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  EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS ON LUKE - LUKE 7:1-10
  by J.C. Ryle
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THE FAITH OF THE CENTURION

These verses describe the miraculous cure of a sick man. A centurion, or
officer in the Roman army, applies to our Lord on behalf of his servant,
and obtains what he requests. A greater miracle of healing than this, is
nowhere recorded in the Gospels. Without even seeing the sufferer,
without touch of hand or look of eye, our Lord restores health to a
dying man by a single word. He speaks, and the sick man is cured. He
commands, and the disease departs. We read of no prophet or apostle, who
wrought miracles in this manner. We see here the finger of God!

We should notice in these verses the KINDNESS of the centurion. It is a
part of his character which appears in three ways. We see it in his
treatment of his servant. He cares for him tenderly when sick, and takes
pains to have him restored to health. We see it again in his feeling
towards the Jewish people. He did not despise them as other Gentiles
commonly did. The elders of the Jews bear this strong testimony, "He
loves our nation." We see it lastly in his liberal support of the Jewish
place of worship at Capernaum. He did not love Israel "in word and
tongue only, but in deed." The messengers he sent to our Lord supported
their petition by saying, "He has built a synagogue for us."

Now where did the centurion learn this kindness? How can we account for
one who was a heathen by birth, and a soldier by profession, showing
such a spirit as this? Habits of mind like these were not likely to be
gathered from heathen teaching, or promoted by the society of a Roman
camp. Greek and Latin philosophy would not recommend them. Tribunes,
consuls, prefects and emperors would not encourage them. There is but
one account of the matter. The centurion was what he was "by the grace
of God." The Spirit had opened the eyes of his understanding, and put a
new heart within him. His knowledge of divine things no doubt was very
dim. His religious views were probably built on a very imperfect
acquaintance with the Old Testament Scriptures. But whatever light from
above he had, it influenced his life, and one result of it was the
kindness which is recorded in this passage.

Let us learn a lesson from the centurion\

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/jc-ryle/expository-thoughts-on-luke-luke-71-10/
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