Matthew shared how Jesus completed the Sermon on the Mount, and “When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshiped him, saying, Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said unto him, See you tell no man; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.” In chapter eight and verse five of his book, Matthew shared how, “a centurion” “came unto” Jesus where we read:
And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
The verse reads, “And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and when Jesus” or “at the time and moment Jesus” “was entered” which means “came into and made entrance” “into Capernaum” or “into the city of Capernaum which means village of comfort and was a flourishing city of Galilee situated on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee or Lake of Gennesaret which is near the place where the Jordan flows into the lake”, “there came unto him” which means “there approached and drew near to Jesus” “a centurion” or “an officer in the Roman army who was captain of one hundred men”. When Jesus “came into” the city of “Capernaum”, a “Roman officer who was captain of one hundred men” approached Him.
The verse continues, “... beseeching him.” Matthew added the words, “beseeching” or “calling, addressing, entreating and begging” “him” which refers to “Jesus”. Matthew shared how this “centurion” came “begging” to Jesus.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how a “Gentile” Roman “officer” approached Jesus and was “vigorously begging” Him for that which he is about to ask. This story reminds readers that Jesus was conscientious of “Gentiles” as well as Jews with His gospel. Though the “Romans” ruled during Jesus day, both Jews and Gentiles were in need of a “Savior” in their lives. Regardless of whether a person was brought up in the faith of God or not, Jesus desired to “save” them all. God wants all people to be in a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus today, and those who are wise shall come to Him “beseeching” like this “Gentile officer”.
Next time Matthew shares how the centurion said to Jesus, “Lord, my servant lies at home sick of the palsy”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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