Luke 7:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

While Matthew does not explicitly state that the centurion sent the Jews to implore Jesus, one could reasonably infer that he likely sent them before approaching Jesus himself. What Matthew leaves out, Luke provides. It may also be possible that the Jews, motivated by jealousy, would have objected to the centurion approaching Jesus directly, as this would have brought honor to Jesus, particularly if the centurion had come out of desperation. Furthermore, one might question how Matthew presents the centurion, through the messengers, as requesting Jesus not to visit. In response, it is worth noting that there is nothing unusual about sending others to convey a message, that is, asking Jesus not to come.

What solution can he discover to address the situation, or what aid can he provide to the afflicted man who is incapacitated? It is said that he had heard about the teachings of Jesus, thus he sends to Him, seeking what is beyond human ability, recognizing Him as divine. His plea was for the one who was at death's door to be freed from the clutches of death. How did he come to acknowledge Jesus, when he had yet to be among those who held faith in Him? Until that moment, he had been part of the crowds lost in misunderstanding. He had only heard what others said about Him. Since he had never received personal instruction from Jesus, witnessed His miracles, nor been familiar with the writings of Moses or the Sacred Scriptures, his belief rested solely on popular accounts and hearsay. However, confident that with a simple act of His will, his request could be granted, he dispatches the prominent leaders of the Jewish community to approach Jesus on his behalf, known as elders.

The servant of a Gentile centurion, an individual who stood opposed to the Lord, is brought before Him seeking healing. This act symbolizes the Gentile nations, trapped in the afflictions of this world, suffering from fatal desires, in need of the Lord’s grace for restoration. The evangelist accurately noted the severity of his condition; without Christ’s intervention, he would have faced death. Therefore, through profound divine love, the commandment was fulfilled by the One who cherished His adversaries enough to rescue them from perishing, while also drawing them with the promise of everlasting salvation.

petitioning Him... The term 'petitioning' is preferred over 'asking.' This is found in the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, and a thorough reading of the entire chapter, particularly the conclusion, will clarify that the accounts of the two Evangelists do not conflict with one another, despite any apparent discrepancies.

(Note: The biblical quotations remain unchanged throughout the paraphrase.)

He is deserving of prayer, for you should offer this on his behalf, as he truly cares for our community and has constructed a synagogue (Lk 7: 4-5). If the Lord favors the one who built a synagogue, how much more joy does He find in those who establish a church! Thus, if mercy is granted to one who has created a place for iniquity, how much greater compassion should be shown to someone who has established a sanctuary for faith! And if divine grace is bestowed upon one who erected a structure where Christ is consistently rejected, how much more should it be conferred upon the one who has created a dwelling in which Christ is honored daily! The Lord did not perform any miracle for the centurion, yet He recognized the worth of his intentions.

Shortly thereafter, the Lord arrived in the city with the newly chosen apostles. An astonishing encounter awaited them, one that took even the Lord by surprise, during which He imparted a significant message to the apostles for their future service. A Roman centurion residing there had a beloved servant who was gravely ill. Although he was of Gentile origin, he held the Jewish faith in high regard and had constructed a synagogue for the Jewish community in Capernaum. He might have been a proselyte, albeit one of a lesser standing. The news of the Lord's miraculous deeds reached him, and he did not question their authenticity. Recognizing the divine authority behind these miracles, he was filled with reverence for the miracle worker.

After leaving the Mount of Beatitudes, Jesus made His way to Capernaum. In this city, there was a centurion who had a beloved servant who was gravely ill. Upon learning that Jesus had arrived, the centurion resolved to seek healing for his servant. However, as a Gentile, he felt unworthy to approach Jesus personally, so he sent Jewish elders as representatives to plead on his behalf. They earnestly urged Jesus, emphasizing the centurion's goodwill towards the Jewish people and his many acts of kindness. Jesus agreed to accompany them.

As soon as the Savior reached the town of Capernaum, where He was temporarily staying, a group of Jewish elders, likely prominent members of the local synagogue, approached Him. They brought a request on behalf of a centurion whose cherished servant was suffering from a grave illness (Matt. 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10). It may seem curious that the Jewish leaders were so involved in the affairs of a Gentile, especially one who was undeniably a non-Jewish Roman. However, they characterized him as someone who not only held love for their community—an uncommon trait among Gentiles, particularly given the Romans' general disdain for the Jews—but who had also funded the construction of a synagogue at his own cost.

The Jewish elders, who may have willingly offered their assistance, likely aimed for their words to sway Jesus and incline him toward their favor.

Following the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus Christ arrived in Capernaum. There lived a centurion, a Roman officer of Gentile origins, who may have been a secret convert to Judaism. Upon hearing of the miraculous healings performed by Jesus, he humbly sought healing for his beloved servant, who was gravely ill and in a state of distress. Feeling unworthy as a Gentile to approach Jesus directly, he sent Jewish elders to make his request, urging them to speak to the Lord on his behalf. They said to Jesus: "Lord, my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering greatly," and added, "He is deserving of your help, for he loves our people and has built our synagogue."