“Lord, my servant lies at home, paralyzed and in terrible agony.”
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
And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home,.... It would be a difficulty whether it was a son or a servant he was so concerned for; since the word here used, more commonly signifies a "son" or "child"; but that Luke, supposing it to be the same case he relates, expressly calls him "a servant", Luk 7:2.
Verse 6. Sick of the palsy. . The particular form which the palsy assumed is not mentioned. It seems it was a violent attack. Perhaps it was the painful form which produced violent cramps, and which immediately endangered his life.