Single lesson
The Centurion's Servant Is Healed
Matthew 8:5–13; Luke 7:1–10
Jesus responds to a centurion’s request for his servant in Capernaum. Matthew and Luke both show the centurion’s humility and confidence in Jesus’ authority, and Matthew also records Jesus’ serious words about who will be in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Before you teach
Matthew tells of a centurion asking Jesus to help a servant who is paralysed and suffering, and Jesus answers him. Luke tells of a centurion whose servant is dear to him and near death, and the centurion sends others to Jesus. In both accounts, the focus is the centurion’s trust in Jesus’ word and Jesus’ response.
Students will be able to retell the flow of Matthew 8:5–13 and Luke 7:1–10, identify the centurion’s humble trust in Jesus’ authority, and explain that Jesus praised this faith, healed the servant, and gave a warning about the Kingdom of Heaven.
Welcome: A serious need in Capernaum
5 minAsk children to think of times people need help urgently. Then read the opening verses. In Matthew, a centurion asks Jesus for help because his servant is lying at home paralysed and badly afflicted. In Luke, the servant is dear to the centurion, sick, and close to death. Both accounts begin with real need and a request for Jesus’ help.
Matthew 8:5, Matthew 8:6, Luke 7:1, Luke 7:2, Luke 7:3
Read and explain: The centurion trusts Jesus' authority
8 minRead Matthew 8:7–9 and Luke 7:6–8. In Matthew, Jesus says he will come and heal. In both accounts, the centurion says he is not worthy for Jesus to come under his roof. He asks Jesus to say the word only. Explain that the centurion uses his own experience of giving orders to show that he believes Jesus has true authority.
Matthew 8:7, Matthew 8:8, Matthew 8:9, Luke 7:6, Luke 7:7, Luke 7:8
Discuss: Great faith and a Kingdom warning
6 minJesus marvels at the centurion and says he has not found such great faith in Israel. Then Matthew records Jesus saying many will come from east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven. He also warns that some who expected to belong can be outside, in outer darkness, with weeping and gnashing of teeth. Keep this simple: Jesus praises faith and gives a serious warning about the Kingdom.
Matthew 8:10, Matthew 8:11, Matthew 8:12, Luke 7:9
Make and respond: Sequence and warning cards
7 minGive each child six small cards or six spaces on paper. Ask them to draw or write these steps in order: the servant is sick, help is requested, Jesus responds, the centurion says ‘say the word’, Jesus praises great faith, and the servant is healed. Add one extra symbol or note for Jesus’ Kingdom words in Matthew, showing that this saying comes before the healing result in that account.
Matthew 8:6, Matthew 8:7, Matthew 8:8, Matthew 8:10, Matthew 8:11, Matthew 8:12, Matthew 8:13, Luke 7:2, Luke 7:3, Luke 7:10
Closing: Jesus' word and the outcome
4 minFinish by reading the result. In Matthew, Jesus tells the centurion, ‘Let it be done for you as you have believed,’ and the servant is healed in that hour. In Luke, those sent return to the house and find the servant well. Close by summarising that Jesus has authority, he praised the centurion’s faith, and his words about the Kingdom call listeners to take his warning seriously.
Matthew 8:13, Luke 7:10, Matthew 8:10, Matthew 8:11, Matthew 8:12
Questions to explore
What words show that the centurion believed Jesus did not need to come into the house to heal the servant?
Look for the lines where he says he is not worthy and asks Jesus to ‘say the word’, then connect that with his example about soldiers obeying commands.
Matthew 8:8, Matthew 8:9, Luke 7:6, Luke 7:7, Luke 7:8
What did Jesus say about the centurion’s faith, and what warning did he give straight after that in Matthew?
First read the verse where Jesus says he has not found such great faith, then read the next two verses about many coming to the Kingdom and others being outside.
Matthew 8:10, Matthew 8:11, Matthew 8:12, Luke 7:9
How do the passages show both the centurion’s care for his servant and the final result?
Notice Luke says the servant was dear to him, and then read the ending where the servant is healed or found well.
Luke 7:2, Luke 7:3, Matthew 8:13, Luke 7:10
Make, think or respond
Sequence and Warning Cards
What you’ll need
- paper or thin card
- pencils or crayons
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Cut six to seven small cards, or mark six to seven boxes on paper.
- Draw or write the main moments in order from the passage: sick servant, request for help, Jesus’ reply, ‘say the word’, great faith, Kingdom saying, servant healed.
- Read the verses again and place each card beside the verse that matches it.
- Retell the passage using the cards, making sure to include Jesus’ words in Matthew 8:11–12 before the healing result.
This helps children follow the order of the passage and notice that Matthew includes both the healing and Jesus’ serious Kingdom warning.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, use five simple pictures and let the teacher add the Kingdom saying card with a short explanation that Jesus praised faith and gave a serious warning about the Kingdom.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to sort which details are told in Matthew, which are told in Luke, and which are shared by both accounts, including Matthew 8:11–12.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: ‘Lord Jesus, thank you for your authority and care. Please help us trust your word, come to you humbly, and listen carefully to what you say. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 8
5 When he came into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking him for help,
6 saying, “Lord, my servant lies in the house paralyzed, grievously tormented.”
7 Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
8 The centurion answered, “Lord, I’m not worthy for you to come under my roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
9 For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and tell another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and tell my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled and said to those who followed, “Most certainly I tell you, I haven’t found so great a faith, not even in Israel.
11 I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven,
12 but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way. Let it be done for you as you have believed.” His servant was healed in that hour.
Luke 7
1 After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
2 A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death.
3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant.
4 When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him,
5 for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.”
6 Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof.
7 Therefore I didn’t 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 under myself soldiers. I tell this 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 and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.”
10 Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.
Source passages
Something to make together
These activities connect with the passage. Choose one that suits your group and the time you have.
