Bible Commentaries

Then a leper came to him. Leprosy begins as a skin disease, defies efforts to cure it, and is a kind of "living death." Dr. Schaff says: "Near the Jaffa gate of Jerusalem I saw, in 1877, these miserable creatures with their withered limbs imploring aid, and visited a hospital of incurable lepers." There are different forms of the disease, but white leprosy seemed most common among the Hebrew people. With it all the skin turned white. Religious law ruled a leper unclean and untouchable. Leprosy was symbolic of sin. See Leviticus 13:1-12; 2 Kings 5:27; Numbers 5:2. Sir. An expression of faith, along with the following words.

Jesus reached out and touched him. It was forbidden to touch a leper, and made the one who did it religiously unclean. But when Jesus did this, the leprosy vanished and the man was clean. At the touch of Jesus, impurity vanishes!

Don't tell anyone. This was forbidden until the man was officially pronounced healed. He could not mix with people until the priest had examined him and certified him clean. The man might have prejudiced his case with the priest by telling how it happened. And, Jesus didn't try to impress people. Offer the sacrifice. Leviticus 14:10; Leviticus 14:22; Leviticus 14:30-31.

When Jesus entered Capernaum. See note on Matthew 4:13. He returned to the place he made his home after the Sermon on the Mount, and the healing of the leper. Compare Luke 7:1-10. A Roman officer met him. Roman occupation forces controlled Palestine at this time. Their headquarters were in Caesarea, and soldiers were stationed in every town. This man was a centurion, comparable to our rank of captain, and he was probably the commander of the garrison at Capernaum. A Gentile, he did not approach Jesus in person, but through some Jewish elders (Luke 7:3). Probably he thought Jesus would listen to them more favorably. These Jewish elders were happy to speak a good word for this Luke 7:5), either to gain their favor, or he may have been a religious man like Cornelius. Ruins of a synagogue were found at Tel Hum, thought to be Capernaum, and perhaps these were of the one built by this Roman officer, in which Christ preached.

Luke 7:6).

Oh no, sir. The officer said this through some friends (Luke 7:6). I do not deserve. The strict Jews would not even talk to a Gentile. The Roman officer may have thought that so holy a Jew as Jesus would not want to enter his house. Just give the order. He believed this was enough to ask. Not even Martha thought that Jesus could have saved her brother Lazarus without going to him in person (John 11:21). This man's faith was strong.

And I have soldiers under me. What he says is this: "In the army, authority is obeyed. I give the order and it is obeyed. You have authority over disease. Give the command, and it will leave."

Jesus was surprised. Two times Jesus is said to be surprised. Here—at the faith of a Gentile Roman Officer. In Mark 6:6—at the unbelief of the Jews. I have never seen such faith. The amount of this man's faith is demonstrated by his view of the authority and high rank of Jesus. This strong faith was not in a Jew, but a Gentile. See the Canaanite woman [also a Gentile] whom Jesus praised (Matthew 15:28).

Remember this. The east and the west are symbolic of the entire world. Not only those far from the Jews geographically, but spiritually as well See Acts 2:39. Sit down at the table. The Jews spoke symbolically of Messiah's Kingdom as being a "feast with the fathers." This implies companionship with the great men of old in that Eternal world. [This can also be applied figuratively to the church on earth (Galatians 3:29).]

But those who should be. The Jews, Abraham's natural children. Thrown out. Because they rejected the Messiah, in whom the promise was fulfilled. Into the darkness outside. This has been fulfilled in the history of the Jews in the last nineteen centuries. There may also be a hint here of future punishment.

What you believe will be done for you. The Roman officer believed fully that Jesus could heal his servant just by giving the order. That very hour. At the very moment these words were spoken, the servant was healed.

Jesus went to Peter's home. Peter had a mother-in-law, and therefore was a married man. In fulfilling his later duties as an apostle, Peter took his wife along with him (1 Corinthians 9:5). Sick in bed with a fever. Luke says a high fever (Luke 4:38). It may have been malaria, and Mark's account (Mark 1:29-30) implies that the fever came on suddenly.

He touched her hand. Sometimes Jesus healed by a word, sometimes by a touch. At the touch of his hand, she was immediately well—and got up to wait on him.

When evening came. See also Mark 1:32. Jesus had amazed the people by healing one who was demon-possessed (Mark 1:21-28). Now that evening has come and the Sabbath ended (at sundown), the people come crowding in bringing those who need help. Who had demons in them. See note on Matthew 4:24. These were spiritually sick. Others were diseased in body.

He did this to make come true. See Hebrews 2:11-18).