October 11

Matthew 8:1-13; Luke 7 (biblegateway.com)

Faith That Amazes

In Matthew 8:1–13 and Luke 7, Jesus’ authority and compassion are displayed through two remarkable encounters: a leper who seeks cleansing and a Roman centurion who seeks healing for his servant. Jesus touches the untouchable, cleansing the leper instantly, showing that His holiness overcomes impurity. The centurion, a Gentile, demonstrates extraordinary faith, believing that Jesus’ word alone can heal from a distance. Jesus commends this faith, declaring that many from outside Israel will share in the blessings of God’s kingdom. These moments reveal that faith, not heritage or status, is what grants access to God’s saving power.

Matthew 8:1–13 — Faith That Trusts the Word of Christ

After finishing the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus begins demonstrating His divine authority through miraculous acts that confirm His identity as the Messiah. Matthew 8 opens with two striking examples: the cleansing of a leper and the healing of a centurion’s servant. Both reveal Jesus’ authority over physical illness and His compassion toward those considered outcasts.

As Jesus descended from the mountain, “great crowds followed Him” (v. 1). His teaching had captured their attention, but His actions would now reveal that His authority extended beyond words. Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached Him, kneeling in humility and worship. “Lord, if You will, You can make me clean” (v. 2). The man’s request was filled with faith. He did not question Christ’s ability, only His willingness. Lepers were socially and religiously isolated, viewed as unclean and cursed. Yet this leper defied custom, believing that Jesus could do what no priest or physician could.

Jesus’ response was astonishing. He stretched out His hand and touched the man, saying, “I will; be clean” (v. 3). That single touch crossed every barrier of law and culture. Normally, touching a leper rendered someone unclean, but Jesus’ holiness transformed impurity into purity. “Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” Matthew’s use of “immediately” underscores the completeness of the miracle, no gradual recovery, but instant restoration. This was not merely physical healing; it was the restoration of the man’s place in community and worship.

Then Jesus told him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them” (v. 4). Jesus honored the Law (Leviticus 14:2–32), sending the man to the priest not for approval, but as a testimony of divine authority. The cleansing that only God could perform now stood before the priesthood as undeniable evidence of the Messiah’s power.

Soon after, Jesus entered Capernaum (v. 5), His adopted home and the center of His Galilean ministry. There, a Roman centurion approached Him, pleading for his paralyzed servant who lay in terrible suffering (v. 6). This scene carried social tension: a Gentile officer of the occupying power addressing a Jewish teacher. Yet his humility and faith shine brightly. When Jesus offered to come and heal the servant, the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed” (v. 8).

The centurion understood authority. “For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me” (v. 9). Just as his commands were obeyed without question, he believed that Jesus’ word carried absolute authority over illness and nature. This insight revealed profound faith. The man grasped what many in Israel did not, that Jesus’ spoken word was enough.

When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith” (v. 10). It is rare in the Gospels for Jesus to marvel, and here He does so at the faith of a Gentile. Then He declared a sobering truth: “Many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness” (v. 11–12). Faith, not heritage, determines one’s place in God’s kingdom. This was a radical statement to a Jewish audience accustomed to covenant privilege.

Jesus then said to the centurion, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed” (v. 13). The servant was healed at that very moment, without touch, without presence, by word alone. Christ’s authority transcended space, confirming that His power is sovereign and His mercy boundless.

Matthew 8:1-13 presents faith as an act of humble trust in Christ’s will and word. The leper shows that no condition or person is too unclean for God’s grace; the centurion shows that no one is too far or unworthy to approach Him. Both miracles point to the inclusiveness of the gospel and that salvation is available to all who believe.

The passage challenges believers to approach Jesus as both Lord and Savior, confident in His power but surrendered to His will. It reminds us that genuine faith is not presumption but submission. The call is to trust Him wholly, obey Him fully, and live with compassion toward the “untouchable” and the outsider. The same Christ who healed by touch and by word still cleanses hearts today through the power of His Word and Spirit.

Luke 7 — Faith, Compassion, and Forgiveness

Luke 7 parallels the accounts of Matthew 8 but adds additional events that reveal the full range of Jesus’ compassion and authority, including His power to heal the sick, raise the dead, comfort the grieving, and forgive the sinner. This chapter shows how faith operates in different circumstances: a soldier’s humility, a widow’s sorrow, a prophet’s doubt, and a sinner’s repentance. Each story magnifies God’s mercy and the personal nature of His grace.

After Jesus had finished teaching in Capernaum, Jewish elders came to Him on behalf of a Roman centurion whose servant was gravely ill and near death (v. 1–5). A centurion was a Roman military officer. Though a Gentile, this centurion had earned the respect of the Jewish community through his humility, generosity, and genuine faith in Israel’s God. Having even financed the construction of their synagogue, he was considered “worthy” by the elders, who pleaded earnestly with Jesus to help him.

Matthew records that the centurion came personally to Jesus (Matt. 8:5), while Luke explains that he sent Jewish elders as messengers. This difference reflects ancient custom, where addressing a person’s representatives was equivalent to speaking to the person himself. Luke, writing to a Gentile audience, emphasized the centurion’s good relationship with the Jews, while Matthew, writing for a Jewish audience, focused on the man’s great faith in Christ.

