(Slide) The nobleman was almost certainly a Jew or at least a convert, a man of high political standing and he comes to Yahshua in person. In contrast, the Centurion sends servants. Note that in Matthew’s account it reads, “…a centurion came to him (Matthew 8:5)” suggesting an error, but in Hebrew thought, a messenger is equal to the one who sends the message, so there is no contradiction here.
What’s interesting about the Centurion’s account, is the subsequent refrain from having Yahshua visit his house. “Adon, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you.” The Centurion’s attitude of himself was one of unworthiness, already evident in the action of sending Jewish Elders, rather than going himself.
Yahshua was able, through the Spirit, to discern everything about a person’s character, especially if you managed one-on-one time. Many people knew this and it was a frightening prospect, to be facing off with someone that can see through to your heart, with nothing hidden. It’s interesting to add that Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (the Ari) was said to be able to read on the forehead of every living soul their standing before the Father. A famous scholar Rabbi Moshe Galante of Tsfat (Safed) pleaded with the holy Ari: “I know you have the power to tell me what have done that requires rectification, from the day I was born until now.”
Also note that the Centurion would have been tending his sick servant himself. One who loves a dying person will rarely leave their side at such an hour of need, choosing to send for help rather than go away from them. You’ll also notice that the text says that “the servant was highly valued by him,” which is something the Nobleman’s narrative leave absent. Also, the narrative expresses that the Centurion built a synagogue and that he loved the nation of Israel. The Elders rely that he was indeed worthy. “He is worthy to have you do this for him for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.”
On the other hand, the Nobleman came out to see Yahshua himself and expected him to come to his house and at no-time felt that he needed to confess his unworthiness. His son was close to death and he left his side. Surely he had someone he could have sent, a delegation who could have stated something of worth in him to do such a miracle. In fact there is nothing positive said about the Nobleman in the text at all. Now, he had a measure of faith, taking Yahshua at his word, when he said he was healed, but later he checks the time to make sure. A father who has had a son saved from death would neither care what hour it occurred, just that it happened like Yahshua said it would.
A nobleman, a person of royal standing, a tetrarch ("ruler of a quarter") of Galilee would surely have been able to have built several synagogues, but nothing in his favour is mentioned, just his position and his awareness of Yahshua’s miracles. The Centurion on a modest wage (receiving only twice as much as a Legionary soldier) yet was responsible for 100 fighting men, built an entire synagogue. Note that it wasn’t out of diplomacy, it was out of love! He also risked what’s called in military circles ‘a conflict of interest,’ builds one and publicly declares his love for Israel. He must have known that “(Yahweh’s) house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. (Isaiah 56:7)”
The Centurion, whose outward appearance is of what Israel deemed as unclean, yet he loved Israel, not just with an intellectual, abstract, passing comment love, but an actual love that resulted in practical application. “‘Surely not, Adonai!’ Kepha replied. ‘I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.’ The kol (voice) spoke to him a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that Elohim has made clean.(Acts 10:14-15)’” This Centurion, as with the one Kepha (Peter) was being prepared by Elohim to visit, loved Israel, so that means they were Israel! Remember if you truly love Israel, you are Israel.
Because of the absence of the Nobleman’s ethnicity, we can safely assume that he was a Jew or at least a convert, so in contrast this Jew is coming to Yahshua unconcerned with his own standing before Yahweh and more concerned with Yahshua’s ability to heal his son. Now, sure, he had faith, but there are levels of faith. Faith can increase or decrease! Faith is believing in something so strong that it’s a knowing without the object of that knowing yet seeing full fruition. Yahshua’s response to the Nobleman not only tells us a lot about him but also the general attitude of those in Galilee at the time. He responds with, ‘Unless you people see signs and wonders,’ Yahshua told him, ‘you will never believe.’ Up to this point, this man had seen Yahshua only as a healer who might be able to succeed where physicians had failed.
