The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 330

'l\liracles,' p. 231 : 1866). Observe that the stead of all his actions hnving their deepest ~tatenwnt of the ease is itself a petition. root in his own natnl"(', being the truthful ex• Ver. 7.-Matthew only. And Jesus (Re- ponents of his own inmost being" (Trench). vised Version, he) saith unto him, I will (2) That St. John was referring, as it seems, come and heal him. The emphasis is not to persons with whom our Lord was brought on the coming, but on the person who into contMt, while here the centurion ie comes ( l-y~ il,Odw). Observe Christ's perfect probably absent (vide aupi-a). Our Lord's self-c·onsciousuess. Heal (O,pa1r,6tro,); con- powers of perception (t-ylvo,trKEv, John) have trast rnr. 8. ?ere had no opportunity of action. (3) TI.Jut, Yer. 8.-The (Revised Version, and th~) m nny case, even our Lord's mental powers oenturion answered and said. His reply did not net in any unnatural method. In hu, as reported in Matthew is almost verbally grasping the true oho.racter of ea.eh man~s the same a.s his second message in Luke, mind, the same processes (however rapid in eave for the import.ant addition there of his his case) must have taken place ns take place unworthiness to come. Lord, I am not in men generally, and among these processes worthy (i1<11vos); eh. iii. 11, note. That is wonder at some fresh trnit. (4) That thou shonldest come under my roof. "My," unless we e.re prepared to accept a subtle probably emphatic: however thou mayest A pollmarianism, we must suppose that Christ honour others. l3ut speak the word only ; came to know hnman hearts by his human but only say f/1,e tDOrd (Revised Version): ratber than by his Divine powers. This, of oAAtt µ.&vov ,i1r, A&-yq,. Only say with a single course, will not exclude his receiving special word what is to be done, and it shall be done commnnicntions in the Holy Spirit, by ( cf. ver. I 6). And my servant shaJ.J. be whose agency we may suppose that he healed (la.9-f,trercu); eh. iv. 23, note. "saw" Nathanael (John i. 48). And eaiil: Yer. 9.-For I am (for I also am, Revised to them that followed. The multitudes Version) a man under authority, having (ver. I). Verily I HY unto you, I hav& soldiers under me ( under myself soldiers, not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Revised Version): and I say to this man So also the Revised Version (similarly (this one, Revised Version), Go, and he goeth; Luke), but Revised Version margin and and to another, Come, and he oometh; and to Westcott e.nd Hort rea.d, "With no man in my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. The Israel have I found so great faith," in which centurion says that he knows the power of there is more distinct reference to the in- a command when given by one in authority, di vidnals whom he had actually met. .A through the obedience that he himself shows Gentile surpassed them all. Notice that and throngh that which he himself receives. the centurion is put above the apostles; Observe, he naturally orders his soldiers and rightly, especially if even Peter had not movement, and his slave work. Further, as yet thought of the cure of his mother-in- may not "e.nd to my slave" represent the law (ver. 14, note). Yet the centurion was clin1R.X of his faith? He felt that the not called to apostleship. Found. "Qum• powers of nature (at lee.at those concerned rens, cum veni" (Bengel). in this illness) were not only snbordinate to Vere. 11, 12.-In Luke (xiii. 28, 29) Jesus, but were completely under his power. not joined to this miracle, but placed after At bis command they would act and the the warning about mere professors (our eh. man be healed. vii. 23). Also they are there given in the Ver. 10.-When (Revised Version, and' reverse order. Taking the other facts (ver. when) 1esus heard it, he marvelled. Con- 5, note) about this miracle into considera- trast " and he marvelled becall8C of their tion, there can be little doubt but that St. unbelief" (Mark vi. 6). We read in John llfatthew does not place these verses in their ii. 2-1, 25, "But JeBUB did not trust himself historical connexion. He wishes to empha.- nnto them, for the.t he knew all men, and size the teaching of the miracle, that Gen- because he needed not that e.ny one should tiles accept Chri~t, though Jews reject him. bear witness concerning me.n ; for he himself For this reason also he gives the two verses knew what was in man." Yet here our Lord in the reverse order. And. In contNst (Bl) nrnrvels at the character of the centurion. to this comparative absence of belief in How can we reconcile these two statements? Iarael. Many. Not in the parallel passage .As yet not fully, for the question fakes us to in Luke, but it agrees with the aim of St. the centre of our Lord's personality. But Matthew's Gospel. Shall oome. Though we must remember: (I) That Angustine's not emphatic, as it is in the parallel pas- solution-Christ did not so much actually sage in Luke, yet expressive of purpose wonder, as commend to us that which was o.nd decision. From the east e.nd (Revised worthy of our admiration-" brings au un- Version, the) west. Not only residents in reality into parts of our Lord's conduct, as Palestine, like this centurion, but from the thongh he did some things for show e.nd the furthest limits of the earth.. The thoog:ht effect which they would have on others, in- wae well known ; e.g. Mai. 1. 11 ; lee.. lix. OIi, vm. 1-34.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 3~5