I think if I could convince you of one thing; if I could encourage you, prompt you, get your interest piqued in one thing it would be reading Scripture. Even just a chapter a day. I would surely do that!
The LORD YESHUA spoke the Truth Period.
He just spoke the Truth to whoever was standing by, whoever was listening.
Listen in as we read this portion of Matthew 8.
You may have deciphered that I prefer in most cases for myself the Complete Jewish Bible for reading and studying.
I use others as well.
The New American Standard would be my next choice; I also like the New Living Translation for easy, pleasure reading; and, of course, The King James is never too far away from picking up.
For this time with you and this particular passage, I offer you a combination of CJB and NLT.
5 As Yeshua entered K’far-Nachum, a Roman army officer came up and pleaded for help.
6 “Sir, my orderly is lying at home paralyzed and suffering terribly!”
7 Yeshua said, “I will go and heal him.”
8 But the officer answered, “Sir, I am unfit to have you come into my home. Rather, if you will only give the command, my orderly will recover.
9 For I too am a man under authority. I have soldiers under me, and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!
11 And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.
12 But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Yeshua said to the officer, “Go; let it be for you as you have trusted.” And his orderly was healed at that very moment. source
Yeshua – Jesus
K’far-Nachum – Capernaum
What do you see?
A Roman Official.
We understand Jews did not like Romans (and in the natural, they had reasons not to like them); they were Gentiles, you know.
Now, imagine how that must have stung those hearing The LORD’s words.
Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!
Ouch!
But notice JESUS said it anyway.
Why?
Because Truth hurts sometimes but Truth is what heals — when accepted!
Did these? I don’t know. Perhaps we will find out in Heaven.
Authority matters!
This Roman Official understood authority.
He appreciated authority.
And this Roman Official recognized JESUS’s Authority!
Not all standing there did.
Not all standing today do either.
What else do you see in this passage?
East and West.
From all over the world people can and some have and some will yet come into the Kingdom of GOD, and they and we will be at that feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.
How?
Same as the Roman Official.
TRUSTING JESUS.
I hope this has helped you.
And if you have been helped — honor JESUS and help others.
Thank you for visiting with me today.
