Conversation Points for Luke 7:1-10

Study Format:
1. Read passage aloud. What did you notice in the reading? What words or phrase caught your attention?
2. Read passage aloud a second time. What questions would you ask the text?
3. Read passage aloud a third time. What do you hear God calling you to do or be in response to this text?

Interesting Ideas to Consider:
• The theme of the section of Luke we will read this week and throughout the month of June centers around the idea of Jesus as the one who continues the work of the prophets and fulfills their words, and yet is greater than all the prophets.
• A centurion was a professional officer in the Roman army. Because this healing takes place in Capernaum, this centurion was probably serving Herod Antipas (who, if you remember, was a puppet ruler for the Roman Empire) rather than the Empire directly.
• The back and forth messages of the text, the centurion sending first Jewish elders and then friends to intercede to Jesus on his behalf rather than approaching Jesus directly, demonstrates the good relations among this centurion and the Jewish community. In addition to the story’s own value, it also prepares the reader for the conversion of the centurion Cornelius in Acts 10.
• The centurion’s parallel of his own status to Jesus’ status underscores the authority of Jesus.
• The centurion’s petitions to Jesus through others, and Jesus’ answering of that requests, demonstrates that the Lord hears the prayers of the faithful and encourages us to believe that when we turn to God, our requests too will be answered.
• The centurion also serves as a role model for Gentile believers, to care for those around us, even slaves, and to be generous to others, as the centurion helped the Jews build their synagogue. He respected that a Jew might not want to enter the home of a gentile, and even though he was a powerful man himself, he sought not to trouble Jesus with his problems.

Works Sourced:
Culpepper, R. Alan. “The Gospel of Luke.” The New Interpreter’s Bible Volume IX. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1995.