When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
Wonder cannot belong to God, but Christ took on human affections with our flesh, so He could marvel truly. This Gentile's faith surpasses Israel's not in every dimension, Mary believed greater things, but in two vital respects: a bare acquaintance with doctrine bore sudden, abundant fruit, and He asked no sign, no visible proof, only rested on the bare word of God. The Jews clamored for outward signs; this man wanted nothing but the word.
AI summary
Here stood a soldier, a Roman, a Gentile, dwelling among the Jews as a badge of their subjection, yet godly and zealous. Christ received him and favored him; therein He teaches us to do good even to our enemies and shows Himself a light to the Gentiles as well as the glory of Israel. Grace conquers where it is least expected and proves itself more than a conqueror.
AI summary
Commenting on Matthew 8:5-13
Christ saw in that Gentile centurion a sign of what was coming: multitudes from east and west, from all corners of the earth, would believe as Abraham believed, and sit down with him in the kingdom. The faith of Old and New Testament saints, Jew and Gentile alike, is the same; their God the same, their Redeemer the same, their Spirit the same, and so their eternal glory and happiness one and the same.
AI summary