urgent need of this Centurion was for one of his servants who was sick.
Dr. Luke tells us he was near death (Luke 7:2)
Matthew tells us he was just a boy! The Greek word used here for “servant” is “pais” which means…
“a boy, a child; specially, a slave or servant, child, son, young man.”
Typically these servants ran personal errands and waited on the needs of their master (serving meals etc.)
Because of the nature of their service they spent a great deal of time with their master and would sometimes become more like a son than a slave.
For this military man serving in a foreign nation perhaps this little guy became the “son” that the Centurion always wanted, but because of his profession never had.
So, the impulse of faith for this Centurion is his love for his young servant.
3) The working of faith
Jesus immediately responds to the Centurion’s request and tells him that He will come and heal the little boy. But, the Centurion says something that amazes everyone!
Matt. 8:8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.
Matt. 8:9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, “Go,’ and he goes; and to another, “Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
His point is that he understood the principle of authority.
That is, one with authority doesn’t need to be present to accomplish a task…
…rather, his orders can be carried out by others – even at a distance.
It’s clear that this man understood that Jesus was more than just a carpenter!
Rather, just as we saw in the example of the leper, the Centurion recognized that anyone who taught with the authority that Jesus did…
…also had the authority to heal sickness by just speaking the word!
That is real faith!
Ex. Access to a bank account
If you have the authority to access an account you don’t have to go the bank to move money or pay bills.
You just speak give the word and it’s done!
That’s how faith works!
The Centurion recognized that Jesus had authority over sickness and therefore didn’t need to be present to heal his servant.
The admiration of the King (vs. 10-12)
Matt. 8:10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
√ The admiration of the King
Now it’s Jesus’ turn to be amazed!
You’ll remember that the people were astonished at Jesus’ teaching…
…because He taught with authority.
Now we find that Jesus is amazed at who it is that understands the extent of His authority.
Not one of the religious leaders ~ who professed to be men of faith.
Not any of the Jewish people in the crowd – the descendants of faith (“sons of the kingdom” ~ vs. 12).
Rather, this man of great faith was a foreigner!
A man from a nation that worshiped false gods and even believed that their king, Caesar was a god!
A man that the Pharisees thought of as incapable of faith.
So, we find that Jesus…
“marveled” – literally “wondered at, admired”
…this man’s faith, a faith that pleases God.
Ap. Faith that pleases God
As we read in our opening scripture God is pleased with those who express faith in Him.
Those who trust themselves or their loved ones completely into His hands.
Those willing to risk failure, or look foolish, that they might do in faith what God asks of them.
What about you…
Do you express the kind of faith that the Centurion did?
When was the last time you put everything on the line for God?
Or took a venture of faith?
Jesus was looking for opportunities to do great miracles in Israel, but found few who had the faith to experience them.
He is still looking for opportunities to show His power and His love!
Do you have the kind of faith that Jesus admires?
1) A different kind of Kingdom
Before we move on we want to take note of Jesus’ commentary on the future Kingdom of Heaven, note vs. 11-12…
Matt. 8:11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt. 8:12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Once again we find that Jesus’ teaching flies in the face of the traditions of the Pharisees.
They taught that only those who were physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, would be granted entrance into Messiah’s Kingdom.
Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven…
Is a stupid movie that misrepresents history, Christians and Muslims? J
Will be inhabited by both Jews and Gentiles!
(Abraham, and those from the east & west ~ vs. 11)
That being a physical descendant of Abraham won’t be sufficient to gain entrance into the Kingdom!
(sons of the kingdom ~ vs. 12)
Rather, the criteria for entrance into the Kingdom is to have the kind of faith that the Centurion did!
Trusting that Jesus has the authority to do as He pleases, to heal the sick, to cleanse the leper…
…and to grant His righteousness and entrance into His kingdom to all who would trust in Him.
So, the Kingdom of Heaven is a different kind of Kingdom than what the Pharisees taught.
The affirmation of the King (vs. 13)
Matt. 8:13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
√ The affirmation of the King
As we noted last week all the wonderful things that Jesus taught would just be academic unless…
…He could prove that He had the credentials of the King.
So, we find that Jesus heals the Centurion’s servant without ever seeing him!
The affirmation (if you will) that Jesus is the King whom He claimed to be!
1) The transcendence of the King
An important aspect of this healing is that Jesus is not present when it takes place.
Just as the Centurion believed…
All that Jesus had to do was give the word and it would be done!
Whatever sickness or disease was afflicting the boy’s body immediately obeyed the Word of the Lord and released the servant from its power.
This miracle tells us that Jesus’ power transcended time and space!
While Jesus had limited Himself to time and space (Phil. 2)…
…He was still the King and had the authority to command the powers of the universe to obey Him.
So, Matthew provides us with another proof (affirmation) that Jesus was more than a carpenter, He is the King of the Universe!
Ex. Pagan gods limited to geographic localities.
Not the One true God! He rules in the mountains, the valleys, the spirit realm and the material world.
Close
√ The Credentials of the King
Having examined Jesus’ credentials should we then not step out in faith like the…
Leper
Centurion
..and trust Jesus to meet our most urgent need?
Remember, without faith you can’t please God!
So, get out of the boat, take that step, do what Jesus has called you to do and watch Him work a miracle in your life!