No Soup for You! (Matthew 8:5-13)

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 8:5-13

LANGUAGE

Vs 10  marveled - θαυμάζω thaumazō; to wonder; by implication, to admire: — admire, have in admiration, marvel, wonder.

COMMENTS

Remember the passage in the sermon Jesus just finished where he says, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." (Mt 7:21-23)? I think this passage follows that train of thought.

A Roman Centurion, leader over a group of 100 soldiers, comes to Jesus on behalf of on of his servants. I imagine he thinks much of this servant, as this leader does not send someone to get Jesus, but goes himself. I also imagine that if he wanted to, he could have sent for Jesus, and the expectation would have been that if Jesus did not come, there would be consequences. So from the start, we see a certain sense of humility in this man.

Then, when Jesus offers to go with him, he tells Jesus that such action is not needed. In fact, he says that he is not worthy to have Jesus as a guest. Chew on that for a moment. A Roman Centurion not worthy to have a poor, itinerant rabbi to visit his home. Wow! Next level of humility. The Centurion goes on to say that he does not have to see Jesus there, but that he just needs for Jesus to say the word, and he trusts that his servant will be well. He reasons that he does not have to individually speak to each soldier and then follow them and watch them to know that his orders are followed.

The text says that Jesus "marveled" at his faith. I like the idea that the word translated marveled also carries the idea that Jesus "admired" his faith. Imagine, Jesus looking at your faith and admiring it. That thought sends chills through me. But why did he marvel or admire this man's faith? I see a couple of reasons. One, this man was not a Jew. Somehow he knew of Jesus, he knew of the miracles, he knew of the power this rabbi possessed. Yet among those who should have known more, those who had the Old Testament prophets and their teachings, those who studied the Scriptures and even memorized huge portions of them, they did not have such regard for Jesus. Two, this man did not need to see to believe. Remember Thomas, who would not believe until he saw that scars on Jesus' body? Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." His own disciples had issue with this! But here is a man who simply trusts Jesus at His word.

So back to Matthew 7. The scribes and the Pharisees thought they were doing the will of the Father, even to the very moment they has His Son crucified on the cross. Many today, think they are doing the will of the Father. They might go to church, give, and live a righteous life. But go back to the wise and foolish builders, what was the missing piece? What is the will of the Father? Is it not to believe in His Son? Not a statement of faith, a prayer, a ritual followed through with, but the complete understanding that Jesus is God's Son, and that by dying on the cross He paid the price for our sin. And if that is truly believed, then a change of life takes place. Without the foundation of rock, the house will not stand. Without belief in His Son, no place at the feast in the kingdom. No soup for you!