(9) I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.--It is, perhaps, characteristic of both the Evangelists that St. Luke omits the warning words which St. Matthew records as to the "many that shall come from the east and the west," and the exclusion of the children of the kingdom.
Verse 9. - When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him. Augustine strikingly comments here on the expression ἐθαύμασε, he marvelled: "Who had inspired that faith but he who now admires it?" In marvelling at it he intimated that we ought to admire. He admires for our good, that we may imitate the centurion's faith; such movements in Christ are not signs of perturbation of mind, but are exemplary and hortatory to us (St. Augustine, quoted by Bishop Wordsworth, on Matthew 8:10). I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. St. Augustine remarks here that "the Lord had found in the oleaster what he had not found in the olive."
7:1-10 Servants should study to endear themselves to their masters. Masters ought to take particular care of their servants when they are sick. We may still, by faithful and fervent prayer, apply to Christ, and ought to do so when sickness is in our families. The building places for religious worship is a good work, and an instance of love to God and his people. Our Lord Jesus was pleased with the centurion's faith; and he never fails to answer the expectations of that faith which honours his power and love. The cure soon wrought and perfect.
When Jesus heard these things,.... Which the friends of the centurion related from him, and in his name; or which he himself delivered, coming up to Christ after them:
he marvelled at him; at his great humility and modesty, and the strength of his faith, and his manner of reasoning:
and turned him about; from him, and his friends:
and said unto the people that followed him; from the mount to Capernaum, and as he was passing along the streets:
I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel; or "among the Israelites", as the Syriac; or "among the children of Israel", as the Persic; or "in all Israel", as the Arabic version reads, as he did in this single Gentile; See Gill on Matthew 8:10.
he marvelled at him; at his great humility and modesty, and the strength of his faith, and his manner of reasoning:
and turned him about; from him, and his friends:
and said unto the people that followed him; from the mount to Capernaum, and as he was passing along the streets:
I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel; or "among the Israelites", as the Syriac; or "among the children of Israel", as the Persic; or "in all Israel", as the Arabic version reads, as he did in this single Gentile; See Gill on Matthew 8:10.