The Centurion's Servant

The words

1. Built

   Luke’s elders give the centurion’s building of their synagogue as a reason to help him; the statement is part of their appeal before Jesus sets out.

   Luke 7:4–6 (opens a new tab)

2. Centurion

   Matthew presents the centurion speaking to Jesus; Luke describes him sending Jewish elders and later friends with his request concerning the sick servant.

   Did you know?

   Acts 10:1 uses the same rank for Cornelius in Caesarea, naming his unit as the “Italian band”; Matthew and Luke’s Capernaum officer is unnamed.

   Matthew 8:5–8 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:3–7 (opens a new tab) · Acts 10:1 (opens a new tab)

3. Elders

   Luke says the centurion sends “the elders of the Jews” to ask Jesus to heal his servant; they plead for him and explain his support for their community.

   Luke 7:3–5 (opens a new tab)

4. Gnashing

   Grating or grinding one’s teeth.

   Matthew records “weeping and gnashing of teeth” within Jesus’s warning about outer darkness; Luke’s centurion account instead closes with the servant found well.

   Matthew 8:12 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:10 (opens a new tab) · Strong’s G1030: gnashing (opens a new tab)

5. Goeth

   Older form of goes.

   Matthew’s “he goeth” is the soldier’s response to “Go”; the centurion pairs it with “Come” and “Do this” while explaining authority to Jesus.

   Matthew 8:9 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Matthew 8:5-13 (opens a new tab)

6. Great Faith

   Matthew and Luke both attribute “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” to Jesus after the centurion’s words about command and obedience.

   Matthew 8:9–10 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:8–9 (opens a new tab)

7. Grievously

   Severely or intensely.

   Matthew records “grievously tormented” as part of the centurion’s description, alongside palsy; Jesus’s next response is “I will come and heal him.”

   Matthew 8:6–7 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Matthew 8:5-13 (opens a new tab)

8. Instantly

   Luke’s “instantly” describes the elders’ earnest request for help; the NET says they urge Jesus “earnestly,” before giving their reasons for calling the centurion worthy.

   Luke 7:4–5 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 7:1-10 (opens a new tab)

9. Nation

   Luke’s Jewish elders say the centurion “loveth our nation” and has built a synagogue; the NET note also offers “people” for the word nation.

   Luke 7:3–5 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 7:1-10 (opens a new tab)

10. Servant

    Luke’s KJV calls the sick man a servant; the NET uses “slave,” and Luke’s account ends with the messengers returning to find him well.

    Luke 7:2–3; Luke 7:10 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 7:1-10 (opens a new tab)

11. Soldiers

    Matthew and Luke place soldiers under the centurion’s authority; he illustrates obedience with commands to go, come and do something, including a command to an enslaved servant.

    Matthew 8:9 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:8 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Matthew 8:5-13 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 7:1-10 (opens a new tab)

12. Speak the Word

    Matthew’s centurion asks Jesus to “speak the word only”; Luke’s message through friends similarly asks for a word, without requiring Jesus to come under the roof.

    Matthew 8:8 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:6–7 (opens a new tab)

13. Teeth

    Matthew places “gnashing of teeth” after Jesus’s words about people coming from east and west to sit with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

    Matthew 8:11–12 (opens a new tab)

14. Tormented

    Matthew reports the centurion describing his servant as lying with palsy and being “grievously tormented”; Luke describes the servant as sick and ready to die.

    Matthew 8:6 (opens a new tab) · Luke 7:2 (opens a new tab)

15. Worthy

    Luke’s elders call the centurion worthy of help; his later message through friends says, “I am not worthy,” specifically about Jesus entering under his roof.

    Luke 7:4; Luke 7:6–7 (opens a new tab)