Matthew 8:10

Thursday, 6 March 2025

 

When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! Matthew 8:10

 

“And Jesus, having heard, He wondered, and He said to those following, ‘Amen! I say to you, not in Israel I have found faith so vast as this’” (CG).

 

In the previous verse, the centurion explained to Jesus that he was a man under authority who directed those under him with merely a word. Now, the response from Jesus is given, beginning with, “And Jesus, having heard, He wondered.”

 

The Greek word thaumazó, to wonder or marvel, is used. The word wonder can mean either a sense of confused questioning, as in, “I wonder if he really meant it.” Or it can mean a state of almost shocked awe, as in marveling. The latter is used here. Jesus is stunned that someone had such deep insight into His abilities.

 

This centurion was able to rightly deduce merely by what he heard about Jesus what He was capable of. He could simply speak a word and what He proclaimed would come about. Everyone else had come to Him for healing. This man knew that wasn’t necessary.

 

Jesus could remain at whatever distance He was at and accomplish the healing. Because of this man’s discernment concerning this, and the level of trust it actually took to come to that point, it next says, “and He said to those following, ‘Amen!’”

 

The word amen is defined by HELPS Word Studies saying, “an ‘emphasis marker,’ introduces a statement of pivotal importance – i.e. that is essential in interpreting the over-all passage.”

 

As such, Jesus is calling attention to what He is about to say. If any lesson is to be learned from His interactions with this centurion, it is to be found in the following words, which are, “I say to you, not in Israel I have found faith so vast as this.”

 

Jesus introduces the word tosoutos. Again, HELPS Word Studies provides the meaning, “(from tosos, ‘so much’ and the demonstrative pronoun, hoútos, ‘this, that’) – properly, so much in this (that) case.”

 

Jesus has walked among the people of Israel for all of His earthly life. And yet, in all of His interactions with these people, chosen by God to usher in the Messiah, He found that the faith of a Gentile who had heard of the power of the God of Israel to work through His people was vaster than that of any of the covenant people. It is an astonishing statement that explains His wondering after the words of the centurion.

 

If faith is what pleases God, a tenant that is borne out in the rest of Scripture, then this man’s faith was exceptional indeed and his standing with God was in the sweet spot.

 

Life application: By faith, the centurion understood the nature of Jesus’ ability and power. It was something that extended beyond His humanity. Even if he didn’t know that Jesus is the God/Man, he knew that God’s hand was upon Him and what He spoke would come about according to the will of God.

 

Where are we going to put our faith? Some people walk up to stone or wood shaped by man and pray to it as if it has the ability to respond. Some will put their trust in the movement of the stars or the lines in a person’s palm to discern facts about the world around us or about the fate of a person.

 

Others believe that cards drawn out at random can tell us the future and what actions we should take in order to be prosperous, avoid troubles, or who to marry.

 

Some people have faith that in being martyred while killing others, they will receive eternal life. As you consider the religions and supposed divine expressions you come across, consider how they all have similar characteristics. Each requires the person to do something in order for their future to come about as is hoped.

 

However, the Bible teaches otherwise. It tells us that it is by faith alone, through the grace of God alone, that reconciliation with God and true life are attained. Those times when law is given seem to contradict this, but the Bible explains why the laws are given and how they are to teach us to come to Jesus in faith to be right with God. They were merely tools of instruction to show us that our works actually put up a barrier between God and man.

 

Have faith! Be pleasing to God by trusting that He is the all-powerful, all-capable, and sole source of everything that is necessary to return us safely back into His care –

 

“The eternal God is your refuge,
And underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deuteronomy 33:27

 

Heavenly Father, thank You that we are saved by grace through faith. You have graciously extended Yourself to us, having done all that is necessary to reconcile us to You. By faith in that, we are brought near again. Thank You for this wonderful reconciliation. Praises to You, O God. Amen.