The centurion’s appeal demonstrates remarkable humility and understanding of authority. Although a man of power, he acknowledged that Jesus’ authority was far greater. When Jesus began to approach his home, the centurion sent friends to say, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But say the word, and my servant will be healed” (v. 6–7). His request revealed deep faith; he understood that Jesus’ word alone carried divine power.

Jesus marveled at such faith, saying, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith” (v. 9). When the centurion’s friends returned home, they found the servant completely healed (v. 10). The miracle confirmed that true faith does not depend on physical signs or proximity but on confidence in Christ’s authority and word.

This account of the centurion’s faith reminds us that genuine belief recognizes both the greatness of Christ and our own unworthiness before Him. The centurion did not rely on status, position, or good works, but on Jesus’ word alone. His confidence in the authority of Christ’s spoken word demonstrates that true faith rests not on sight or feeling, but on the certainty of who Jesus is: the Lord with power to heal, forgive, and save.

For believers today, this story challenges us to trust God’s word even when we cannot see the outcome. Faith means submitting to Christ’s authority and believing that His promises are sure. Like the centurion, we are called to humility that acknowledges our dependence on God’s grace and to confidence that His word is enough. His faith stands as an example of what God desires, which is a heart that takes Him at His word, honors His authority, and believes that He is able to do what He has spoken.

Soon after healing the centurion’s servant, Jesus traveled to Nain, a small town about twenty-five miles southwest of Capernaum (v. 11). As He approached the city gate, He encountered a funeral procession. A widow’s only son had died, and a large crowd accompanied her in grief. Her sorrow was profound, for with her husband already gone, she was left entirely alone without family protection or provision. Under the Law, God had commanded His people to care for widows, and this scene vividly portrays the kind of brokenness Christ came to redeem.

Moved with deep compassion, Jesus said to her, “Do not weep” (v. 13). He then touched the bier, stopping the procession. This act would have made Him ceremonially unclean according to Jewish custom, yet He willingly reached into the place of death to bring life. With divine authority, He spoke, “Young man, I say to you, arise” (v. 14). Instantly, the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him back to his mother (v. 15). The simplicity of the moment, one command and one act of mercy, revealed both the power and tenderness of the Savior who conquers death and comforts those who mourn.

Awe and reverence filled the crowd as they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited His people!” (v. 16). Yet Jesus was far greater than a prophet. He is God in the flesh, the Lord of life. News of this miracle spread throughout Judea and the surrounding regions (v. 17), preparing hearts to recognize that through Christ, God had truly come near to His people.

This miracle points to the greater salvation Jesus provides. Humanity is spiritually dead in sin and unable to help itself. Only through His compassion and power can we be raised to life. Just as the widow’s son did nothing to earn his restoration, so eternal life is the unearned gift of God’s grace, received through faith.

This passage reminds us that Jesus still meets us in our grief and loss with compassion and authority. His words, “Do not weep,” are not a denial of sorrow but a promise of hope. He alone holds power over death, and He offers comfort that reaches beyond the grave. In Him we find life, peace, and assurance that nothing is beyond His reach.

While John the Baptist was imprisoned, he heard reports of all that Jesus was doing and sent two of his disciples to ask, “Are You the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (v. 18–20). John’s question reveals an honest struggle of faith. Though he had boldly proclaimed Jesus as the Lamb of God, his present suffering and the delay of the expected kingdom caused confusion. The prophets had spoken of the Messiah bringing judgment and deliverance, yet John saw only mercy and miracles. His question was not born of unbelief, but of longing for confirmation that his labor had not been in vain.

Jesus did not answer with an argument but with a demonstration. At that very time, He healed the sick, cleansed lepers, gave sight to the blind, cast out evil spirits, and proclaimed good news to the poor (v. 21–22). Then He said, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard.” His response pointed back to the prophecies of Isaiah (35:5–6; 61:1), showing that His works fulfilled Scripture and proved that the promised age of salvation had begun. He added a gentle word of encouragement: “Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me” (v. 23). Jesus assured John that His mission was unfolding exactly as God intended, even if it did not yet include the visible judgment John had expected.

When John’s messengers departed, Jesus turned to the crowd and spoke of John’s greatness (v. 24–28). He reminded them that John was no ordinary prophet but the messenger foretold in Malachi 3:1 who would prepare the way for the Lord. John had faithfully fulfilled his calling, yet Jesus declared that “the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” This did not diminish John but highlighted the privilege of those who would live under the full revelation of Christ’s completed work of redemption. Those who heard John’s message and repented, including tax collectors and common people, acknowledged God’s purpose, but the Pharisees and legal experts rejected it, refusing the baptism that demonstrated repentance (v. 29–30).

