ACC ~ Luke 7 v1 - 10

OVERVIEW:

Jesus shows love for enemies by healing the slave of a Gentile centurion (AMBROSE). The Jewish elders, representing Israel, commend the centurion to Jesus because he built a synagogue where God was present in his Word (MAXIMUS OF TURIN). Soldiers are capable of being faithful followers of Jesus, as this centurion and Cornelius [1] clearly show (AUGUSTINE). Unworthy, he becomes worthy (EPHREM THE SYRIAN). Instead of being a soldier for the emperor, he now becomes a soldier of peace for Jesus (MAXIMUS OF TURIN). At the same time, however, Jesus shows his humility in healing the centurion’s slave (AMBROSE).

[1] Acts 10:1—11:30.

7:1-2 | A Valued Slave

JESUS DEMONSTRATES LOVE FOR ENEMIES

AMBROSE: The servant of a Gentile centurion is immediately brought to the Lord for healing; this represented the people of the nations who were held in the bonds of worldly slavery, sick with deadly passions, to be cleansed by the Lord’s blessing. The Evangelist did not err in saying that he was at the point of death, for he would have died if Christ would not have healed him. He fulfilled the rule with heavenly love, he who so loved his enemies that he snatched them from death and admitted them to the hope of eternal salvation. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.83. [1]

[1] EHG 177*.

7:3-5 | The Jewish Elders

THE CENTURION BUILT A SYNAGOGUE FOR GOD’S PRESENCE

MAXIMUS OF TURIN: In order to praise the centurion more, the Jews said to the Lord, “It is right that you should help him, for he is a lover of our nation, and he himself has built us a synagogue.” If one who has constructed a place where Christ is always denied is visited with heavenly mercy, how much more to be visited is one who has built a tabernacle where Christ is daily preached! The Lord did not approve the work that the centurion had done but the spirit in which he accomplished it. If he eagerly built a synagogue at a time when there were as yet no Christians, it is understood that he would all the more eagerly have built a church had there been Christians. He still preaches Christ even though he builds a synagogue. SERMON 87.1. [1]

[1] ACW 50:255-56**.

7:6-9 | The Centurion

AN EXAMPLE OF A FAITHFUL SOLDIER

AUGUSTINE: Do not imagine that someone cannot please God while he is engaged in military service. Take as an example holy David to whom the Lord gave such high testimony. Many just men of that time were soldiers. The centurion was the soldier who said to the Lord, “I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my servant shall be healed.” LETTER 189. [1]

[1] FC 30:268*.

THE FIRST GENTILE TO HAVE FAITH

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: “I am not worthy that you should enter my house. I am not capable of receiving the Sun of Righteousness in its entirety; a little radiance from it is sufficient for me to remove sickness, as it does for the darkness.” When our Lord heard this, he marveled at him. God marveled at a human being. He said to those who were near him, “Truly, I say to you, not even in anyone among the house of Israel have I found this kind of faith.” … The centurion had brought them, and he came so that they would be advocates on his behalf. He rebuked them because they did not possess his faith. To show that the centurion’s faith was the first of the faith of the Gentiles, he said, “Do not imagine that this faith can be limited to the centurion.” For he saw and believed. [1] “Many will believe who have not seen.” [2] “Many will come from the east and from the west and will sit at table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, etc.” [3] COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 6.22B. [4]

[1] Jn 20:8.

[2] Jn 20:29.

[3] Mt 8:11.

[4] ECTD 125-26*.

A SOLDIER OF PEACE FOR THE SAVIOR

MAXIMUS OF TURIN: See how the devout centurion becomes worthier to receive health as he confesses that he is unworthy. In considering his dwelling unacceptable, he has made it the more honorable and acceptable. … The Lord does not go to his house, but the Lord’s healing goes. The Savior does not visit the sick man, but the Savior’s health visits him. SERMON 87. [1]

[1] ACW 50:256-57**.

7:10 | The Slave Is Healed

HEALING THE CENTURION’S SLAVE A SIGN OF HUMILITY

AMBROSE: How great is the sign of divine humility, that the Lord of heaven by no means disdained to visit the centurion’s servant! Faith is revealed in deeds, but humanity is more active in compassion. Surely he did not act this way because he could not cure in his absence, but in order to give you a form of humility for imitation he taught the need to defer to the small and the great alike. In another place he says to the ruler, “Go, your son lives,” [1] that you may know both the power of Divinity and the grace of humility. In that case he refused to go to the ruler’s son, lest he seem to have had regard for riches. In this case he went himself lest he seem to have despised the humble rank of the centurion’s servant. All of us, slave and free, are one in Christ. [2] EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.84. [3]

[1] Jn 4:50.

[2] See Gal 3:28, Col 3:11.

[3] EHG 177*.