The Yale expositor., 1906-04-13

Mark the Sermon on the Mount is fol-
lowed by the account of many mira
,les, related in this place doubtless
"a to prove Christ's authority and
right to proclaim such laws and set
up such kingdom, and CD to Illus
trate Christ's teachings and character.
Two of those miracles we are now to
study.
l. when he had ended all his say
ings." Those of the Sermon on the
Mount. He entered into Capernaum."
The large and important city, by the
Sea of Galilee on the northwest, which
Christ made his headquarters after his
rejection at Nazareth. Here he
worked many miracles.
,. And a certain centurion's SER
want" This centurion was n heather
by birth ". 81, and was probably in
he service of Antipas. international
Critical Commentary. "All palestine
was under Roman military govern
ment; this centurion was probably
connected with the garrison at Caper-
naum. Prof. Marvin r. Vincent. "All
the centurions in the New Testament
are favorably mentioned. '-Cambrid
Bible. Compare the one at the cross,
Cornelius, whom Peter converted; and
julius, who brought Paul to Rome.
Who was dear unto him." The adj
jective does not necessarily imply an
affectionate relation between the mas
ter and the servant, though such may
well have existed. IL may mean only
that he was a valuable servant. Win
cent. WAS sick, and ready to die"
h. V, "at the point of death.
y And when he heard Of Or. ",
"concerning'O Jesus" Christ had al
ready worked many wonderful mira
Giles and spoken many wise sayings in
Capernaum, so that the centurion had
the best foundation for his faith. He
sent unto him the elders of the Jews"
Leading, representative men. THE
reference is probably to elders of the
city rather than to rulers of the syna-
gogue. "-EXpositor Greek Testament.
The centurion probably felt that Je-
sus, being a Jewish prophet, would be
most influenced by the leaders of his
own people, who were the centurion's
friends. "Beseeching OR. ", ask
ingO him that he would come and
heal Or. ", "save'D his servant"
4. "Besought him Instantly" r. v,
earnestly" as in the phrase, con
tinuing instant in prayer"
.. For he lOveth our nation This
Gentle soldier found in the Jews "a
purity. reverence. simplicity, and no.
bleness of life which he had not found
elsewhere. Dean Plumptre And he
hath built us Or. V, our syna
gogue," to testify his interest in them
and their religion. Augustus had rec
ognized the value of synagogues in
maintaining order. Int. Crit. Com
II. The Prayer of Faith.-Vs. G-S.
The centurion had shown a certain
measure of faith in sending to Jesus at
all: but he was to exhibit his faith far
more strikingly.
6. Then Jesus went with them,
saying, according to Matthew, Il will
come and heal him" Some of the
delegation seem to have FASTENED in
advance to the centurion's house.
which was probably in the suburbs, y
in order to relieve his anxiety before
Jesus could arrive. AS they drew near
TO the house, the centurion sent
friends to him." with another mes
sage. He probably had heard of the
healing of the nobleman's son in Ca
pernaum while Jesus was at Cana
John 4: 1850. so that he knew the
presence of Jesus was not necessary;
and he also felt, II am not worthy that
thou shouldest enter under my roof.
This feeling Of unworthiness was due
partly % to his own consciousness of
sin, and partly CD to his knowledge of
the Jewish feeling that "as the houses
of Gentiles were 'unclean,' entrance
into them, and still more, familiar
fellowship, would defile. - Elder
sheim.
Z. Say in a word" Literally, Say
with a word. and let my servant be
healed. The word is to be the in
strument with which the healing is to
take place, instead of Jesus coming
in person. Int Crit. Com.
8. For / also like Jesus, but in an
other sphere) am man set under au-
thority," etc. He means: 1 also,
though very humble person in the
army, under the authority of more i'm
portant officers, still have a command
over a body of men who do implicitly
as | bid them The centurion thinks
Jesus can order about disease as he
orders his soldiers--say to fever, palsy,
leprosy, go, and it will go."-Exposi-
tors Greek Testament.
III. The Prayer of Faith Granted
| VS.. Q, TO- 9. He marvelled at him. y
only twice do we read in the Gospel
that the Savior marveled: once at the
! unbelief of his fellow citizens at MAJ
areth MARK 6: g.. once at the faith
of this heather. Van Oosterzee
said unto the people who needed
the lesson on faith. Il have not found
so great faith" THE Savior knew well
the difficulties that must have lain in
the way of this mans faith. Gibson
| They were the facts that he was a
| Gentle. that he was consciously un-
| q.