Understanding Authority Matthew 8 5 13 Luke 7

Understanding Authority Matthew 8: 5 -13 (Luke 7: 1 -10)

Matthew 8 Luke 7 7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him. ” 8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go, ’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come, ’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this, ’ and he does it. ” 10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found 7 “Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go, ’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come, ’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this, ’ and he does it. ” 9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” 2 10 And those who were sent,

He Understood Authority Matthew 8: 9 Chief Captain (Acts 21: 31) Centurion 100 Soldiers 3

Contrasts in Faith Matthew 8: 10 -12 Centurion • Great faith, 8: 10 • Included in the kingdom due to his faith, 8: 11 • Eternal life, 8: 12 Israel • Not great faith, 8: 10 • Excluded from the kingdom due to lack of faith, 8: 11 • Eternal death, 4

Authority “From the meaning of leave or permission, or liberty of doing as one pleases, it passed to that of the ability or strength with which one is endued, then to that of the power of authority, the right to exercise power. . . or the power of rule or government, the power of one whose will and commands must be obeyed 5

The Rights of Authority: Jesus Matthew 8: 8 -9 (Lk. 7: 7 -8); 28: 18 • Power to Rule, 8: 8 -9 (Psa. 2: 6 -7, 1012; Eph. 1: 20 -23) • Power to Bless, 8: 8 (Rom. 13: 3 -4; Jno. 17: 2) • Power to Judge, 8: 9 (Jno. 19: 10; 5: 26 -29) Lesson: Our faith must acknowledge 6 that Christ possesses the right (power)

Submission to Authority Matthew 8: 8 -9, Luke 7: 7 -8 • Some unwilling to yield: – Naaman, 2 Kgs. 5: 1, 9 -14 – King Saul, 1 Sam. 15: 13 -14, 19 – Israel, Isa. 30: 8 -11 • Some willingly yield, Jno. 9: 6 -7; Acts 26: 19 Lesson: Receive the blessings of faith from the authoritative one (Christ) only by submitting to His authority, Matt. 7

Faith and Authority Matthew 8: 8 -9, Luke 7: 7 -8 • Living by faith is respecting & obeying God’s authority: – Authority conveyed through word, Jno. 12: 48 -50 – Faith produced through His word, Rom. 10: 17, 8 – Saving faith is obedient faith (Jas. 2: 1426) 8 Lesson: Impatience with & weariness

Faithless or Believing? Matthew 8: 12 -13 • • • God’s plan of salvation True worship, Jno. 4: 24 Church organization & work Doctrinal purity, Gal. 1: 6 -9 (2 Jno. 9) Moral purity, Phil. 4: 8 Lesson: Living by faith chooses to submit to the authority of Christ in all things! (Col. 3: 17; Matt. 7: 21 -9 23)

Great Faith Matthew 8: 12 -13 • Trust and submit to Christ’s authority – How great is our faith? • How well do we yield to the authority of Christ in everything? -Col. 3: 17; Matt. 7: 21 - 10