A Man Under Authority - Luke 7:8

Luke the beloved physician wrote when Jesus was going to a centurion's house to heal his servant, the centurion sent word to Jesus, “Lord, trouble not yourself: for I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto you: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed”, and in chapter seven and verse eight of his book Luke shared how the centurion tells Jesus, “I also am a man set under authority”, where we read:

For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it.

The verse reads, “For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goes;” Luke began with the words, “for I also am a man” or “because, since and on account that the centurion himself even so and indeed was a male human being” “set under authority” which means “put, stationed, arranged, assigned and appointed beneath influence, right, privilege and power of rule or government”, “having under me soldiers” or “possessing beneath the centurion himself warrior or champions”, “and I say unto one” which means “and the centurion utters, declares and proclaims to one of his warriors or champions”, “go” or “depart or leave”, “and he goes” which means “and the soldier departs and leaves”. Luke shared how the centurion said he understood “authority” because he was “under authority”, and he had “authority” over “soldiers” himself. He provided this as the reason He believed Jesus could simply “say a word” and his servant would be “healed”.

The verse goes on to say, “and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it.” Luke continued with the words, “and to another” which means “and to one other soldier”, “come” or “arise, appear and come forth to the centurion”, “and he comes” which means “and the soldier arises, appears and comes forth to him”; “Do this” or “perform, make ready and produce this particular thing”, “and he does it” which means “and the soldier performs, makes ready and produces that particular thing”. Luke shared how the centurion added specific commands he gave to his soldiers such as “coming to him and doing as he says” and they obeyed his orders.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we see how this centurion understood power and “authority”. He was under “authority” himself, and other soldiers were under his “authority” as well. The centurion knew Jesus was also a man of “power and authority”, and by simply saying a word, whatever He declared would be done. God loves people to understand His “power and authority”, and when they humble themselves before Him and believe and trust in His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, He will exercise His “authority” to forgive their sins and grant them “everlasting life”. Those who are wise will seek to understand and believe the wonderful “authority” of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

Next time Luke shares, “when Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him”, 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. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".