each method He arouses faith, and shows that He is no respecter of persons.
8. Srsyjji/, roof} Although not a mean one, cf. Luke vii. 5. There were others whose reverence did not prevent them from seeing and touching the Lord, see ch. ix. 18, 20. The same in ternal feeling may manifest itself outwardly in different modes, yet all of them good. — sins Xoy^, command by word) Thus does the centurion declare his belief that the disease will yield to our Lord's command. Some few copies have rather more care lessly, e/Vs Xoyov,1 say the word. — ladqatrai, shall be healed) The centurion replies by this glorious word : our Lord had said modestly, " bptunfatt? I will cure? — 6 vaTg fiou, my boy) A kinder mode of speech than if he had said 6 6011X05 ^ou, my slave.
9. Ka/ yap lyia, for I also) Reason might object, " The slave and the soldier hear the command without difficulty; not so the disease." The wisdom of faith, however, shining forth beautifully from the military abruptness with which it was expressed, does away with this objection, and regards rather those considerations which confirm, than those which might destroy (frangant) hope ; those, namely, which arise from the supreme dominion and jurisdiction of Christ, who issued His injunctions to the sea, and the winds, and diseases ; see ver. 26 ; Luke iv. 39. HE commands : the thing is done. The cen turion can command soldier and slave, but not disease ; the Lord, however, can order the disease, and that more easily, humanly speaking, than the will of man, who is frequently re bellious. — civdpuvoi; tt/Ai ucro s^ouffiav, I am a man under authority) He does not say, / am a military officer, but since he is obliged
1 BC5c Orig. 4,278<Z and Vulg. read xdyw- Rec. Text, without good authority, has ho-yon. — ED.
2 The word used by the centurion was confined to the notion of healing, and cognate with that which denoted a physician : that employed by our Lord had also the signification of attending upon, and was cognate with one which denoted an attendant. Bengel's remark applies not to our Lord's meaning, but to the mode in which He expressed it. — (I. B.)
3 Tittmann, Syn. ii., distinguishes the words thus : SipotTrsvu ido/ueu diffe- runt ut nostra : (Germ.) helfen et heilen. §ipoe.nivia6a.i 0.^0 TUV oiaSivttav, lHadcci TOV ; eiaOfvoiii/Tocs, i.e. $tpa,7rivopoii refers to the infirmities cured, Ia.rj8u,t to the persons cured. QepctTnvv seems to me to mean, to treat a case, to tend, to minister to : l»oO»t, to heal. — ED.