Sunday
Morning Bible Study
August
2, 2015
Introduction
Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel
preached? Does it address the person who is: Empty, lonely, guilty, or afraid
to die? Does it speak to the broken
hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk – Meat – Manna Preach for a decision
Is the church loved? Regular: 2900
words Communion: 2500 words Video=75wpm
Luke was a doctor and a travelling companion of the apostle Paul.
He wrote this book while Paul was in prison.
In writing his book, Luke made use of other older documents like the Gospel
of Mark, as well as extensive eyewitness accounts.
Jesus’ ministry has begun, and the people have been amazed not just at the
things He’s been teaching, but the things He’s been doing.
We just finished an extensive teaching from Jesus.
Jesus has been out in the
countryside.
He had been up on a mountain where
He appointed His twelve apostles.
He came down from the mountain and
had taught the multitudes that had come to listen to His teaching.
(Luke 7:1–10 NKJV)
—1 Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people,
He entered Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick
and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him,
pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they
begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was
deserving, 5 “for he
loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when
He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him,
saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You
should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But
say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under
authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and
to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus
heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd
that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even
in Israel!” 10 And those
who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been
sick.
This morning’s message is all about faith.
7:1-10 The Centurion’s Servant
:1 Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He
entered Capernaum.
concluded – pleroo
– to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full; to render full, i.e.
to complete
sayings – rhema
– that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken,
word; subject matter of speech, thing spoken of
:1 He entered Capernaum
Video: Capernaum map clip
As we’ve seen before, Capernaum was a city on the northwestern shore of the
Sea of Galilee.
We will see it as Jesus’ “home base” during the 3 ˝ years of His earthly
ministry.
It was a city that mixed cultures,
both Jew and Roman.
It was located on a major highway
through Israel, the “Via Maris” (Way of the Sea), and a lot of people passed
through it.
:2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and
ready to die.
servant – doulos
– a slave, bondman, man of servile condition
sick – kakos
– miserable, to be ill
to die – teleutao
– to finish, bring to and end, close; to have an end or close, come to an
end
dear – entimos
– held in honour, prized, precious
:2 a certain centurion
centurion – hekatontarches
(“hundred” + “leader”) – an officer in the Roman army
A centurion was a commander over a company of soldiers which could be from 100
to 1000 soldiers.
Each Roman “cohort” had six centuries.
Each “legion” had ten cohorts.
Centurions were over soldiers, but they had commanders over them.
Centurions had to be literate, at least 30 years of age, and had already
served a few years in the military.
Centurions were chosen for their
excellent weapons skills.
Centurions would often suffer heavy
casualties in battle because they would lead their soldiers from the front,
they were sometimes the first to die in battle.
Centurions were paid at least twice
what a normal soldier was paid.
…is to be vigilant, temperate, active and readier to execute the orders he
receives than to talk; strict in exercising and keeping up proper discipline
among his soldiers…
The Greek historian Polybius wrote that it was the best men in the army
that held the position of “centurion”.
There were several centurions mentioned in the gospels and Acts, and they
are all fine men.
One of them was at the cross when Jesus was crucified, and said an amazing
thing (Mark 15:39)
(Mark 15:39 NKJV) So
when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and
breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”
Video: Greatest Story Ever Told –
Centurion at Cross
Indeed, the centurions mentioned in the Bible were truly John
Wayne type characters.
It was a centurion that would be
the first Gentile to respond to the message of the Gospel in the Book of Acts,
a man named Cornelius. (Acts 10)
:3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him,
pleading with Him to come and heal his servant.
he sent – apostello
– to order (one) to go to a place appointed
pleading – erotao
– to question; to ask; to request, entreat, beg, beseech
heal – diasozo
– to preserve through danger, to bring safely through; to save, i.e. cure
one who is sick, bring him through; to save, keep from perishing
The centurion didn’t go himself, but he sent some friends to talk to Jesus.
:4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the
one for whom He should do this was deserving,
came – paraginomai
– to be present, to come near, approach; to come forth, make one’s public
appearance
begged – parakaleo
– to call to one’s side, call for, summon; to address, speak to, (call to,
call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort,
instruction, etc.; to beg, entreat, beseech
earnestly – spoudaios
– hastily, with haste; diligently; earnestly
deserving – axios
– weighing, having weight, having the weight of another thing of like
value, worth as much; befitting, congruous, corresponding to a thing; of one
who has merited anything worthy
He should do – parecho
– to reach forth, offer; to show, afford, supply; to be the authors of, or
to cause one to have; to offer, show or present one’s self; to exhibit or offer
on one’s own part
Future active indicative
:5 “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”
:5 he loves our nation
he loves – agapao
– to love, to feel and exhibit esteem and goodwill to a person, to prize
and delight in a thing.
nation – ethnos
– a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together;
a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus; a tribe, nation, people
group
We’re going to see some interesting
qualities about this centurion, a man that Jesus will characterize as a man of
“faith”.
