When he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully." He said to him, "I will come and cure him." The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven, (Mt 8:5-11)
A centurion is a man of authority and a man in position of authority. Normally a man in authority does not plead for his subject or does not show concern for his subjects.( I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."). He exercises only authority and he demands service from his subjects.
This centurion is different. He is aware of his position and authority. But he pleads for his subject and he shows concern for his subject. More than this he was humble in front of Jesus. He practiced Mic 6:8. (You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.)
Jesus was amazed at the response of the centurion. Jesus was amazed because this man was a non Jew and yet he practiced the basic requirements of the bible. He showed his concern for the neighbor and he was humble before God. He recognized his humanness and walked humbly before God and he showed his love for his neighbor (the two commandments).