Jesus then compared the people of that generation to children in the marketplace who refuse to be satisfied (v. 31–35). They criticized John for being too strict and Jesus for being too welcoming, showing that their real problem was spiritual hardness rather than misunderstanding. John came with a call to repentance and was rejected; Jesus came with grace and was condemned for His compassion. Wisdom, however, is justified by all her children, meaning that the fruits of genuine faith reveal who truly belongs to God. Those who followed Jesus and John were themselves the evidence of the truth and righteousness of their message.

This passage teaches that doubt, when brought honestly to Christ, can be met with reassurance rather than condemnation. Jesus understands our confusion and responds with truth and grace. Theologically, His answer to John confirms that He is the promised Messiah, fulfilling God’s redemptive plan through acts of mercy, spiritual renewal, and ultimate salvation. The challenge for believers today is to trust His timing and methods, even when circumstances seem uncertain. Faith rests not only on what we expect but on who Jesus is, the One who brings life, hope, and the fulfillment of God’s promises.

The next passage, verses 36-50, illustrates the principle Jesus has just stated in verse 35: wisdom is justified by her children. Luke contrasts two hearts, Simon the Pharisee and a woman known in the town as a sinner. Both encounter Jesus at the same table, but their responses could not be more different. The woman, broken by conviction and drawn by grace, receives forgiveness; Simon, confident in his own righteousness, leaves unchanged.

A Pharisee named Simon invites Jesus to dine with him (v. 36). Such meals were social occasions where teachers discussed theology before guests. As they recline around the table, a woman from the city, likely known for her immoral life, enters carrying an alabaster jar of perfume. Standing behind Jesus, she weeps, and her tears fall upon His feet. She wipes them with her hair, kisses them, and anoints them with the perfume (v. 37–38). Her actions speak of humility, repentance, and deep gratitude.

Simon, observing this, says within himself that if Jesus were truly a prophet, He would know the woman’s reputation and would reject her touch (v. 39). Jesus, knowing his thoughts, answers with a parable (v. 40–43). A moneylender has two debtors, one owing five hundred denarii and the other fifty. When neither can pay, he freely forgives them both. Jesus asks which debtor will love him more. Simon replies that the one forgiven the greater debt will love more. Jesus affirms his answer but turns the lesson toward him.

He points out the contrast: Simon offered no water for His feet, no kiss of greeting, and no oil for anointing. The woman, however, has washed His feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed them continually, and anointed them with costly perfume (v. 44–46). Jesus then declares the truth behind her actions, that her many sins are forgiven, and that forgiveness has produced great love (v. 47). Her love is evidence, not the cause, of her pardon. Simon’s cold courtesy shows the opposite, a heart unaware of its own need.

Jesus says to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven” (v. 48). The other guests begin to murmur, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” (v. 49). Their question echoes the earlier wonderings of the crowds about His identity. Only God can forgive sin, and Jesus’ declaration again reveals His divine authority. He then speaks peace to her heart: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (v. 50). Her salvation is not earned by emotion or gifts but received through faith expressed in humble devotion.

This story brings the earlier themes of the chapter to their climax. John’s disciples had questioned whether Jesus was truly the Messiah (v. 19). Jesus’ miracles and mercy have already answered that question, but now His authority reaches its highest expression: He forgives sin and restores the broken. The Pharisee represents self-righteous religion that offers no hope; the woman represents repentant faith that receives complete pardon.

True forgiveness always transforms the heart. The depth of one’s gratitude reflects the depth of one’s awareness of grace. Those who, like Simon, see little need for mercy seldom love deeply. Those who know how much they have been forgiven overflow with love, worship, and service.

For believers today, this story is both comfort and challenge. It invites us to remember how much we have been forgiven so that our love might overflow. It challenges us to reject judgmentalism, to see others as Christ sees them, and to respond with grace instead of condemnation. The Savior’s words, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace,” remain the sweetest invitation ever spoken to a repentant sinner and the enduring promise to all who come to Him in humble trust.

Luke 7 shows that true faith takes many forms: humble submission, desperate trust, reverent awe, and tearful repentance. Whether a soldier, a widow, a prophet, or a sinner, each encounter points to one truth. Jesus meets people where they are and calls them to faith that transforms.

The widow’s son reveals His compassion in suffering; the centurion’s servant, His power over distance; the sinner’s forgiveness, His mercy over sin. The proper response is awe and obedience, trusting His word, yielding our pride, and loving Him deeply.

The challenge for believers is to reflect His compassion and authority, to love without prejudice, serve without hesitation, and believe without demanding proof. The Savior who healed and forgave still speaks life today. Those who hear His word and respond in faith will find cleansing, comfort, and eternal peace.

Conclusion

These passages reveal the heart of Jesus’ ministry, which is compassionate, powerful, and full of grace. From the leper’s cleansing to the widow’s comfort and the sinful woman’s forgiveness, each encounter points to the transforming power of faith in Christ. Matthew 8:1–13 and Luke 7 remind us that Jesus came not only to heal bodies but to restore hearts. His mercy reaches the untouchable, His word restores the hopeless, and His grace forgives the repentant. For believers today, these stories call us to approach Him with humble faith, to trust His authority, and to rejoice that His love still redeems and renews all who come to Him.