to mention that others are subject to him, he says with great delicacy,1 / myself am subject. There is also a concealed anti thesis,2 sc. Jesus is supreme Lord, souverain. — u-rJ — LIT', under — under) Such persons are at present called subalterns.
10. ' Edavpaffz, ivonderecT) Faith and unbelief were both the objects of Christ's wonder ; see Mark vi. 6. Our Lord praises His friends warmly, where there is an opportunity for so doing. See ch. xi. 7, xv. 28, xxv. 35, xxvi. 10 ; Luke vii. 44, xxi. 3. — sv T'JJ 'la/xxsjX, in Israel) sc. the people of Israel. Neither the cen turion nor the woman of Canaan were of Israel ; but with regard to the latter, our Lord may seem to have given a higher testimony, because she came openly from the coasts of the Gentiles, whereas the former had dwelt in Israel : and the centurion himself anticipated that objection (id occupavit), when he declared himself to be unworthy, and interposed the elders of the Jews between himself and our Lord. — rorfav7-»ji>, so great) especially as the centurion had had much less intercourse with our Lord [than His brethren according to the flesh]. His faith was an example and earnest of the faith by which the Gentiles would surpass the Jews. — cr/or/v, faith) From this first mention of faith in the New Testament, we may gather that faith (as well as unbelief) is in both the understanding and the will, being the result of deliberation and free choice.3 See the concordances on the word cre/3w.4 Of all the virtues evinced by those who came to the Lord, He is wont to praise faith alone. See ch. xv. 28 ; Luke vii. 50.5 — ovde — eupov, I have not found) though I have come to seek it.
11. rioXXo/, many) who, being not Jews, are similar to the centurion. This is intended to awaken the emulation of the
1 TIpofapctTniat, anticipatory precaution; lest his mention of soldiers being under him should offend against humility, he puts first the mention of his being himself under the authority of others. See Append, on the figure. — ED.
2 See Explanation of Technical terms in Appendix.— (I. B.)
3 Deliberation being the province of the Understanding; Free Choice, the offspring of the Will.— (I. B.)
4 irst'Su, to persuade, etc., the verb from which irlan?, faith is derived. -(I. B.)
5 In proportion to the greatness of humility, w the greatness of faith, — See ver. 8. and Luke xvii. 5-10. — V. g.