Lesson
Faith and Love
The Jewish elders sent to ask for Jesus’ help went because this centurion
was known for loving the Jewish people.
Jewish leaders in Israel typically had little love for their Roman masters,
and especially the army.
But this man is different. This man
loves (agapao) the Jews.
Later, when the centurion sends his “friends” to Jesus (vs. 6), the word
for “friends” is,
friends – philos – a
friend; an associate, a companion
It’s from the word phileo,
another Greek word for “love”.
This man has friends that he loves and love him.
The “servant” the centurion is concerned about is one that is “dear”.
dear – entimos – held in
honor, precious
When the centurion asks Jesus to
just say the word so his servant would be healed (vs. 7), the word he uses for
“servant” is,
servant – pais
– a child, boy or girl
This isn’t a term
of snobbery, as if the servant were as lowly as a child, but one of endearment.
The centurion truly cares for his servant.
If we truly follow Jesus, we will learn to love like He loves.
(John 13:34–35 NKJV)
—34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I
have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are
My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
A person who claims to know Jesus but whose life is
characterized by criticizing, condemning, and hating others needs to take a
long look in the mirror. With a picture
of Jesus next to them.
Jesus said the chief characteristic that shows we follow
Him is that we know how to love.
More than “Mom Goggles”, we need “Jesus Goggles”. We need to learn to see other people like
Jesus sees them. We need to love them
like Jesus loves them.
:5 and has built us a synagogue
has built – oikodomeo – to build a house, erect a building
Lesson
Faith and Deeds
We’ve said this many time, but a person who claims to have faith in God
will have a life characterized by good deeds.
James wrote,
(James 2:18–20 NKJV)
—18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me
your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe
that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you
want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
We do not believed that we are saved from hell by doing
good works.
We are saved from hell because Jesus died on a cross to
pay for our sins. We are saved by His
grace. When we came to have faith, to trust our lives into Jesus’ hands, He
forgave us and gave us eternal life.
But the proof of whether or not we really came to know God
is that our lives will change.
We will turn our backs on sin.
We will start to do good things.
Jesus taught us to do good things for others without expecting anything in
return.
(Luke 6:35 NKJV) But love
your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward
will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the
unthankful and evil.
A person who has faith in Jesus must learn to do good to
others whether they respond or not.
This is how God treats us.
Sometimes we actually get a return for our good deeds, though in unexpected
places.
The book of Esther is the story of how God saved the Jews from
annihilation.
In the story, a Jew named Mordecai saved the life of the
King of Persia when he uncovered a plot to assassinate the king.
Mordecai wasn’t rewarded for this, but he did it because
it was the right thing to do.
A man named Haman hated the Jews, and he especially hated
Mordecai because Mordecai wouldn’t bow before Haman.
It was because of his hatred toward Mordecai that Haman
tricked the king of Persia into signing a law that allowed for all the Jews to
be killed.
But God was faithful in preserving the Jews, and things
began to change on a night the king of Persia couldn’t sleep. So he just happened to ask for some reading
material …
(Esther
6:2 NKJV) And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and
Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands
on King Ahasuerus.
As Haman’s plot to kill the Jews was stopped, it was this
crucial piece of information that had set it all up.
Mordecai was a man known for doing good.
His good deeds gave him the reputation of a man who could
be trusted.
You may wonder why you should keep doing good things.
You may be tempted to quit at times, wondering if it’s all worth it.
Paul wrote,
(Galatians
6:9 NKJV) And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we
shall reap if we do not lose heart.
You may not reap a reward from the people you help, but
you will one day reap a reward from God.
:6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the
house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble
Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof.
friends – philos
– a friend; an associate; he who associates familiarly with one, a
companion
trouble – skullo
– to skin, flay; to rend, mangle; to vex, trouble, annoy
worthy – hikanos
– sufficient; many enough, enough
roof – stege
– a roof: of a house
:7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the
word, and my servant will be healed.
think … worthy – axioo
– to think fit, right; to judge worthy, deserving
will be healed – iaomai
– to cure, heal; to make whole
Future passive indicative
servant – pais
– a child, boy or girl; infants, children; servant, slave
Luke described the person as a doulos, but the centurion called him a pais.
