Luke 7:1

When. The Centurion’s Slave, Luke 7:1-10 = Matt. 8:5-13. Major comment: Luke. See Middle Galilean Ministry; The Ministry of Our Lord; on miracles pp. 208-213. Or, “after.” The events of vs. 1-10 followed the Sermon on the Mount in close chronological sequence (see on Matt. 8:2), and may have occurred on the same day. Luke 7:1 provides the transition from the place where the Sermon on the Mount was given to that where the centurion’s servant was healed. For other instances of sequence transition in Luke see chs. 4:30, 37, 44; 5:11, 16, 26; 6:11; etc. It was now probably the late summer of A.D. 29 (see MB 2, 45; see on Matt. 5:1), and the time of day, perhaps late afternoon.

His sayings. Specifically, the Sermon on the Mount (Luke 6:20-49; cf. Matt. 7:28).

In the audience. Or, “in the ears,” that is, “in the hearing.” An “audience” is a group of “hearers.”

Entered into Capernaum. Apparently upon His return from giving the Sermon on the Mount, as the context implies (see DA 316). On Capernaum as the headquarters for the Galilean ministry see on Matt. 4:13. It seems that the deputation of elders bearing the centurion’s request met Jesus as He returned to the city.

The parallel account in Matt. 8:5-13 appears to have a number of differences, but a comparison of the two accounts makes it evident that these are not discrepancies, and that the two accounts are simply different versions of the same incident. The conversational portions of both accounts are almost identical, and the differences occur mainly in the narrative sections. In both instances the focal point of interest is the great faith of the centurion, a Gentile (see on Luke 7:9). The unusual circumstance of the miracle is the fact that the one benefited by it was not in the immediate presence of Christ at the moment of healing.