Mat 8:5-13 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Matt 8:5-13: 8:5-13 Jesus once again ministered to the marginalized or ostracized. The centurion was a Gentile soldier, and ministry to him would have evoked strong resentment from both the nationalistic and the separatist wings of Jewish society. 8:5 Capernaum is located on the Sea of Galilee, about two and a half miles west of the Jordan River outlet. In Jesus’ day, it was a prosperous fishing village. Standing at a crucial junction on the Great Trunk Road linking Mesopotamia and Egypt, it was an international village, and much of Jesus’ Galilean ministry was based there (e.g., 4:13 ; 8:14-17 ). • a Roman officer (Greek a centurion ): A centurion, one of sixty commanders in a legion, commanded 100 Roman soldiers (see also Mark 15:39 ; Acts 10:1 ; 27:1 ).

a8:5-13►

b8:5►

c4:13►

d8:14-17►

eMark 15:39►

fActs 10:1►

g27:1►

h8:7►

iActs 10:9-35►

jGal 2:11-14►

k8:8-10►

l8:11►

m8:11-12►

nIsa 2:2-3►

oGen 18:18►

pGal 3:8►

q16►

‏ Matthew 8:5-13

Summary for Matt 8:5-13: 8:5-13 ^a Jesus once again ministered to the marginalized or ostracized. The centurion was a Gentile soldier, and ministry to him would have evoked strong resentment from both the nationalistic and the separatist wings of Jewish society. 8:5 ^b Capernaum is located on the Sea of Galilee, about two and a half miles west of the Jordan River outlet. In Jesus’ day, it was a prosperous fishing village. Standing at a crucial junction on the Great Trunk Road linking Mesopotamia and Egypt, it was an international village, and much of Jesus’ Galilean ministry was based there (e.g., 4:13 ^c; 8:14-17 ^d).

• a Roman officer (Greek a centurion): A centurion, one of sixty commanders in a legion, commanded 100 Roman soldiers (see also Mark 15:39 ^e; Acts 10:1 ^f; 27:1 ^g).
8:7 ^h I will come (cp. Acts 10:9-35 ⁱ; Gal 2:11-14 ^j): Some have rendered this as a question: Shall I [a Jew] come [into the house of a Gentile, risking defilement] and heal him?
Summary for Matt 8:8-10: 8:8-10 ^k The centurion recognized Jesus’ authority. From his own experience, he knew that when he gave orders, they were quickly obeyed. He perceived that God had entrusted Jesus with authority to work miracles. The centurion’s faith shows that the Kingdom of God includes Gentiles (8:11 ^l).
Summary for Matt 8:11-12: 8:11-12 ^m The influx of Gentiles fulfills Old Testament promises (Isa 2:2-3 ⁿ). God’s promise to Abraham included being a blessing to many nations (Gen 18:18 ^o). Christ fulfills this promise (Gal 3:8 ^p, 16 ^q).