I’m not sure this is some sort of
snobbery on the centurion’s part, this seems to be affection.
Is this a form of one of the words John
in his epistles to his beloved readers?
Not so – the usual word was teknion
He did use a diminuitive paidion in
(1 John 2:13 NKJV) —13 I write to
you, fathers, Because you have known
Him who is from the beginning. I write to
you, young men, Because you have
overcome the wicked one. I write to
you, little children, Because
you have known the Father.
(1 John 2:18 NKJV) —18 Little children,
it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even
now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
:7 I did not even think myself worthy
Lesson
Faith and Humility
Look at the words that the centurion used to describe himself to Jesus.
In vs. 6, he was not “worthy” of Jesus coming under his roof.
worthy – hikanos
– sufficient; enough
In vs. 7 he did not “think himself worthy” to come to Jesus personally.
think … worthy – axioo – to think fit, right; to judge worthy, deserving
Even though the centurion didn’t think he was “worthy” of coming to Jesus,
the elders who delivered the first message certainly thought he was worthy of
Jesus’ help (vs. 4).
deserving – axios
– weighing, having weight; of one who has merited anything worthy
The centurion is concerned that if
Jesus goes all the way to his house, that it will cause “trouble” for Jesus
(vs. 6).
trouble – skullo
– to skin, flay; to rend, mangle; to vex, trouble, annoy
Self pride is an evil thing.
It’s what was behind the fall of Satan (Isaiah 14:12-15)
(Isaiah 14:12–15 NKJV) —12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will
exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will
also sit on the mount of the congregation On the
farthest sides of the north; 14 I will
ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be
like the Most High.’ 15 Yet you
shall be brought down to Sheol, To the
lowest depths of the Pit.
It was the chief character trait of Haman, the man that wanted to
annihilate the Jews in the book of Esther. (Est. 5:11)
(Esther
5:11 NKJV) Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his
children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had
advanced him above the officials and servants of the king.
You too may feel like you’ve accomplished a few things in
life, but humility requires that you are never beyond learning more.
Video: Karate Kid – Chopsticks Fly
Fence
Biblical humility is not about having low self-esteem to the point where
you think of yourself worse than you are.
It’s about thinking properly about yourself.
It’s knowing that God is so much higher than you are.
It’s about learning to think more of others than you think of yourself.
Watch Albert Pujols at last month’s All Star Homerun Derby
Video: Albert Pujols 2015 Homerun Derby
Hug
Everyone knows that Albert will one day be in the Hall of
Fame. Yet he was humble enough to
congratulate the kid that beat him (Joc Pederson), and give a huge hug to the
kid’s older brother (Champ) who has Down’s Syndrome.
It’s being like Jesus.
(Philippians
2:5–8 NLT) —5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he
was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he
gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was
born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled
himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
:8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me.
And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and
to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
authority – exousia
– power of choice; the power of authority (influence) and of right
(privilege); the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and
commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed)
placed – tasso
– to put in order, to station; to place in a certain order, to arrange, to
assign a place, to appoint
This is the root of hupotasso, the word for “submit”.
In fact the “hupo” part of “submit”
is in the sentence as well.
The centurion was a man placed
“under” authority.
soldiers – stratiotes
– a (common) soldier
Go – poreuomai
– to lead over, carry over, transfer; to pursue the journey on which one
has entered, to continue on one’s journey
Come – erchomai
– to come
servant – doulos
– a slave, bondman, man of servile condition
Do – poieo
– to make; to do
:8 a man placed under authority
placed – tasso – to put in
order; to place in a certain order, to assign a place
This is the root of hupotasso, the
word for “submit”.
In fact the “hupo” (“under”) part
of “submit” is in the sentence as well.
The centurion was a man placed “under”
authority.
Lesson
Faith and Authority
The centurion’s faith was directly tied to his understanding of authority.
He was a man of orders and authority.
As a man under authority he knew how to obey his
superior’s orders.
As an officer himself, if he gives an order, it is obeyed.
This was why he knew that Jesus only had to give an order
and the servant’s disease would be healed.
He recognized Jesus as having the authority to command
healing, and he believed it.
Submission is an ugly thing that we all need to learn.
Employees are supposed to learn to “submit”…
(Ephesians
6:5 NKJV) Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according
to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;
Children are supposed to “obey” …
(Ephesians
6:1 NKJV) Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Wives are to submit …
(Ephesians
5:22 NKJV) Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Peter even links this kind of submission to faith. Holy women in ancient times weren’t beautiful
just because of their makeup or jewelry, but because of submission.
(1
Peter 3:5 NKJV) For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in
God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,
If you aren’t willing to submit where you need to, one of
the root issues is “trust”.
You don’t trust in your husband to make the right
decision.
You don’t trust God to work it all out.
Some of us like to boss others around, but do we understand what it is to
obey orders?
Video: My Big Fat
Greek Wedding – Head and Neck
Gentlemen, for all of you who think that because you are the “head” of the
house that this gets you off the hook with submission, you’re wrong.
Before Paul tells employees to submit to their bosses,
children to obey parents, and wives to submit to husbands, he says this,
(Ephesians
5:21 NKJV) submitting to one another in the fear of God.
We all need to learn submission.
And if you want to look at the context and see what
submission comes from, it comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph.
5:18).
(Ephesians 5:18–21 NKJV) —18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be
filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking
to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving
thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, 21 submitting to one
another in the fear of God.
Paul’s grammar in Ephesians 5 is indicating that if you
are filled with the Holy Spirit, certain things will result, including learning
to submit.
Before you can have “great faith”, you need to figure out submission.
You may think you have great reasons not to submit to another
person, but be careful that your reason isn’t simply a lack of faith on your
part.
:9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and
said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great
faith, not even in Israel!”
:9 He marveled at him
marveled – thaumazo
– to wonder, wonder at, marvel
The last time Luke used this word,
it was the crowds being amazed at Jesus’ “gracious words” (Luke 4:22)
We’ve seen the crowds marveling at Jesus (Luke 4:22), but Jesus is
marveling at this man.
(Luke 4:22 NKJV) So all bore witness to
Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And
they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”
turned around – strepho
– to turn, turn around
such great – tosoutos
– of quantity: so great, so many
faith – pistis
– conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or
belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with
the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it;
fidelity, faithfulness
found – heurisko
– to come upon, hit upon, to meet with; to find by enquiry, thought,
examination, scrutiny, observation, to find out by practice and experience
:9 I have not found such great faith
To “find” implies He was looking for great faith.
Lesson
Jesus is looking for faith
Growing your faith into “great faith” requires some exercise.
When I was in the hospital four years ago with an intestinal bleed, I got
out of the hospital in a very weak condition.
I couldn’t hardly walk 100 yards without becoming exhausted.
But I didn’t stop walking. I kept
walking every day.
I now walk four miles every day. It
took some time to build up to that, but even more it simply took practice.
Faith can grow great if you learn to exercise it.
My working definition of “faith” is:
Trusting in something that you don’t see.
My definition comes from:
(Hebrews
11:1 NLT) Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen;
it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
If you are going to grow in your faith by exercising it, expect to find
yourself in situations that you don’t understand.
Expect to find yourself in situations that are difficult.
God is exercising, stretching your faith.
You may fail at times.
You may make mistakes. But your
faith “muscles” will grow.
You need to keep exercising.
Jesus said He had not “found” such faith before, but He’s been looking.
Hanani the prophet told King Asa,
(2
Chronicles 16:9 NKJV) For the eyes of the Lord
run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those
whose heart is loyal to Him.
God is looking for faith.
:10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well
who had been sick.
returning – hupostrepho
– to turn back; to turn about; to return
found – heurisko
– to come upon, hit upon, to meet with; to find by enquiry, thought,
examination, scrutiny, observation, to find out by practice and experience
servant – doulos
– a slave, bondman, man of servile condition
sick – astheneo
– to be weak, feeble, to be without strength, powerless; to be feeble, sick
well – hugiaino
– to be sound, to be well, to be in good health
:10 found the servant well
Lesson
Faith’s results
When Jesus healed the woman who touched the hem of His garment,
(Luke 8:48 NKJV) And He said
to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in
peace.”
He said the same thing when He healed the leper (Luke 17:19) and the blind
man (Luke 18:42), their faith had made them well.
(Luke 17:19 NKJV) And He
said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
(Luke 18:42 NKJV) Then Jesus
said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”
Has your faith made you “well”?
It’s not the rain we’re counting on, it’s Jesus.
Jesus may not bring physical healing each time you ask (though He can), but
He can still make you “well”.
Paul had some kind of a thorn in the flesh and he begged Jesus three times
to take it away.
(2
Corinthians 12:9 NKJV) And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength
is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
That’s being made “well”.
Whatever He does, it is good.
No matter how He answers my prayer, when I trust Him, I
will be okay.